Senate Clears $640.7 Billion Defense Measure for Obama to Act On

The U.S. Senate approved legislation authorizing Defense Department programs and spending for the current fiscal year, clearing it for President Barack Obama to act on.

The measure calls for $640.7 billion for the Pentagon and related defense programs at agencies such as the Energy Department for the year that began Oct. 1. The Senate voted 81- 14 today for the compromise bill crafted by a House-Senate conference committee. The House passed it yesterday.

The measure includes more money than the Obama administration sought for weapons built by Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (HII) and General Dynamics Corp. (GD) and Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC)

To contact the reporter on this story: Chris Strohm in Washington at cstrohm1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Larry Liebert at lliebert@bloomberg.net