|
. | . |
|
by Staff Writers Washington (AFP) Dec 04, 2014 The House of Representatives adopted an annual US defense spending bill Thursday which includes emergency funding for military operations against Islamic jihadists in Iraq and Syria, as requested by President Barack Obama. The Senate still must pass the legislation -- outlining $584.2 billion in federal military spending for fiscal year 2015, which began on October 1 -- before Congress adjourns at the end of next week. The Republican-led House passed the measure by a vote of 300 to 119. The bill, a culmination of months of negotiations, extends training and equipping for moderate Syrian rebels, a program that had been authorized to last only until December 11, using existing Pentagon money. It also includes Obama's $5 billion request for funds to battle the Islamic State extremist group, including $3.4 billion for deployment of US forces as part of operation "Inherent Resolve," and $1.6 billion for a program to equip and train Iraqi Kurdish forces for two years. Obama's request for $520 million for the State Department's humanitarian and diplomatic efforts was also included. "The security threats our nation faces are as grave as they are prolific, and it is imperative that we provide our military men and women the tools they need to keep America safe," House Speaker John Boehner said after the bill's passage. In another area, the law extends restrictions on closing the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A ban on transferring detainees to the United States, in force since 2011, was renewed despite opposition from Obama. Republicans fear the detainees might be freed by a judge and thus constitute a threat to national security. Thirteen prisoners have been sent to other countries this year, and 142 men remain in the prison. The overall defense authorization includes $63.7 billion for overseas operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. Defense spending accounts for just over half of the US government's budget for so-called discretionary spending, which excludes social welfare.
Related Links The Military Industrial Complex at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service. |