House vote sends FY-24 defense bill to Biden's desk

The House voted 310-118 to pass the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill, sending it to President Biden to be signed into law for the 63rd consecutive year.

The 3,000-page bill, which authorizes $886 billion in total national defense spending, contains numerous provisions related to the military, as well as the extension of a controversial federal surveillance law until April that stirred opposition among many lawmakers.

Democrats provided 163 votes to pass the bill, while Republicans cast 147 in favor of it. But the GOP also cast 73 votes against the bill, while 45 Democrats voted in opposition.

The Senate voted to pass the bill last night 87-13.

Though the bill authorizes funding, Congress is set to adjourn for the remainder of the year without having passed a final package that would actually appropriate funds for the Defense Department or other government agencies.