UPDATE 2-US Congress sends Bush budget bill with Iraq money

(Adds White House reaction, Boehner, Pelosi)

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $556 billion bill on Wednesday to fund most of the federal government through September 2008, ending a year-long budget fight with President George W. Bush by also including new money for the Iraq war.

The House gave final congressional approval to the bill, which was cleared by the Senate late on Tuesday. It now goes to Bush for his expected approval.

Anti-war Democrats protested the new round of Iraq money, which they said gave Bush a "blank check" to run the war.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, a Wisconsin Democrat, sounded resigned to at least another year of funding the war in Iraq, against his wishes. He said the only option for changing direction in Iraq was to "elect more progressive voices to the United States Senate" and "elect a president with a different set of priorities."

The U.S. presidential and congressional elections will be held in November 2008.

The White House said it was glad Congress passed the budget measure.

"We're pleased that Congress was able to pass legislation to fund the government this year without raising taxes and within the president's reasonable spending limits. It's also crucial that they provided $70 billion in funding for our troops in harm's way," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.