U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa lauded a $625.1 billion defense authorization bill that was approved by the Senate in an 84-15 vote Thursday night and was headed for President Barack Obama’s signature.

The bill was passed by the House on Dec. 12.

"The (National Defense Authorization Act) affirms Hawaii’s continued importance as the doorstep to Asia and the Pacific, providing for Hawaii’s needs and our nation’s defense priorities," Hanabusa said in a release. "That has always been my goal. The bill includes vital funding for our state’s defense projects, which means jobs, infrastructure improve- ments, and investment in breakthrough research and development."

The White House expressed support for the legislation, which cracks down on sexual assault in the military and provides $552.1 billion for the regular military budget and $80.7 billion for the war in Afghanistan and other overseas operations.

The bill also covers combat pay, ships, aircraft and bases, and would provide a 1 percent pay raise to military personnel.

"As the U.S. moves towards a strategic rebalancing to the Asia Pacific, Hawaii plays an ever-increasingly critical role," Schatz said in a release.

The authorization "protects Hawaii’s defense priorities," including projects to bring new MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft to Kaneohe Bay, and to help modernize the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Schatz said. The defense bill provides more than $400 million in military construction for Hawaii.

Hanabusa, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, noted that the defense authorization:

» Limits Navy funding for early retirement of Ticonderoga-class cruisers, two of which are home-ported at Pearl Harbor and are conducting missions in the Asia-Pacific region.

» Provides the secretary of defense the authority to lease real estate for military heritage sites for a term of more than five years, and for an amount that is less than the fair market value if it serves the public interest, helping sites such as the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park in Pearl Harbor.

» Requires the Department of Defense to consider the "strategic value" of venues when determining where to hold training and conferences so that locations such as Hawaii are not excluded from consideration because of the state’s reputation as a vacation spot.

Among the planned spending is $70 million for a U.S. Army Pacific command and control facility at Fort Shafter; more than $132 million for a hangar, parking apron and infrastructure for MV-22 at the Marine Corps base; and $35.3 million for a submarine production support facility at Pearl Harbor.

Schatz’s office said the defense bill includes legislation he introduced, the Military Installations Enhancement Act, which builds on a defense requirement for better development of long-range planning.

Schatz’s legislation "helps the DoD advance those efforts and preserve land — which is precious in Hawaii," his office said. "It requires commanders, in creating the development plan for their base, to consider new building designs and construction that will curb urban sprawl and help reduce long-term costs."

The defense bill would strip military commanders of their ability to overturn jury convictions in sexual assaults and require a civilian review if a commander declines to prosecute a case.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.