Share this @internewscast.com

WASHINGTON — More than two-thirds of the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of a defense policy bill on Thursday that includes a record $886 billion in annual military spending and authorizes policies such as aid for Ukraine and push back against China in the Indo-Pacific.

The House backed the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, by 310 to 118, with strong support from Republicans and Democrats. It was more than the two-thirds majority required to pass the measure and send it to the White House for President Joe Biden to sign into law.

Separate from the appropriations bills that set government spending levels, the NDAA authorizes everything from pay raises for troops — this year’s will be 5.2% — to purchases of ships, ammunition and aircraft.

Because it is one of the few major pieces of legislation that becomes law every year, members of Congress use it as a vehicle for a wide range of initiatives. It is also closely watched by major defense companies, such as Lockheed Martin, RTX Corp and other firms that receive Department of Defense contracts.

The vote for this year’s bill, which is nearly 3,100 pages long and authorizes a record $886 billion, up 3% from last year, meant that Congress has passed an NDAA for 63 straight years.

The final version of the NDAA left out provisions addressing divisive social issues, such as access to abortion and treatment of transgender service members, that had been included in the version passed by the Republican-majority House over the objections of Democrats, threatening to derail the legislation.

The Democratic-controlled Senate backed the NDAA, also with a strong bipartisan majority — 87 to 13 — on Wednesday.

The fiscal 2024 NDAA also includes a four-month extension of a disputed domestic surveillance authority, giving lawmakers more time to either reform or keep the program, known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

That provision faced objections in both the Senate and House, but not enough to derail the bill. The Senate defeated an attempt to remove the FISA extension from the NDAA on Wednesday before voting to pass the defense measure.

The House and Senate had each passed their own versions of the NDAA earlier this year. The measure approved this week was a compromise between the two parties and two chambers.

The bill extends one measure to help Ukraine, the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, through the end of 2026, authorizing $300 million for the program in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2024, and the next one.

However, that figure is a tiny compared to the $61 billion in assistance for Ukraine Biden has asked Congress to approve to help Kyiv as it battles a Russian invasion that began in February 2022.

That emergency spending request is bogged down in Congress, as Republicans have refused to approve assistance for Ukraine without Democrats agreeing to a significant toughening of immigration law.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with lawmakers at the Capitol on Tuesday to make his case for the funding requested by Biden, but emerged from the meetings without Republican commitments.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Man dead after shooting on Jacksonville's Southside, police say

Police Report Fatal Shooting Incident on Jacksonville’s Southside

The victim was found with multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Jacksonville…
The Room Where It Happened: Details of How Trump Team Facilitated Huge India-Pakistan Ceasefire

Inside the Negotiation: How Trump’s Team Successfully Brokered the India-Pakistan Ceasefire

While the perpetrators of the attack haven’t been definitively identified, the Indian…
Lyle Menendez wishes 'peace' to anyone 'in pain' on Mother's Day

Lyle Menendez Sends Mother’s Day Message of ‘Peace’ to Those Suffering

Just days before the scheduled resentencing of Lyle and Erik Menendez, Lyle…
Twin sisters achieve top honors at Stephenson High

Identical sisters earn top awards at Stephenson High School

Twin sisters Carissa and Aissa Swope claimed valedictorian and salutatorian titles at…
A crowd of people surrounding a tipped-over truck in a wooded area.

Tragic Accident: Bus Plunges Down Mountain Near Popular Sri Lankan Waterfall, Killing 21

AT least 21 people have died after a bus skidded and fell…
The Simple Good to host citywide scavenger hunt to support Chicago's youth

Citywide Scavenger Hunt for Chicago Youth Organized by The Simple Good

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Simple Good, a nonprofit organization based in Chicago,…
Woman spent almost $100k to be a hot mom

Woman Invests Nearly $100k for a Glamorous Transformation into a Trendy Mom

This mom has got it going on. When Cléo Souza’s daughter Alma…
Tour bus crash scene with emergency responders.

At Least One Dead, 32 Injured in Mother’s Day Tragedy: Tour Bus and Car Collision Erupts in Flames

AT least one person has been killed and 32 injured after a…
Body of Austin Tice, American journalist kidnapped over a decade ago, found: report

Remains of Austin Tice, American Journalist Missing for Over 10 Years, Discovered: Report

The body of American journalist and Marine veteran Austin Tice, who was…
Special prayer for Pope Leo XIV expected at Holy Name Cathedral Chicago's first Sunday Mass since election

Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago to Hold Special Prayer for Pope Leo XIV During First Sunday Mass Post-Election

CHICAGO (WLS) — Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Sunday blessing at…
Underwater wreckage of the Koning Willem de Tweede.

Archaeologists Discover Wreck of 800-Ton Dutch Merchant Vessel That Sank 168 Years Ago, Claiming 16 Crew Lives

ARCHAEOLOGISTS have made a “significant discovery” after finding a historic 800-tonne Dutch…
Fintech giant Chime moving to bigger space on Fifth Ave NYC

Chime Expands Its Footprint with New Location on Fifth Avenue, NYC

Chime, a fintech company based in San Francisco, has recently expanded its…