By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to advance a $901 billion bill setting policy for the ​Pentagon, sending the massive piece of legislation to the White House, ​which has said President Donald Trump will sign it into law.

The fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, is a compromise between separate measures ⁠passed earlier this year in the House of Representatives and Senate. It authorizes a record $901 billion in annual military spending, with a 4% pay raise for the troops. It also authorizes reforms to the system for acquiring military equipment and includes efforts to boost ​competitiveness with U.S. archrivals China and Russia.

The Senate backed the bill by 77 to 20, with strong support from ‍both parties. Two of the "no" votes were from Republican ​senators Mike Lee and Rand Paul.

"This will be the 65th year in a row, the 65th consecutive year, that Congress has come together across the aisle and across two chambers to send the president a bill designed to sustain and strengthen the........

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