WASHINGTON, United States: The US defence bill authorising $1.15 trillion for fiscal year 2027 passed the House of Representatives by 216 votes to 212 on Wednesday.
The vote concluded at 4:37 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on July 22. The House Clerk recorded 209 Republicans, six Democrats and one independent voting for the National Defence Authorisation Act. Seven Republicans and 205 Democrats opposed it.
The legislation, designated H.R. 8800, authorises military spending, personnel levels, procurement and construction programmes. It does not itself provide the money, which must come through separate appropriations legislation.
Republicans said the measure would strengthen military readiness, support weapons development and provide personnel benefits, including pay increases and investment in barracks and family housing. The House Armed Services Committee described the bill as supporting servicemembers and expanding the US defence industrial base.
Democrats objected to the bill’s overall cost, US military operations against Iran and provisions expanding defence-technology cooperation with Israel. They also criticised linking the legislation to the SAVE America Act, a Republican-backed measure tightening federal voting requirements.
The House Rules Committee directed that the SAVE America Act’s text be added to the defence bill before it moved to the Senate, where the voting legislation lacks the support required to overcome a filibuster.
Read: US Senate Defence Bill Stalls in 50-46 Vote
The Senate has not passed its version. A July 14 attempt to advance Senate Bill 4784 failed 50-46 because it did not secure the required 60 votes. House and Senate negotiators must eventually agree on identical legislation before sending it to President Donald Trump.
