Congress Seeks Control Of Iraq $$

White House officials are accepting limits the Senate has voted to clamp on President Bush's request for $25 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan, but say House restrictions go too far.

The Senate voted 95-0 Wednesday to provide the money, which Bush says is needed for this fall's U.S. military operations in the two countries. But while the president wanted to be able to shift the entire sum among different accounts without lawmakers' approval, the Republican-led body limited his flexibility to $2.5 billion.

Meanwhile, a GOP-run subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee approved the same $25 billion, but slapped even tighter controls over the funds.

Mr. Bush could only shift $1 billion on his own, plus another $2 billion with the consent of legislators. In addition, the House bill distributed the money to far greater levels of detail than the Senate did, further constraining the president.

"We believe the Senate provision strikes the appropriate balance between Congress' legitimate oversight needs and the flexibility the Defense Department needs," said Joel Kaplan, deputy chief of the White House budget office.

But as for the House version, Kaplan said, "We're going to work with the House."

The House bill assigned much of the money to detailed accounts, like $320 million for small arms and other combat equipment, making the money difficult to shift. The Senate gave Mr. Bush more leeway than Congress normally provides by aiming most of the money at broad programs, like $14.5 billion for Army operations and maintenance.

In another change reflecting lawmakers' worries that money could be needed sooner than the administration has said, both bills would make the extra money available as soon as the measures became law.

Until now, the plan was to provide the money as of Oct. 1, when the government's new budget year begins.

Lawmakers widely support the $25 billion and are expected to pass it easily later this year. The administration is expected to eventually seek more than $50 billion for next year's military activities in the two countries.

Before this request, Congress had provided $191 billion for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as extra security steps the Defense Department has taken at home.

Mr. Bush asked for the funds last month. He proposed that he control how the money was spent, so long as he notified Congress that the expenditure was an emergency needed for military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The version the Senate endorsed would provide $20.5 billion for operations and maintenance, a broad category that includes items like fuel and equipment repairs. In addition, there would be $2 billion for salaries and other personnel costs and $2.5 billion Mr. Bush could shift among those accounts and others, including classified programs and the Coast Guard.

The House subcommittee bill was far more specific — and wide-ranging. It would provide $14.3 billion for operation and maintenance costs, with money assigned to specific items like $538 million for body armor for soldiers.

There is also $873 million for improved armor for Humvees and other vehicles, and $3.9 billion for pay and other personnel costs, including money to add 13,000 troops to the Army and Marines next year.

The Senate provision was included in a $447 billion bill setting government-wide defense spending policy for next year. A later spending bill will have to provide the actual funds.

The House funds were included in a $416 billion package for the Pentagon that actually provides the money. The House subcommittee approved its bill behind closed doors, and lawmakers refused to provide details of how they would spend the other $391 billion in the bill.

In both cases, compromise House-Senate bills will have to be finished and sent to Mr. Bush for his signature.