Senate passes defense bill conflicting with House’s bill

The Senate on Thursday night voted 86-11 to pass a defense policy bill that authorizes a record $886 billion in spending. House representatives earlier this month narrowly passed their own version of the bill that included several key amendments. The chambers must write and approve a final version of the bill before it goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. Congress has left for its August recess and will return to the capital in September.

What are some of the differences between the bills? The House version of the legislation repealed a Pentagon policy to reimburse servicewomen who travel to get an abortion. Republican lawmakers also included an amendment to block covering transgender surgeries and cross-sex hormones for military personnel. The Senate version includes a requirement for American companies to notify federal agencies of investments in Chinese technologies. Both versions include a 5.2 percent pay raise for federal workers and military members. 

Dig deeper: Read Katelyn Walls Shelton’s opinion column about the Pentagon’s abortion policy.