Washington, 31 October 2003 (RFE/RL) -- The House of Representatives has voted to approve U.S. President George W. Bush's request for $87. 5 billion for American military operations and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. Senate is expected to vote in favor of the package within days. Bush is then expected to sign the measure into law.
The bill includes nearly $65 billion for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The vast majority of this amount will be used in Iraq.
The package also provides about $18.5 billion for Iraqi reconstruction and security -- an amount less than the $20.3 billion that Bush had requested for this.
The package was approved after lawmakers eliminated a provision that would have required that half of the money for Iraqi reconstruction and security be in the form of loans to Iraq, not grants.
The bill includes nearly $65 billion for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The vast majority of this amount will be used in Iraq.
The package also provides about $18.5 billion for Iraqi reconstruction and security -- an amount less than the $20.3 billion that Bush had requested for this.
The package was approved after lawmakers eliminated a provision that would have required that half of the money for Iraqi reconstruction and security be in the form of loans to Iraq, not grants.