Congress crafts omnibus spending bill for final votes

Congress has agreed to a final version of a $1.3 trillion fiscal year 2018 omnibus spending bill that would increase defense funding by $80 billion above statutory spending caps.

The bill will have to pass both the House and Senate before the federal government shuts down at midnight Friday.

The measure conforms to a two-year bipartisan budget agreement reached in February. The legislation sets defense spending at $700 billion and non-defense spending at $591 billion.

"The agreement provides the biggest year-over-year increase in defense funding in 15 years," according to a statement from the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"Combined with FY2018 funding previously approved by Congress for missile defense and disaster response, the Defense Department will receive more than $61 billion over the 2017 enacted level," according to the committee.

The House is expected to vote on the 2,232-page bill Thursday.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) said Congress' work is far from over in terms of defense spending.

"Congress' work does not end when we write a check," he said. "In the months ahead, we will ensure that the military uses these funds to begin to rebuild quickly and efficiently. We will pursue reforms to the Department of Defense that preserve and enhance our fighting edge. We will continue to take a hard look at Pentagon bureaucracy as we prioritize rebuilding strength on the front line and cutting fat in the back office."