The U.S. Senate yesterday voted 95-0 to approve the fiscal 2004 defense appropriations bill, which provides almost $370 billion for the U.S. Defense Department, according to the Associated Press (see GSN, Sept. 25).

The $368 billion bill, which was approved by the House of Representatives earlier this week, includes $9.1 billion to build a national missile defense system, an increase of $140 million over this year’s funding.  The bill does not address $87 billion requested separately by President George W. Bush to pay for military operation in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The bill is a “demonstration of our support, of Congress’ support, of our men and women in uniform,” Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) said (Jim Abrams, Associated Press/Contra Costa Times, Sept. 26).

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