House Panel Defies Obama With $760 Billion Defense Bill

House Panel Defies Obama With $760 Billion Defense Bill | CQ Politics

The House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday night approved a $760 billion fiscal 2011 defense authorization bill that defied the Obama administration on several policies.

The legislation would alter some Pentagon weapons priorities, authorize a military pay raise larger than President Obama requested and continue funding that the administration does not want for an alternative engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The measure, approved 59-0, also would authorize about $200 billion for fighting the Iraq and Afghanistan wars this fiscal year and next. It could be on the House floor next week.

Chairman Ike Skelton , D-Mo., said the defense policy bill would “align the military strategy with the demands of the 21st century to sustain the two wars of today and prepare for the threats of the future.”

The bill would authorize $159.3 billion in fiscal 2011 for fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as $33 billion for the rest of fiscal 2010, which ends Sept. 30. Read more.