House OKs stopgap bill to fund rest of the year

The House approved a compromise spending bill providing $20.9 billion to federal agencies for the rest of the current fiscal year. More than half the extra funds were earmarked for defense. The Senate was also expected to act on the measure.

The stopgap measure included $1.7 billion for the food stamp program to keep benefits flowing at the current level for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, and $109 million for child nutrition programs.

Included in the bill is the strongest antiabortion language ever passed by Congress -- prohibiting use of medicaid funds for abortions except when the mother's life is endangered.