US President signs US$717 billion defense bill for FY2019.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed the 716-billion-dollar National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law. The bill for the fiscal year 2019 was named after Republican Senator John Mccain, a former Republican presidential nomine and one of Trump's leading critics within the party.

The US President Donald Trump yesterday signed the $717 billion National Defense Authorization Act
(Credit: White House Twitter Account)

The president made a speech before his signature at Fort Drum, a northern New York military base, but didn't mention the ailing senator's name.

“We believe our warfighters deserve the tools, the equipment, and resources that they have earned with their blood, sweat, and tears. . . In honor of that sacred obligation, I will put my signature on the National Defense Authorization Act,” said the US President.

The bill provides about 616.9 billion dollars for the base Pentagon budget, 21.9 billion for nuclear weapons and 69 billion in war funding.

It also authorizes a 2.6-percent pay raise for members of the military, boosts the ranks of the U.S. military services by 15,600 active troops and approves the purchase of 13 new Navy warships and 77 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets.

The bill was passed 87 to 10 in the Senate on Aug. 1 after being approved by the House.

Every year, the House and Senate come together to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes the policies under which funding will be set by the appropriations committees.