Senate approves $447 billion defense spending bill

WASHINGTON -- The Senate late Wednesday approved a $447 billion defense spending bill that covers only part of the Pentagon's upcoming war costs but gives the military a pay raise and increases troop levels.

Lawmakers voted 97-0 around 10:30 p.m. CDT on the bill authorizing Pentagon and Energy Department defense programs for the new budget year that begins in October.

The measure includes $25 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Bush administration plans to submit a supplemental budget at the start of the next calendar year, after November's election, that is expected to seek at least an additional $25 billion for the two war efforts.

In a move opposed by the White House and Pentagon, senators also included a provision to add 20,000 troops to an Army stretched thin by the war in Iraq, the global war on terror and other commitments around the world. The size of the Army would increase by about 4 percent, to over 500,000.

The authorization bill, generally mirroring one passed a month ago in the House, includes an across-the-board 3.5 percent pay raise for military personnel.

There is also $10.2 billion for a missile defense system and billions more for such programs as the F/A-22 Raptor aircraft, Joint Strike Fighter and DD(X) destroyer program.

In voting earlier Wednesday, Senators passed an amendment requiring Bush to report to the Republican-controlled Congress on his efforts to stabilize Iraq. But they rejected one that would have forced him to give an estimate of how many American troops will remain in the violence-plagued country a year from now.

The Republican-controlled chamber also rejected the following amendments, all offered by Democrats:

A measure related to the prison abuse scandal that would have declared all U.S. officials bound by anti-torture laws and required Pentagon reports on interrogation techniques, the number of detainees denied POW status, Red Cross findings on U.S. military prisons and a schedule for trying terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

A plan to make health care for all veterans mandatory.

A proposal that National Guard and reservists become eligible for retirement benefits at age 55 instead of 60.

A proposal to limit the growth of U.S. military and civilian contractors helping Colombia fight its drug war. Opponents said the full increase from 400 to 800 troops and 400 to 600 civilians was needed to keep up progress in the war, which also fights narco-terrorism.

The bill goes to conference to be reconciled with the one passed by the House.

Though they authorized the programs, senators now must approve an appropriations bill to actually give the administration the money.

The House on Tuesday approved a $417 billion defense appropriations bill covering only the Defense Department programs. The Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved a similar $416 billion defense spending measure.