House passes defense spending bill

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WASHINGTON, July 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Thursday in favor of a $606 billion Defense Department spending bill for 2013.

The House voted 326-90 in favor of the bill, which increases base funding by $1 billion over current levels but reduces funding for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq by $27 billion. The reduction in spending on the two wars resulted from military drawdowns in Afghanistan and Iraq, The Hill said.

The vote came after the House rejected an amendment that would have required funds for Afghanistan to be used only for an orderly troop withdrawal, but accepted an amendment to eliminate $175 million in infrastructure spending in Afghanistan.

The bill keeps spending in place for Department of Defense sponsorship of sports events including NASCAR races.

The bill goes to the Senate, but consideration there is not expected anytime soon, The Hill said.