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 JD Vance in hot water over birthday boating trip. Two state troopers were shot in Pennsylvania "Rock's forgotten genius" said no to Led Zeppelin. Kelly Clarkson's ex died a day after she disclosed he was ill. Report an error