The House has approved the final version of a measure that cuts the Dept. of Defense's fiscal 2004 construction budget by 13%, to $9.3 billion. The House passed the military construction appropriations conference agreement on Nov. 5, by a 417-5 vote. Still to come is a Senate floor vote and then President Bush's expected signature.
Appropriators did find some additional money in conference: the $9.3 billion total is $120 million higher than the levels contained in the versions that had passed each House earlier this year.