The bills force federal agencies to improve established training programs to better develop future leaders, update and expand their software inventories, and consolidate costly, unnecessary licenses so that government procedures run more smoothly.

Despite only having until the end of January to pass the remaining nine annual government funding bills, Congress has so far made minimal progress.

The House on Wednesday easily passed the annual defense policy bill, sending the mammoth, $900 billion measure to the Senate ahead of the year-end deadline. The measure, known as the National

Included in the colossal, 3,000-plus page package are provisions that would end longstanding war powers authorizations and require the Pentagon to release unedited footage of boat strikes.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted to pass a sweeping defense policy bill Wednesday that authorizes $900 billion in military programs, including a pay raise for troops and an overhaul of how the Department of Defense buys weapons.

The House on Wednesday advanced the National Defense Authorization Act for the next fiscal year, sending the massive defense policy bill to the Senate for final passage.

The legislation codifies President Trump’s agenda but includes a few measures challenging his policies and insisting on more consultation with Congress.

A pair of state House Democrats have introduced legislation that would regulate kratom in Pennsylvania. House Bill 2058, introduced by Reps. Emily Kinkead, D-Allegheny, and Jim Prokopiak, D-Bucks, would prohibit the sale or distribution of kratom products to individuals under the age of 21;