U.S. Senate approves record defense budget: how much is allocated for Ukraine

The U.S. Senate has passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a document that defines the Department of Defense's spending for the next fiscal year. It amounted to a record $886 billion.

This amount is 3% higher than last year. The bill includes $800 million to support Ukraine as it fights Russia's invasion. The vote took place on Wednesday, December 13, the Hill reports.

As noted, the document, which consists of almost 3,100 pages, was supported by 87 lawmakers, with 13 votes against. Now the bill must be approved by the House of Representatives.

Journalists write that the vote may take place this week, and then the document must be signed by US President Joe Biden.

The bill provides for a record 5.2% pay raise for the military, as well as the purchase of ships, shells, and aircraft. The NDAA also provides for strengthening the national security of the state abroad: $11.5 billion is planned to be spent on deterring China in the Indo-Pacific region and another $800 million to support Ukraine.

Before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) urged senators to pass the bill as the US faces challenges around the world.

"At a time of enormous challenges to global security, passage of the Defense Authorization Act has never been more important. Passage of the NDAA will allow us to hold the line against Russia, stand firm against the Communist Party of China, and ensure that America's defense remains state-of-the-art," he said.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also supported the NDAA for strengthening national security.

"The Pentagon will be focused on solving national security problems, not creating new ones with partisan social policies," McConnell said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson, refused to extend the work of the lower house of the US Congress for another week. He did not support the proposal to extend the work of both chambers of the US parliament, which was made by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.

As you know, after President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the United States, the US Parliament was supposed to be extended for another week, until December 21.

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