Obama to sign $106B war bill

U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to sign a $106 billion war bill into law in near future.

The U.S. Congress sent the bill to Obama on Thursday to pay for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

The bill contains $79.9 billion to continue fighting the two wars, $7.7 billion to address the H1N1 flu pandemic, and $1.4 billion in foreign aid for Pakistan.

The bill, delayed by disputes over quickly closing the US prison at Guantanamo Bay and expanding support for the IMF, highlighted the difficulties that Obama may face in Congress.

The bill before us represents a balanced compromise between the issues and funding recommended by the House and Senate, said Democratic Senator Daniel Inouye, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The Senate voted 91-5, with most Republicans joining Democrats to support it and the House approval on Tuesday garnered only five Republican votes and 32 Democrats voted against it.