Stars and Stripes summarizes the winners and losers from the defense bill. The highlights:

Winners:

• Military bases: The final defense bill includes about $1.3 billion more for base operations and maintenance funds than the Defense Department requested.
• Sex assault prosecutions: the bill does include a host of new provisions designed to protect military sex assault victims.
• A-10 enthusiasts: Lawmakers included language blocking any Air Force plans to retire the Warthog.

Losers:

• Troops’ paychecks: a meager 1% pay raise.
• Medical bill collectors: Congress again rejected Pentagon plans for Tricare fee increases for some military retirees.
• Littoral combat ship: Congress wants more oversight in the embattled ship building program, and will fence off some funding of new ships until the Pentagon undergoes new reviews.

Crossposted from Wonk Wire.