By DPA,
Washington : The US House of Representatives passed a $680-billion defence spending bill Thursday despite President Barack Obama’s threat to veto the measure.
The bill for the fiscal 2010 year, which begins Oct 1, contains $369 million to continue production of the F-22 fighter jet the Obama and Defence Secretary Robert Gates say is not needed.
The Pentagon wants to cap production of the pricey premium fighter jet at 187, but lawmakers insist slowing production could cost thousands of jobs at a time when the economy is in a recession.
The House passed the spending authorisation bill, which is a statement of policy and not appropriations legislation, by a 389-22 vote. The Senate has yet to vote on the bill.
The authorisation bill also contains $130 billion in spending for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The F-22 Raptor, a stealth fighter widely regarded as the most advanced ever built, comes at a cost of about $150 million each. Critics say its capabilities and pricetag exceed the needs of the military, which is waging an unconventional war against insurgencies.