Senate passes $901 billion annual defense bill

Before lawmakers leave town for the year-end holidays, the Senate passed a massive annual defense bill. The legislation, called the National Defense Authorization Act, authorizes 901 billion dollars in defense programs. Among other things, it raises troop pay by nearly four percent. The policy bill also demands more information on recent boat strikes in the Caribbean, requires that the U.S. keep its troop levels in Europe at current levels, and sends some military aid to Ukraine.