The House easily passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act Thursday with a 329-101 vote. The $840 billion bill gives a 4.6% pay raise for military personnel that President Biden requested and adds a 2.4% bonus for lower-income military personnel and civilian DOD workers hit hardest by inflation.

An amendment from Armed Services Committee Chair Adam Smith (D-Wash.) would have allowed the Navy to retire all nine of the littoral combat ships it wants to retire. That was narrowly defeated, and the bill as passed requires that the Navy keep at least five of them, according to CQ.

The House narrowly adopted an amendment that would give the mayor of Washington, D.C., authority over the D.C. National Guard, similar to the power state governors have.

“There’s a lot to be proud of in this bill, and the stakes for our country’s national security could not be higher,” Smith said after the bill passed.

The Senate is still working on its version.

CQ Roll Call photo by Caroline Brehman