WASHINGTON (AP) — A House panel is pushing ahead with a $642 billion defense bill that backs construction of a missile defense site on the East Coast.
The Armed Services Committee's budget blueprint for next year buys new weapons, ships and aircraft, increases military pay by 1.7 percent and sets policies for the Pentagon. The committee worked through the day Wednesday and into the early morning Thursday on the legislation that adds billions of dollars to the president's budget request.
Conservative Republicans still angry with the new policy allowing gays to serve openly in the military secured support for two amendments limiting gay rights, including one barring same-sex marriages on military installations.
The committee also green-lighted the missile defense site even though the Pentagon said it was unnecessary.
