WASHINGTON — The House on Friday passed legislation that authorizes the Pentagon to spend nearly $160 billion on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this budget year without major restrictions on the conduct of operations.
The 341-48 vote on the defense authorization bill came after House and Senate Democrats agreed to strip several provisions, including one that would have allowed gays to serve openly in the military and another that would have authorized abortions at overseas military facilities.
This year’s bill agreed to $725 billion in defense programs, including $158.7 billion for overseas combat.
The spending bill covers the 2011 budget year, which began Oct. 1. The Senate is expected to approve the measure as one of its final acts this year.
