President Bush has promised once again to veto a war funding bill setting a timeline for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
He made the statement Friday at a news conference after meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The statement follows by one day, Senate passage of a bill that requires the U.S. to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq by October 1. It sets a non-binding goal of full troop withdrawal by April of next year.
Mr. Bush also invited congressional leaders to meet him at the White House after he vetoes the bill, so they can discuss the issue.
Thursday's 51-46 Senate vote to approve the funding bill was cast largely along party lines, with Democrats approving the measure and Republicans against it.
The Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives approved a similar measure on Wednesday.
After a presidential veto, lawmakers would have to rewrite the legislation, as the House and Senate both lack the two-thirds majorities needed to override a veto.
Both chambers are expected to approve legislation funding military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan before the current funding runs out by June or July.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.