$675 billion Pentagon spending bill approved by the Senate

The Senate passed its version of a $675 billion appropriations bill Thursday to fund the Pentagon in fiscal 2019, setting up negotiations with the House on a final spending plan.

The proposal represents the biggest hike in defense funding in about 15 years, but now must be reconciled by a conference committee with a similar $675 billion bill passed by the House in June. The Senate bill was passed as part of a minibus appropriations bill that included the departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services.