U.S. Senate passes $770bn defence bill

Washington, Dec 16: The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday for a version of the National Defence Authorization Act, or NDAA, that authorizes $770 billion in defence spending - $25 billion more than requested by President Joe Biden - sending the measure to the White House for the president’s signature.

The vote was 88-11, with strong support from both Democrats and Republicans for the annual legislation setting policy for the Department of Defence. The House of Representatives passed it by 363-70 last week.

The NDAA is closely watched by a broad swath of industry and other interests because it is one of the only major pieces of legislation that becomes law every year because it addresses a wide range of issues. The NDAA has become law every year for six decades. It creates a 16-member commission to study the war in Afghanistan. Biden ended the conflict - by far the country’s longest war-in August. –(Agencies)