WASHINGTON — House Republicans yesterday abandoned their plan to curb the role of women in combat zones after it ran into opposition from the Pentagon and lawmakers from both parties.

Instead, the GOP-controlled House decided to let the military continue determining which jobs women can hold, as long as defense officials give Congress 60 days' advance word on any changes. The provision was included in a $491 billion defense bill that the chamber approved, 390-39.

The House defeated an attempt to delay the current round of domestic military-base closings by one year and rejected an effort that would have called for the president to develop a plan for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq.

Panel pushes corn-based ethanol

Over oil companies' objections, a Senate committee yesterday approved a requirement that refiners use more corn-based ethanol and other renewable fuels in gasoline.

The legislation would mandate that refiners annually use at least 8 billion gallons of renewable components — almost all of it ethanol from corn — in gasoline by 2012.

"This is about a supply that is domestic," said Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., who won voice-vote approval for the ethanol mandate as part of an energy bill being crafted by the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

More controls OK'd for mortgage giants

A House committee yesterday approved legislation that would strengthen federal oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the big mortgage companies that have been beset by accounting scandals.

It also would expand the companies' goals for making home ownership affordable, require the companies to devote 5 percent of annual profits to financing housing for low-income people and allow the companies to buy bigger mortgage loans than now allowed in high-cost states such as California.

Congress created Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to inject money into the home-loan market, with a view to keeping mortgage rates lower. The companies buy mortgages from banks and other lenders and bundle them into securities for sale to investors or to keep as investment holdings.

House extends highway measure

The House yesterday approved a one-month extension of the current highway and transit spending program, the seventh such extension necessitated by the inability of the House and Senate to agree on a new bill.

The House in March approved a six-year, $284 billion bill, while the Senate last week passed legislation providing $295 billion. The White House has said anything more than $284 billion would be vetoed.

Also

War game: The CIA is conducting a war game this week to simulate an unprecedented, Sept. 11-like electronic assault against the United States. The three-day exercise is meant to test the ability of government and industry to respond to escalating Internet disruptions over many months, according to participants.

Senate race: Rep. Harold Ford Jr., D-Tenn., filed the federal paperwork yesterday to run for the Senate seat that will be vacated by Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist, who has said he will not seek a third term.

Compiled from The Associated Press