WASHINGTON, June 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate, after solving the issue of detainee abuse photos, passed the $106 billion war supplemental bill that would fund Iraq and Afghanistan efforts.
On a 91-5 vote Thursday, the Senate sent the measure to President Barack Obama for his signature, The Hill reported. The House approved the measure 226-206 Tuesday. The two chambers passed different versions, which were reconciled in conference committee.
The measure nearly tanked over a controversy of about how to keep secret photos showing U.S. military personnel abusing detainees in custody, the Washington publication said. Obama last month decided against releasing the photos, and a federal court last week stayed an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit to release the pictures.
The controversy was resolved Wednesday when the Senate voted for a stand-alone law to keep the photos from public view. The House still must vote on the stand-alone measure.
Senate Republican objected to add-ons to the military funding, The Hill said. In addition to about $80 billion to fund wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the bill includes $5 billion in new borrowing for the International Monetary Fund and $7.7 billion for flu pandemic preparations.
The measure also includes money for U.S. car buyers who trade in older models for more fuel-efficient vehicles, the so-called cash-for-clunkers program.
