The Senate approved a nearly $700 billion defense authorization bill for fiscal 2018 by voice vote Thursday, paving the way for members of the military to receive an across-the-board 2.4 percent pay raise next year.
The fiscal 2018 National Defense Authorization Act was approved in the House by a 356-70 vote Tuesday. Although President Trump originally requested a 2.1 percent raise for military members in his fiscal 2018 budget request, leaders in both chambers reached an agreement on the bill, which now includes the steeper pay increase for military service members, last week.