WASHINGTON – The House is expected to give the Pentagon an additional $45 billion for wars next year, even as public support for combat in Iraq wanes and lawmakers press for an exit strategy.

While President Bush has not asked yet for more war funds, lawmakers included money for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in a spending bill the House was expected to approve late yesterday, but was postponed until Monday because of other business.

With no end in sight in Iraq and Afghanistan, additional war costs are certain and House lawmakers are reluctant to wait for the president’s request.

The Senate also is considering adding billions for the wars in its version of the spending bill.

Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress has given the president $350 billion for combat and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan and fighting terrorism worldwide. That total includes $82 billion that lawmakers approved in May; much of this money was for Iraq.

In the month since, polls have shown that the public increasingly is dissatisfied with the direction of the Iraq war.

An Associated Press-Ipsos poll found that only 41% of adults – a low-water mark – said they supported Mr. Bush’s handling of the war. A Gallup poll reported that six in 10 Americans want America to withdraw some or all of its troops from Iraq.

Responding to the growing criticism, Secretary of State Rice called on Americans to “reach down” into themselves and “look for the kind of patience and generosity that we have exhibited in the past.”

“Now, I do think that we owe to the American people to say again and again that this is not going to be an American enterprise for the long term. This is going to be an Iraqi enterprise,” she said.

Military officials said they hoped to reverse the downward trend in public support. “It is concerning that our public is not as supportive as perhaps they once were,” said Lieutenant General James Conway, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“It’s extremely important to the soldier and the Marine, the airman and the sailor over there, to know that their country’s behind them,” General Conway said. Discontent about the war is evident among lawmakers.

Yesterday, a small group of House members from each party introduced a resolution that would require the president to announce by year’s end a plan for bringing home troops from Iraq and take steps to follow through. Withdrawal would have to start by October 1, 2006, according to the measure.

“After 1,700 deaths, over 12,000 wounded and $200 billion spent, we believe it is time to have this debate and discussion,” said one sponsor, Rep. Walter Jones, a Republican of North Carolina, who voted for the war.