Senate approves supplemental spending bill
CAPITOL HILL The Senate has given unanimous approval to an emergency spending bill that contains almost 76 (b) billion dollars for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It brings the cost of fighting terrorism since Nine Eleven to more than 300 (b) billion dollars.
The bill increases from 12-thousand to 100-thousand dollars the one-time benefit for survivors of troops killed in combat zones. The increase will apply retroactively to October of 2001.
Senate Democrats criticized the inclusion of the immigration provisions in the spending bill, saying they never had the chance to discuss them. Among other things it establishes uniform standards for state drivers' licenses.
The bill now goes to President Bush for his signature.
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