The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to pass the annual defense authorization bill, sending the nearly nine hundred billion dollar Pentagon policy and funding package to the president’s desk for his signature.
“The House on Thursday passed the annual defense policy bill, setting the U.S. military’s top priorities despite pushback from some Republicans who wanted to include provisions on abortion and transgender health care.
One day after it got approval from the Senate, the National Defense Authorization Act passed the House in a 310-118 vote
The legislation includes a record $886 billion in annual military spending, authorizing a $5.2% pay raise for troops, aid for Ukraine and the purchase of ships, ammunition and aircraft, Reuters reported. It also includes updates to bases and barracks, and measures aimed at countering China and Russia.
The bill also contained a short-term extension of a controversial law — Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — that allows for warrantless surveillance of foreign nationals, angering some lawmakers, CNN reported. Without the extension, the law would have gone away on January 1st.
‘As America is facing unprecedented threats across the globe, the National Defense Authorization Act will strengthen our national security against adversaries like China and Russia, and support our servicemembers by providing them with the tools necessary to continue to be the most lethal and effective fighting force in the world’, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Thursday in a statement.
The legislation was passed under a fast-track procedure that required approval from two-thirds of the House”. -Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group
The 63rd annual National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2024 is approximately $28 billion more than what was approved last year.
The White House has already approved more than $19 billion in direct military aid for Kiev from the Pentagon’s stockpiles, and this bill seeks additional funding to boost production and replenish the U.S. military’s diminishing supply.