The Senate has moved forward on the proposed $585 billion defense spending bill and will hold a vote on the legislation Friday, The Hill newspaper reported Thursday.Ramsey Cox writes senators voted 85-14 to end debate on the bill, which allocates $521 billion in discretionary spending for Defense Department operations and $64 billion for overseas contingency missions.
Lawmakers also inserted a lands package into the fiscal year 2015Â National Defense Authorization Act, according to the report.
The federal lands use portion of the bill would assign new national parks and wilderness areas and shorten the time it takes to process permits for oil and gas drilling, the report says.
Cox reports the legislation also contains provisions to train rebels in Syria to combat the Islamic State group.
