‘The importance of U.S. support for the Ukrainian people cannot be overstated.’ said Sen. Jack Reed (D.-R.I.), who heads the Senate Armed Services Committee. WASHINGTON—The Senate moved forward on the annual defense policy bill that sets spending levels and provides pay raises for the country’s military, with lawmakers setting goals of bolstering U.S. weapons inventory and improving relationships with countries positioned to help counter threats from China and Russia. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Jack Reed (D., R.I.) put a draft of the National Defense Authorization Act on the floor Tuesday morning. The move tees up lawmakers to debate the hundreds of proposals it contains when they reconvene next month after the midterm elections. Congress is aiming to wrap up the legislation by the end of the year.

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