"Senate Approves $886 Billion Defense Bill with Troop Pay Raises and Ukraine Aid"

The Senate and House Armed Services committees have released a $886.3 billion defense bill that includes the largest raise for service members in over two decades, extends a controversial surveillance program, and strengthens the US posture in the Indo-Pacific region to deter Chinese actions. The bill does not include provisions related to abortion and transgender health care access but includes measures aimed at "ending wokeness in the military." It also provides support for service members and their families, authorizes the use of psychedelic substances and cannabis for clinical trials, and addresses issues related to warrantless surveillance, China aggression, and Covid-19 vaccine mandates.