Congress OKs billions for anti-terror

WASHINGTON -- A $20 billion package financing the war in Afghanistan and recovery from the Sept. 11 attacks swept to congressional approval Thursday as lawmakers neared the end of their prolonged 2001 session.

By a 408-6 tally, the House approved the measure and a massive $318 billion defense bill coupled with it. The Senate's 94-2 passage sent President Bush a bill that had sparked a politicized, weeks-long clash between him and lawmakers over how to marshal federal resources to combat terrorism.

"Rationality prevailed over stubbornness," said Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., highlighting the raw partisan feelings that lingered over the measure, which saw Bush insist on limiting the package's price tag.

Congress also gave final approval to a $123 billion social services measure containing big boosts for education and biomedical research, and a $15.4 billion foreign aid bill.

In a final flurry, lawmakers sent Bush bills granting tax breaks to victims of the Sept. 11 attacks and lowering federal fees paid by investors. The Senate voted to set up bioterrorism programs like stockpiling vaccines, but a final version of that bill will await work next year.

But other measures, such as a Republican economic plan, fell by the wayside amid finger-pointing and lawmakers streamed to airports for a monthlong recess in a mix of relief and recrimination.

"To me the Senate is an enigma," complained a peeved House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., as it became plain that the GOP economic bill would die in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Even a routine Senate resolution to adjourn Congress passed by only 56-40 in a GOP protest after Democrats killed the economic plan, saying it would do little for workers.

Passage of the foreign aid bill by voice vote marked Congress' completion of its work on this year's $2 trillion budget -- nearly three months after it began on Oct. 1. Lawmakers seldom complete all 13 annual spending bills by that date.