The U.S. House approved the fiscal year 2017 defense authorization conference report by a wide margin Dec. 2, voting 375 to 34 to send the measure to the Senate for its consideration.
While the legislation authorizes spending $619 billion on national defense, $3.2 billion above President Obama’s request, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said the total amount is still “not nearly enough” and that he hopes the incoming Trump administration will send Congress a supplemental request “that can really get about the job of rebuilding the military.” 
The Senate is expected to take up the conference report the week of Dec. 5-9.
Meanwhile, with the current continuing resolution (CR) that funds the government set to run out soon, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said he expects the House to vote on an extension Dec. 8. Although lawmakers previously indicated that the new CR would run through March 31, McCarthy said that appropriators continue to work on the measure and that the expiration date might change.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest reiterated the Obama administration’s concerns about the possibility of a CR that runs through May, telling reporters Dec. 1 that it would hinder the start of new programs and limit the resources available to the military. Defense Secretary Ash Carter highlighted those concerns in a Nov. 29 letter to congressional leaders.
Despite the uncertainty about the CR details, McCarthy said the House plans to focus on finishing the FY 2017 appropriations bills when lawmakers return in January after the holidays.