Lawmakers Agree on Defense Policy Bill

[951-Riverside]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) -- House and Senate lawmakers on Thursday agreed on a Pentagon policy bill that would authorize $693 billion in defense spending, including $189 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The defense bill, which covers the budget year that began Oct. 1, also would authorize the Defense Department's myriad high-ticket weapons programs.

The measure does not send money to Pentagon. But it is considered a critical bill because it often guides companion spending legislation and sets policy guidance for the acquisition and management of all military programs.

The House passed its version in May; senators did so in October. The final compromise is expected to pass next week, or before lawmakers leave for their holiday break.

Included is a provision that would establish a system to oversee the billions of dollars being spent to rebuild Afghanistan. The effort would be modeled after the special watchdog for Iraq reconstruction. This office has unearthed numerous cases of waste, fraud and abuse that hampered the rebuilding effort.



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