Disaster aid a step closer to getting passed in Congress

Both houses of Congress may pass farm disaster aid by the end of the week but President Bush says he ll veto the bill A bill that would require the withdrawal of U-S troops from Iraq by next year also includes 3 5 billion in farm disaster aid The money would help farmers in Western and Midwestern states that have suffered weather-related losses from drought and flooding It was approved by a House-Senate conference committee in Washington yesterday The amount is less than the House and Senate versions President Bush has said he ll veto the bill because of the deadline for troop withdrawal from Iraq Democrats say they expect the measure to pass both houses by Friday and then go to Bush early next week Senator Byron Dorgan says it s a step toward helping farmers and ranchers