Politics | Senate Congress Passes $162B Measure to Fund Wars Senate sends legislation to Bush, who is expected to sign By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Jun 26, 2008 10:24 PM CDT Copied U.S. Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, observe an artillery strike on a Taliban position near the town of Garmser, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Saturday, May 3, 2008. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder) The Senate tonight passed a $162 billion war spending plan, sending to President Bush legislation that will pay for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan until the next president takes office. The package, approved 92-6, includes a doubling of GI Bill college benefits. It also provides a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits and $2.7 billion in flood relief for the Midwest. Bush is expected to sign the bill next week. 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. The Housed passed its war funding measure last week. Read These Next New York Times ranks the best movies of the 21st century. A man has been deported for kicking an airport customs beagle. White House rolls with Trump's 'daddy' nickname. New Fox star, 23, misses first day after car troubles. Report an error