Senate Backs Defense Bill Boosting Pacts to Parry China’s Might

The Senate passed a sweeping $886 billion defense authorization bill that keeps alive the Pentagon’s abortion travel policy and extends for a few months a controversial electronic spying measure.

The Senate voted 87-13 to pass the compromise measure (H.R. 2670) that would authorize a 5.2% pay raise for service members as well as a monthly bonus for the junior enlisted troops. It also carries an authorization of $300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative—a small fraction of what is needed to arm Ukraine—and creates a special Inspector General for Ukraine.

President Joe Biden has requested $61 billion ...