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US Senate approves 368.6 billion defense spending bill by a 95-0 vote
WASHINGTON, July 17 (AFP) (AFP) Jul 18, 2003
 By a unanimous vote, the US Senate late Thursday approved 368.6 billion dollar defense spending bill late that aimed to update military facilities and provide a 4.1 percent pay raise for military personnel.

By a vote of 95-0, the Senate passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2004, after three days of debate.

The bill does not include funds to cover the costs of ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for the coming fiscal year. Those expenses will have to be provided for in a separate spending bill, lawmakers said.

The legislation will must now be reconciled with a bill approved earlier this month by the House of Representatives.

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