WASHINGTON — The Senate yesterday passed a $696 billion defense policy bill that contains more than $78 million for Hawai'i projects, including $30 million for improvements to the Pearl Harbor Shipyard dry dock.

The authorization bill, which the Senate approved 90-3, now goes to President Bush for his signature. It also authorizes $189 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The defense spending bill for this fiscal year has been enacted, but the authorization bill has to become law before money can be spent on military benefits and a 3.5 percent pay raise for the military.

Hawai'i Democratic U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka voted for the measure; U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i, did not vote on the authorization.

The White House has objected to several provisions, including the bill's pay raise. President Bush had requested just a 3 percent increase. The White House hasn't indicated whether Bush will veto the measure.

The bill, which covers the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, would authorize spending for ships, planes and ground vehicles, including $17.6 billion for v-hulled trucks that are better protected against improvised explosive devices and $3.3 billion for heavily armored Humvees.

Akaka, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said the bill also includes "wounded warrior" provisions for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan to improve veterans' healthcare, especially for veterans with traumatic brain injury and mental health problems.

"I am especially proud that this bill will extend automatic Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare eligibility for returning veterans from two years to five years," Akaka said.

Akaka said he pushed for extending the eligibility because of the increased number of returning combat veterans suffering from invisible wounds such as mental illness that sometimes are not immediately apparent.

Hawai'i projects authorized under the bill include $4.5 million for rescue signal kits and $2.5 million for a surveillance system that can see through foliage.

Reach Dennis Camire at dcamire@gns.gannett.com.

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