The bill proposes a 5.2% pay raise for service members
The House decisively passed a landmark $886 billion defense policy bill on Thursday, endorsing the largest pay raise for troops in over 20 years.
Despite objections from some conservatives about perceived shortcomings in restricting Pentagon diversity initiatives, abortion travel policy and transgender service members’ health care, the bill received bipartisan support with a vote of 310-118.
What does it provide?
The bill proposes a 5.2% pay raise for service members, allocates military training assistance to Taiwan, and extends US spy agencies’ authority. It comes at a time of global tensions, with conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and China’s increased military activities in the South China Sea.
Following the Senate’s overwhelming approval on Wednesday, the legislation now heads to President Joe Biden.
The bill, likely the last major legislation before the holiday break, includes a 3% increase in spending and outlines funding for various defense programs.