In a rare bipartisan show of support, a $768 billion defense spending bill passed the House by a 363-to-70 vote Tuesday after partisan provisions were excluded from the final bill, the New York Times reports.
The final legislation removed a requirement for females over the age of 18 to register with Selective Service; a repeal of the 2002 Iraq War authorization; and sanctions for a Russian pipeline that was 95% completed during the Trump administration.
The allotment provides additional funds for military efforts to detect, identify, prevent and avenge cyberattacks, and it provides funds to increase cybersecurity. The bill funds initiatives to counter Chinese aggression and to assist Ukraine against Russia.
“One of the major challenges our military faces right now is dealing with the rapid pace of technology; is getting the Pentagon to better and more quickly adopt the innovative technologies that we need to meet our national security threats,” said Representative Adam Smith, Democrat of Washington and the chairman of the Armed Services Committee. “Those threats are very real.”