The Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a $650 billion authorization package for the Defense Department in fiscal year 2013, Defense News reports.
John Bennett writes the next step is for a joint House-Senate committee to reconcile both chambers’ versions of the fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act and send that version quickly to the White House for signature.
The House passed a $606 billion package in July, holding defense spending at fiscal 2012 levels.
According to Bloomberg, those differences include funding for an East Coast-based missile defense silo, which the House approved and the Senate did not.
Additionally, the House’s version allocates $4 billion more than requested by the White House, Bloomberg reports.
