The House passed a new version of the National Defense Authorization Act Tuesday night, authorizing $768 billion in defense spending. That total reflects the $25 billion increase over the President’s budget request that had been added in the original House and Senate bills.
The Senate is expected to consider the bill this week, with limited opportunity for amendments. Disagreement over the amendment process is what held up action on the Senate’s original version. That’s when the chambers’ Armed Services committees worked behind the scenes on the compromise the House passed Tuesday on a vote of 363-70.
New Jersey National Guard photo by Spc Jacqueline Robinson