Congress sends Obama $106 billion bill to fund wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

July 31st, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US House of Representatives passed a $636-billion defence bill Thursday after removing money to continue production of the F-22, meeting a key demand by President Barack Obama. The bill, for fiscal 2010 and including $128 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, passed by a 400-30 vote.

July 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US House of Representatives has approved an aid bill authorizing the 1.519 billion dollars being given to Pakistan as assistance during the current fiscal year. Similarly, the Senate Appropriations Committee also approved its own version of the bill which would provide Pakistan 1.57 billion dollars in aid in 2010, The Nation reports.

June 25th, 2009 WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has signed into law a measure keeping the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan from running out of money. The $106 billion spending bill also includes money to fight swine flu and a "cash for clunkers" program encouraging drivers to switch to more fuel-efficient cars.

June 19th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US Congress has approved a $106-billion spending bill that includes money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and a loan to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The wide-ranging legislation includes money for foreign aid, preventing a flu pandemic and a "cash-for-clunkers" initiative that encourages consumers to trade in older, less efficient cars to help revive the auto industry.

June 19th, 2009 Congress passes restrictions on detaineesWASHINGTON — Legislation to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this year is on its way to President Barack Obama, but it provides no money for closing the Guantanamo detainee prison and sets tough restrictions on the transfer of its inmates. The $106 billion emergency war bill is not all for war fighting.

June 18th, 2009 Congress sends $106B war-spending bill to ObamaWASHINGTON — Congress on Thursday sent President Barack Obama a massive spending bill aimed at ensuring that the military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan won't run out of money in the coming months. The $106 billion emergency war bill also branches off to provide money for programs ranging from pandemic flu preparedness to a "cash for clunkers" initiative to encourage drivers to switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles.

June 17th, 2009 War-funding bill may face difficulty in the SenateWASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday that this is the last time Congress will go through the ordeal of passing an off-the-books, expensive bill to fund two wars. It may also be one of the more difficult.

May 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US House of Representatives signed off Thursday on more than $95 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The House voted 368-60 to approve the $97-billion spending bill, which includes money to help Pakistan fight militants.

May 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US Senate Appropriations Committee has approved about 900 million dollars in economic and security aid for Pakistan which is battling Taliban, spilling over its border with Afghanistan. The Senate allocated 91.3 billion dollars measure to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through September 30, the Dawn reports.

May 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US is proposing to spend more on the Afghanistan war than on the one in Iraq for the first time, indicating a shift in priority, a media report said Friday. The $130 billion in war funds that are part of Pentagon's fiscal 2010 budget request includes $65 billion for Afghanistan operations and $61 billion for Iraq, the Washington Post reported.

May 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A House of Representatives committee has approved $400 million for a new Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund, but not before a key member expressed doubts about US strategies in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The $400 million requested by the Obama administration for the fund to bolster efforts against the Taliban and extremist groups forms part of the 2009 Supplemental Bill funding ongoing US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and supporting economic and other needs in Pakistan.

May 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - Pakistan might be eagerly waiting for 1.4 billion dollars as aid which the United States has pledged, but according to an American lawmaker, the US Congress appears to be in no mood to pass the bill in a huff. Democratic Senator Richard Durbin said it is highly unlikely that the US Congress would pass an emergency aid package for Pakistan.

April 30th, 2009 Gates asks Congress for fast action on war fundingWASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates is urging Congress to pass an $83.4 billion spending bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by Memorial Day, saying the Pentagon will deplete its funding for Pakistan next month and money for U.S. operations will start running out in July.

April 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Seeking another $83.4 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Barack Obama once again highlighted the threat of Al Qaeda and a 'resurgent' Taliban from safe havens along the Afghan-Pakistan border. The situation in Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan 'demands urgent attention', Obama said in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi submitting the funding request to the US Congress.

February 27th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama Thursday unveiled a budget blueprint for 2010 projecting a stunning deficit of $1.75 trillion for the current fiscal year that began last October with an over $1 trillion shortfall. Presenting the budget that he described as an 'honest accounting of where we are and where we intend to go', Obama said: 'There are times when you can afford to redecorate your house...and there are times when you have to focus on rebuilding its foundation.' Adding to the deficit are the costs of bank bailouts, the first wave of spending from the newly enacted stimulus plan and the continuing costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.