The House advanced the annual defense policy bill on Tuesday, teeing up the mammoth measure for a final vote later this week.
The chamber voted 211-207 along party lines to adopt the rule — which governs debate for legislation — for the sprawling bill, formally opening up debate in the chamber. The House is expected to vote on final passage this week, which will require majority support in the chamber, before sending the legislation to the Senate ahead of the end-of-year deadline.
The bill — known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) — has a $883.7 billion topline and includes bipartisan provisions like a 19.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted service members, increasing the U.S.’s presence in........