The US House of Representatives has passed a record defense budget of 866 billion dollars for the next year.
The bill was approved by 219 votes against 210 almost exclusively along party lines. The spending package includes initiatives to counter China and an additional 300 million dollar support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. However, a number of amendments introduced by the majority Republicans in the house, undermined democratic support. They include restrictions on abortion health services to the personnel. The amendments mean the legislation will be on rocky ground in the democratic-controlled senate. There, democrats are expected to start the process of passing their own version of the defense policy bill next week. It must also be approved by the House before being signed into law.