Senate panel approves $740 billion defense bill that would increase military force, boost troops' pay

[Tony]

WASHINGTON — The Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday sent its version of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act to the full Senate, approving a pay boost for troops, an increase to the military’s end strength and funding a new initiative aimed at checking China’s military power.

The $740.5 billion bill, which directs how the Pentagon and some other agencies spend money on national security, was passed by the panel Thursday in a 25-2 vote. The committee's top Republican and Democrat touted it as a bipartisan policymaking effort that should set an example for other Capitol Hill work. https://www.stripes.com/news/us/senate-panel-approves-740-billion-defense-bill-that-would-increase-military-force-boost-troops-pay-1.633436