Congress passes Iraq war spending bill

Measures includes expanded military benefits, Midwest flood aid

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updated 10:12 p.m. ET June 26, 2008

WASHINGTON - Congress on Thursday night approved a $162 billion spending bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The bill, given final approval Thursday in the Senate on a 92-6 vote, also provides veterans a free college education and extends expiring unemployment benefits for another 13 weeks. It provides $2.7 billion in emergency flood relief in the Midwest.

The House passed the bill last week, and President Bush says he will sign it.

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The Senate, however, narrowly failed to approve a House-passed bill to cancel a scheduled cut in payments to doctors who treat Medicare patients.

It also failed to resolve differences over home mortgage legislation and the administration's electronic surveillance program. Those matters will await lawmakers when they return from a 10-day July break.

The spending bill will bring to more than $650 billion the amount Congress has provided for the Iraq war since it started more than five years ago. For operations in Afghanistan, the total is nearly $200 billion, according to congressional officials.

Last week, the House approved the war funding measure, 268-155. The domestic add-ons were approved separately by a 416-12 vote.