The Senate on Wednesday passed its first intelligence authorization bill in three years, after dropping contentious provisions that had held up action earlier.

The multifaceted legislation seeks to tighten management of the nation’s disparate intelligence agencies and require more financial accountability.

Passage of the measure ended a three-year Senate struggle to advance an authorization bill and gave Congress its best hope in a long time of putting its imprint on programs across the intelligence community.

The fiscal 2008 legislation (HR 2082) was passed by voice vote after the Senate adopted a substitute amendment that removed or watered down provisions fought by Republicans. Among those dropped was a requirement that President Bush hand over Iraq-related intelligence briefing documents known as the President’s Daily Briefing dating back to the period before the war began in March 2003.

While the House has passed an annual intelligence authorization bill since the advent of the legislation almost 30 years ago, partisan squabbling has prevented Senate passage in recent years.

“Several senators on both sides of the aisle had to give until it hurt to make this happen,” said Christopher S. Bond of Missouri, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The House passed its version of the bill, 225-197, on May 11. “We look forward to conference on the bills and sending legislation to the president,” said Kira Maas, spokeswoman for House Intelligence Chairman Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas.