The US Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved a $91.3 billion measure to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through September 30 and to provide emergency aid to the struggling Pakistan government. Despite concerns, the panel included $80 million as President Barack Obama requested for shuttering the US detention prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where terrorism suspects are being held.
However, the measure walls off $50 million from the administration until a plan is submitted on how it plans to deal with the prisoners, according to the committee. The version that is pending in the US House of Representatives rejected Obama's request and offered no money.
The Senate measure also includes about $900 million in economic and security aid for Pakistan which is battling militant Taliban fighters spilling over its border with Afghanistan. The House bill has about $1 billion for Pakistan. Meanwhile the House version includes some $3.1 billion for buying eight Boeing Co C-17s and 11 Lockheed Martin C-130 transport planes.
The Senate bill does not include that money. The full Senate is expected to take up its version next week and any differences with the House will have to be worked out and a single version passed by both chambers before the legislation can be sent to Obama for his signature. While lawmakers support the legislation, they will likely miss Defence Secretary Robert Gates' goal for getting the package approved by May 25.
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