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 Ex-political candidate mired in sex tape scandal now has legal woes. A megachurch pastor is going to jail for abusing a girl decades ago. Eisenhower Library boss is out after dispute over king's gift. Judge gives Combs prison. Report an error