Washington: The US Senate approved a record $858 billion defense budget and sent its summary to President Biden.
According to the British news agency, this amount is $45 billion more than President Biden’s proposed defense budget, while it also repeals the mandatory Covid vaccine mandate for the military.
83 members voted in support of this bill or the National Defense Authorization Act, while 11 voted against it.
The bill approves $858 billion in military spending for fiscal year 2023, including a 4.6 percent increase in military pay, weapons, ships and warplanes, while China and Russia Financial support from Taiwan and Ukraine has also been included in the face of threats.
The U.S. Congress has passed this bill every year since 1961, which is signed into law by the president. Senator James Inhofe, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement, “This is the most important bill we’ve ever passed.” Years do.
The bill would provide at least $800 million in additional security assistance to Ukraine next year and includes several provisions to bolster Taiwan amid tensions with China, including billions of dollars in aid to Taiwan. Security assistance will be provided.
The bill earmarked more funds to develop hypersonic weapons, close the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawaii, and purchase weapons systems including Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 fighter jets and General Dynamics-built ships. have gone Defense policies of the United States require the passage of a defense budget on an annual basis.
Republicans, who have argued that various measures to prevent Covid-19 infringe on personal liberties, have threatened to oppose the bill if the mandate is not removed.
Among those who voted against the bill were liberals, who object to the ever-increasing defense budget, while economic conservatives who favor cutting spending also opposed the bill. The no votes came from a mix of liberals who object to ever-increasing military budgets and fiscal conservatives who want tighter spending controls.
After passing the U.S. House of Representatives and now the Senate last week, the bill’s next destination is the White House, where the president will sign the bill into law, sealing it into law.
