The Senate was moving toward a final vote Wednesday on the massive defense spending policy for fiscal year 2024, setting up what is likely to be a more contentious fight in the House.

The annual National Defense Authorization Act includes a 5.2% pay raise for troops, $800 million to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia, and $11.5 billion to counter Chinese threats in East Asia.

Congressional leaders hope to conclude work on the bill before the Christmas break but a number of issues are likely to spark a sharper fight in the House when it takes up the measure Thursday.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, New York Democrat, said Tuesday’s lopsided 85-15 cloture vote limiting debate was a strong sign of support for the NDAA. He said it was the kind of bipartisan cooperation that the American people want from Congress.

“At a time of huge trouble for global security, doing the defense authorization bill is more important than ever,” Mr. Schumer said Wednesday. “Passing the NDAA enables us to hold the line against Russia, stand firm against the Chinese Communist Party, and ensure that America’s defenses remain state of the art at all times.”

Among its dozens of policy provisions, the NDAA also will advance the Biden administration’s nuclear submarine agreement with Britain and Australia, a deal seen as another check on China’s rising power in the region.

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Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said this year’s NDAA strengthens America’s position in strategic competition with China and addresses a number of other security challenges as well.

“It’ll authorize further investments in the defense industrial base and expand efficiency and accountability of the lethal assistance degrading Russia’s military in Ukraine,” Mr. McConnell said Wednesday. “It will turbo-charge cooperation with Israel on future missile defense technologies and ensure our closest ally in the Middle East can access the U.S. capabilities it needs when it needs them.”

• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.