Stars and Stripes:
WASHINGTON — Senate and House lawmakers behind a compromise of the defense policy plan unveiled Monday said the proposal takes new steps to strengthen the U.S. military’s ability to challenge increased threats from Russia and China throughout the world.
Lawmakers rolled out several provisions in the proposed National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, that extend the limitations on U.S. military cooperation, express a commitment to U.S.-NATO obligations and trigger the creation of a new post on the National Security Council to counter Russian interference with U.S. elections and its undermining of U.S. alliances.
The announced provisions follow a July 16 summit in Helsinki between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that included a private meeting between the two leaders and a joint news conference. Details of the meeting have yet to be revealed publicly.
