WASHINGTON, July 9 (UPI) -- A House panel Friday approved $19.4 billion to fund the foreign operations of the U.S. government in 2005.
The House Appropriations Committee approved the bill, after Republicans defeated an effort by Democrats to force the Bush administration to release money allocated to the United Nations for family planning efforts.
In 2002, the Bush White House refused to give money to the U.N. fund, citing allegations it was funding Chinese family planning policies, including forced abortion.
Included in the measure's spending is funding for U.S. efforts to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS globally and aid to various foreign nations, although the funding level falls short of Bush's request of $21.4 billion for such program.
The measure is expected on the House floor next week, where Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., is expected to offer an amendment that would make military aid to Egypt in the bill go to economic assistance for the poor in the country over a multi-year period.
The committee also approved a $10 billion 2005 military construction bill to fund Pentagon building projects.
