Senate passes defense spending bill that repeals COVID-19 vaccine mandate, approves Ukraine funds

The Senate on Thursday passed the National Defense Authorization Act, an $858 billion spending package and sent it to President Joe Biden's desk for signature.

Included in the plan is a 4.6 percent pay increase for American forces, a provision to end the military's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, and authorized additional funding for Ukraine and Taiwan, according to NBC News.

The bill passed in an 83-11 vote after clearing the House by a 350-80 margin.

A Republican amendment to expedite the termination of the vaccine mandate failed to receive enough votes to be incorporated into the plan.

Moreover, a separate effort from West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin to include his energy permitting reform plan was also unsuccessful. Manchin previously failed to secure his plan's passage as part of a separate measure due to opposition from environmentalist Democrats.