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U.S. Senate backs $740 billion defense bill by veto-proof margin; voting continues – Metro US

U.S. Senate backs $740 billion defense bill by veto-proof margin; voting continues

FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd transits
FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd transits the Gulf of Alaska

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – At least 75 members of the Republican-led U.S. Senate voted for a sweeping $740 billion annual defense bill as voting continued on Friday, a number larger than the two-thirds majority in the 100-member chamber that would be needed to defeat President Donald Trump’s promised veto.

The National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, has passed the U.S. Congress for 59 straight years. Since the measure passed the House by a similarly large margin, backers of the bill hope that Trump can be persuaded to change his position.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; editing by Jonathan Oatis)