[JURIST] The US House of Representatives has passed a $491 billion defense measure, HR 1815 [PDF text], which among other things leaves any decisions on the placement of women in war zones up to the Pentagon pending Congressional approval. House Republicans had previously attempted to add an amendment [PDF Washington Post report] to the bill which would limit womens' roles in war zone combat even further than presently allowed, but backed off last Thursday [JURIST report] after the Pentagon, the Army, and other legislators found that the amendment could have negative effects. The bill also includes allocations of $491 billion to fund the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to fight terrorism. AP has more.