US Senate passes $636 billion defense spending bill

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved $636 billion to fund military operations for the fiscal year that started on October 1, $3.9 billion less than requested by the Obama administration.

Lawmakers must resolve differences with a similar spending bill passed by the House of Representatives before President Barack Obama can sign it into law.

The bill passed by a vote of 93 to 7. The bill would fund $128.2 billion for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Congress in prior years funded the two wars separately from regular Pentagon operations.

The bill would end production of Lockheed-Martin Corp.'s (LMT.N) F-22 fighter plane and the VH-71 presidential helicopter, also made by Lockheed. The Pentagon has said it does not need these aircraft. $7.7 billion for missile defense, a $1.4 billion cut from last year.

The bill provides $3.65 billion to build two DDG-51 destroyers, one more than the Pentagon wants.