House OKs Defense Authorization

Working over the weekend to get the conference version of the 2006 defense authorization bill out the door, House legislators passed the bill on a 374-41 vote. The Senate was expected to take up the $441.5 billion measure Monday. One key provision, per Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, offers protection against civil and criminal prosecution for US service members who “act in good faith.”