Senate lawmakers passed Thursday their version of the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act which would authorize $750 billion in DOD funding, according to The Hill.
The traditionally bipartisan annual spending bill passed overwhelmingly 86-8 with the GOP-led chamber authorizing increased defense spending levels over fiscal 2019.
The DOD funding levels, if approved through upcoming House-Senate conference negotiations, would set a defense base budget of $642.5 billion. The Pentagon’s Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) accounts, which are not subject to mandatory spending caps, would be funded at $75.9 billion.
The bill also authorizes $23.3 billion for national security programs under the Department of Energy, according to the report.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) touted the approved measure as an effort to upgrade the military and to counter global threats, according to Defense News. He also framed the bill’s increased funding as a worthy investment over other budgetary priorities.
“Ultimately, the job of the NDAA is to make tough choices about where we want to invest our resources,” Inhofe said, according to CQ. We put our resources where it matters,”
Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) also praised the bill as a genuinely bipartisan effort.
“This is a very good bill. It passed our committee on a vote of 25-2, a totally bipartisan vote,” Reed said. “It contains many needed authorities, funding authorizations, and reforms that will help the men and women of our armed services.”
The House is expected to vote on its $733 billion version of the NDAA in July.
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