President Barack Obama signs the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. From left are, Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Rep. Susan Davis, D-Calif. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Texas, Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., Rep. Jim Langevin, D-N.J., and Rep. Rob Andrews, D-N.J. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)AP – Trumpeting a victory against careless spending, President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed a defense bill that kills some costly weapons projects and expands war efforts. In a major civil rights change, the law also makes it a federal hate crime to assault people based on sexual orientation.