The bill permits the Pentagon to spend billions on military supplies, including armored vehicles, night vision devices and jammers to defend against roadside bombs.

It also allows the Army to increase its ranks by 10,000 and the Marine Corps to grow by 1,000. The measure also would allow 3.1 percent pay increases for military personnel.

The bill also requires the Defense Department to issue a report to Congress on women in combat by the end of March and to give Congress at least 60 days advance notice before opening or closing jobs to women.

Bishop also inserted language into the bill that would pump millions of dollars into military interests in Utah. The Utah Air National Guard's 169th intelligence squadron would receive $7 million worth of new equipment for monitoring radio signals and $5.2 million for a new satellite antenna and software.

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Contributing: Associated Press.

E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com