May 24 (Bloomberg) -- Congress approved $120 billion in emergency spending for military operations and domestic projects after dropping troop withdrawal timelines that drew a veto threat from President George W. Bush.

The legislation, approved today by the Senate 80-14 and by the House of Representatives a couple of hours earlier, now goes to Bush for his signature. Bush said he supports the legislation, which also sets benchmarks for the Iraqi government.

Many Democrats said the measure was disappointing.

``This so-called compromise doesn't do nearly enough to end the war,'' said Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, one of 11 Democrats to oppose the measure. ``It was wrong for the president to send our troops to war without a plan to win the peace, and it's wrong for Congress to keep them in harm's way on the current failed course.''

Passage ends a four-month debate between Democrats in Congress and the Bush administration over Iraq war policy. Bush vetoed an earlier funding measure that included withdrawal timelines.

``This funding bill for our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan is long overdue,'' said Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Democratic Leaders said they would keep trying to force Bush to change policy by attaching conditions to other spending bills and voting on a repeal of the congressional authorization for the war in Iraq.

``This debate will go on,'' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. ``There will be legislation on the floor in the next several months to change the mission.

In the House, the spending measure was split into two parts, one $97.8 billion measure to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and a $22.2 billion bill for domestic programs including disaster relief, agricultural aid and an increase in the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour from $5.15, coupled with tax breaks for small businesses.

The House approved the military funding section 280-142. The additional spending was passed 348-73. The two measures were combined before being submitted to the Senate.

To contact the reporter on this story: Nicholas Johnston in Washington at njohnston3@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: May 24, 2007 20:52 EDT