WASHINGTON   The US Senate approved its sweeping annual defense policy bill Thursday following a bipartisan breakthrough that cleared the way for final passage. By a vote of 77-20, the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as amended. Sen. Rand Paul voted no. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto, Ted Cruz and Thom Tillis did not vote. The measure, which was passed by the House in September, would authorize approximately $925 billion in defense spending. Following the voting,