Senate Passes $886 Billion Defense Spending Bill with Troop Pay Raises and Ukraine Aid
The Senate has passed an $886 billion defense spending bill, supported by President Joe Biden, which includes funding for Ukraine and annual pay raises for troops. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) provides funding for Pentagon priorities and was passed by a bipartisan vote of 87-13. The bill now heads to the House, where some Republicans are opposed to the removal of provisions on social issues. The Senate's NDAA includes provisions for defense funding, support for international partnerships, a pay raise for military servicemembers, and support for requested funding for various defense systems. The bill also includes a four-month extension of a domestic surveillance program, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which has been a topic of debate.