Defense Bill Passes with Big Pay Raise for Troops, Boosting Alabama and Mississippi Economies

The House passed a defense policy bill authorizing the largest pay raise for troops in over two decades, despite objections from some conservatives who wanted more restrictions on Pentagon diversity initiatives, abortion travel policy, and gender-affirming health care for transgender service members. The $886 billion bill, which represents a 3% increase from the previous year, now goes to President Joe Biden after being overwhelmingly passed by the Senate. The bill does not include certain provisions sought by House Republicans, but it does freeze hiring for diversity and inclusion training in the military until a full accounting of programming and costs is completed. The bill also includes a short-term extension of a surveillance program aimed at preventing terrorism and catching spies, which has drawn bipartisan pushback.