The US House has passed the new US defense bill with strong support from both major parties. Lawmakers voted 312-112 to approve the large plan, which authorizes about 900 billion dollars for military programs. The bill covers pay raises for troops, new rules for how the military buys weapons, and several measures tied to global security. The White House has already signaled support for the plan, which moves next to the Senate. The bill is more than 3,000 pages long and touches many areas of national defense. One part calls for a 3.8 percent pay raise for many service members. It also includes money to improve housing and buildings on military bases. Lawmakers said these upgrades are needed to support the daily lives of troops and help families who live on bases. Another section focuses on how the Pentagon buys weapons. Lawmakers said the current system is slow and needs change. The new rules aim to speed up purchases so the military can get equipment sooner. This push comes after years of delays in the defense industry. Leaders say the new approach will help the military stay ready during fast-changing global threats. The bill also deals with a series of boat strikes in the Caribbean linked to suspected drug smugglers. Lawmakers want more information about nearly two dozen cases. They included a rule that holds back part of the travel budget of the defense secretary until Congress receives full, unedited video of a strike from September. In that event, two survivors of an earlier strike were shot while holding on to a damaged boat. The bill also requires the Pentagon to share the written orders linked to the strikes. Members of Congress say they need this information to support strong oversight of military actions. Support for Ukraine appears throughout the bill. It authorizes 400 million dollars for each of the next two years to help produce weapons that can be sent to Ukraine. The goal is to keep support strong during the ongoing conflict with Russia. Some leaders had raised questions in recent months about the level of US help in Europe. In response, the bill includes a rule that at least 76,000 US troops must stay stationed in Europe unless allies are consulted and the change is shown to support US interests. There are usually between 80,000 and 100,000 US troops in Europe at any time. The bill also protects the long-standing US troop presence in South Korea by keeping the minimum level at 28,500. The bill moves forward at a time when many lawmakers want more action on airspace safety. Some senators had asked for new limits on military flights near Washington after a fatal midair crash earlier this year. That accident killed 67 people when an Army helicopter and a jetliner collided near a major airport. The final bill does not include the changes those senators wanted. Safety groups and families of victims said they were worried about any rules that could make the airspace less safe. Climate and diversity programs also see changes. The bill cuts 1.6 billion dollars from climate-related projects and 40 million dollars from diversity, equity, and inclusion work. Supporters of these cuts say the money should go to other defense needs. But military studies have long warned about climate risks, especially at bases hit by storms and rising water. One major change in the bill brings a legal end to the war in Iraq. It repeals the 2002 authorization used for the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Lawmakers said ending the old authorization is important because Iraq is now a partner, not an enemy. The old law had rarely been used in recent years but was mentioned in a legal argument during the 2020 drone strike that killed an Iranian general. The bill also removes US sanctions on Syria that were put in place in 2019. The penalties had aimed to pressure the former Syrian leader. Since a new president took power and began rebuilding efforts, supporters of the repeal said it was time to lift the penalties so companies feel safe investing in new projects. The next step for the US defense bill is the Senate. Leaders there hope to pass it before lawmakers leave for the holiday break.