
The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) on Thursday approved its markup of the fiscal year 2016 defense authorization bill in a 22-4 vote. Although the bill would fully fund controversial platforms like the F-35 joint strike program and the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) — both of which committee chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) has rallied against in the past — release of that money comes with strings attached. Like the House committee’s National Defense Authorization Act, SASC’s version shifts about $38…