By Ed Tibbetts

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a defense spending bill Thursday that includes $4 million for the Rock Island Arsenal, U.S. Reps. Phil Hare, D-Ill., and Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, announced.

There's $2 million for a program called ASPI that subsidizes the relocation of commercial firms onto the island.

Another $2 million is being devoted to the Quad-Cities Manufacturing Lab, which is seeking to develop manufacturing processes for titanium and other lightweight materials.

The money is just a small part of the 2010 Defense appropriations bill, which the House approved Thursday on a 400-30 vote. The Senate hasn't acted on a defense spending measure yet.

Backers of the ASPI program say it provides cash flow to the Arsenal's Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center.

The Rock Island Arsenal Development Group had asked for $8 million for the ASPI program, said Jim Morgan, the program director. But since the Senate hasn't acted yet, it's still possible more money could be added.

Defense policy bills approved in the House and Senate over the past month also included language extending the ASPI program's authorization until 2011.

The program generates $700,000 a year in revenue, according to Braley's office.

Those bills still needs to be reconciled.

Both the spending and authorization bills still need the president's signature.