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The
vote paved the way for a Pentagon budget of at least $810
billion next year after the Senate Armed Services Committee
already backed a $45 billion increase in its version of the
bill.
The two chambers will decide the ultimate level when they meet
in conference on the bill at an undecided date.
The vote in favor of the $37 billion amendment to the annual
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was 42-17, as more
than a dozen Democrats joined Republicans in favor of higher
spending. The amendment included $2.5 billion to help pay higher
fuel costs, $550 million for Ukraine, funding for five ships,
eight Boeing Co-made F-18 Super Hornet fighter jets, five
Lockheed Martin Co-made C-130 Hercules planes, and about $1
billion for four Patriot missile units.
Biden requested a record peacetime national defense budget of
$813 billion which earmarked $773 billion for the Pentagon.
About $40 billion of Biden's national defense budget is set
aside for other national security-related programs at the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Energy and other
agencies.
Biden's budget requested a 4.6% pay raise for troops and the
largest research and development budget in history, as Russian
aggression in Ukraine spurs demands for more military spending.
Last year, the NDAA authorized $778 billion in defense spending,
which was $25 billion more than requested by Biden.
(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Josie Kao)
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