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WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (Reuters) - A leading House Democrat on military spending said on Wednesday that he will soon recommend more spending to address a $100 billion gap in funding for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations subcommittee for defense, told a budget hearing that a spending proposal would be ready for House leaders to review by the end of February.

Matthew Mazonkey, a spokesman for Murtha, said the congressman will again try to tie the additional war money to timetables for withdrawing combat troops from Iraq.

"Murtha will recommend to the (House Democratic) leadership that the FY08 supplemental includes withdrawal goals, provisions against the use of torture, and fully trained and fully equipped requirements" for soldiers, he said.

Democrats failed to win enactment of similar provisions last year.

President George W. Bush has requested nearly $190 billion in funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for fiscal year 2008, which runs through September. But disagreements between lawmakers and the administration over Iraq prompted Congress to appropriate only $86 billion, leaving a gap of more than $100 billion.

"We don't know what the consideration will be because that's a leadership decision. But it'll be ready," Murtha told Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen, who appeared before his panel as witnesses.

England and Mullen both urged the lawmakers to provide the remaining sum as soon as possible.

"It'll be a little bit different than you requested," Murtha told the two defense officials. "We'll add that money back. At least I'll make that recommendation."

The Bush administration has submitted a partial supplemental request of $70 billion for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars for next year.

The Pentagon is expected to request additional funds for 2009 this spring, when defense officials will have a clearer idea of troop levels in Iraq into the coming year.

There are currently 158,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and 29,000 in Afghanistan. (Reporting by David Morgan and Richard Cowan, editing by Jackie Frank)

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