The Senate unanimously passed a supplemental spending package of $82 billion with most of the money going to pay for the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The additional spending measure passed the House of Representatives last week by a 368-58 margin.

It is a foregone conclusion that President Bush will sign the bill into law. Bush tanked the Congress for passing the bill to support the country's war efforts.

'I applaud the Congress for its strong bipartisan support for our troops and our continued effort to win the war on terror,' Bush said. 'New democracies are taking root in Iraq and Afghanistan, and America is proud to stand with them.'

There were some controversial provisions attached to the bill. Under one provision, states will not be able to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Changes to make asylum laws tougher were also added to the bill as were funds to complete a barrier fence between California and Mexico.

Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy said, 'the so-called Real ID immigration provisions' are 'highly controversial, harmful and unnecessary.' Still, Kennedy admitted, 'While this bill is imperfect, it has many important provisions that our soldiers cannot be denied.'

Approximately $656 million in aid money to help victims of the Asian tsunami of last December 26 were also included in the measure. Also a provision increasing death benefits and disability benefits for servicemen and women was a part of the bill.

The cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has now risen to more than $300 billion since September 11, 2001.