US Senate OKs wide-ranging defense budget

After months of negotiations, lawmakers voted 98-0 to approve the US$631 billion National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which began on Oct. 1.

The sweeping measure, passed after five days of debate and hundreds of amendments, would tighten sanctions on Iran, restrict the president's authorization in handling terrorism suspects, and prohibit the military detention of U.S. nationals.

The bill must be reconciled with a version passed earlier this year in the House of Representatives before going to President Barack Obama's desk for his signature, though the White House has threatened a veto.

The two versions have major differences, but both Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin and ranking Republican John McCain expressed confidence in reaching consensus in conference.

The administration “strongly objects” to sections of the bill that would, among other things, impose restrictions on the use of funds to transfer detainees held at the U.S. Naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to foreign countries; and to the proposed trimming of civilian and contract workers.

“If the bill is presented to the president for approval in its current form, the president's senior advisers would recommend that the president veto the bill,” the Office of Management and Budget said last week.

Obama had sought US$614 billion, of which US$89 billion would go to the war in Afghanistan.

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