House Defense Bill Passes with Ships, Nukes, and Special Programs.

The House Armed Services Committee has passed the annual defense policy bill, authorizing the Navy to buy a total of 10 ships, including a Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine, two Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and two Virginia-class attack boats. The bill also includes an amendment requiring the Pentagon to create a program for the nuclear sea-launched cruise missile and a provision mandating the Navy to give lawmakers a new evaluation on the potential for buying used sealift ships off the foreign market. The bill approves a total of $886 billion for national defense.