US Senate Passes $577Bln Defense Bill to Fund Anti-IS Struggle

WASHINGTON, December 11 (Sputnik) – The US Senate has unanimously passed a $577-billion defense authorization bill for the fiscal year 2015, Senate Speaker announced on Thursday.

"On this vote the ayes are 85, the nays are 14, the motion is agreed to," Senate presiding officer said. Only 60 votes were required for the bill to advance.

The bill provides for funding and greater congressional oversight over the war on the Islamic State (IS), as well as training of Syrian rebels and Afghan army. It also includes new provisions to tackle sexual assault in US military.

Of the total amount, $495.9 billion will be spent on base programs in the Department of Defense, $63.7 billion on overseas contingency operations, and $17.5 billion on national security programs in the Department of Energy and the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.

The bill also contains a provision that prohibits "the use of Department of Defense (DOD) funds for fiscal year 2015 for bilateral military-to-military contact or cooperation" between the United States and Russia due to Russia's alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis.

Last Thursday, the bill was passed in the US House of Representatives with 300 votes in favor and 119 against it. Now to become law the multibillion defense spending bill has to be approved and signed by US President Barack Obama.