(CNN) Congress has passed an annual defense authorization bill following a vote in the Senate on Tuesday that includes a provision that creates a new space force branch of the armed services and provides all federal workers with 12 weeks of paid parental leave for the first time in American history.

The bill passed by a vote of 86-8 and the legislation now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature.

The paid parental leave provision was added after a significant push from Democrats, who during the course of the negotiation saw an opening with Trump's desire to see the establishment of Space Force as a branch of the US military.

In the White House push for Space Force's inclusion, it was made clear, aides familiar with the negotiations said, that any number of Democratic priorities were potentially on the table. Over the objection of congressional Republicans, the White House agreed to the paid parental leave for federal workers in order to ensure the establishment of Space Force, the aides said.

The bill passed the House last week with a bipartisan vote of 377-48. Forty-one Democrats in the House and six Republicans opposed it, along with independent Rep. Justin Amash.

Read More