WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- The U.S. House voted 283-136 Wednesday night to send a $662 billion defense spending bill to the Senate.
The Senate could take up the measure Thursday, Roll Call reported.
President Barack Obama had threatened to veto the military appropriations measure due to concerns about provisions regarding detainees, but pulled back ahead of the vote after some language in the measure was changed, CBS News reported. Some Republican congressmen also had expressed reservations that had to be allayed at the last minute to avoid derailing passage, Roll Call said.
"While we remain concerned about the uncertainty that this law will create for our counterterrorism professionals, the most recent changes give the president additional discretion in determining how the law will be implemented, consistent with our values and the rule of law, which are at the heart of our country's strength," White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a statement announcing Obama had lifted his veto threat.
A GOP aide told Roll Call some members "wanted clarity about the legal ramifications of some of the language in the bill, and that clarity has been provided."
As passed by the House, the bill gives the executive branch the power to determine whether detainee cases are handled in civilian or military court. Those suspected to have al-Qaida links, however, would be held in military custody. Some detainees are banned from transfer to the United States.
The administration is afforded a national security waiver power that could be invoked to get around the limitations, however, Roll Call said.
