The US House of Representatives has passed an extensive annual defense bill that includes a 5.2% pay raise for service members. However, it also includes controversial additions from Republicans that aim to block abortion coverage, diversity initiatives at the Pentagon, and transgender issues. The bill had previously received near-unanimous support from the House Armed Services Committee but faced opposition from Democrats during a late-night floor debate. The final vote was 219-210, with four Democrats siding with the GOP and four Republicans opposing. The bill is not expected to advance in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats.
The defense bill authorizes $874.2 billion for defense spending in the coming year, in line with President Biden’s budget request. The actual allocation of funds will be determined later through the appropriation bills, as per standard procedure. Republican efforts to cut US funding for Ukraine in its war against Russia were unsuccessful. However, Republicans were successful in adding provisions to curtail diversity initiatives in the Defense Department and restrict access to abortions. Senator Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has championed the abortion issue and is currently stalling the confirmation of military officers, including the new commandant of the Marine Corps. Additional measures to roll back diversity and inclusion measures and limit medical care for transgender personnel were also approved.
During a heated debate on an amendment from Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., which aimed to prevent mandatory participation in race-based training by the Defense Department, tensions rose when Crane used the derogatory phrase “colored people” to refer to Black Americans. Democrats voted against the bill, accusing some Republicans of using the historically bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act to attack reproductive freedom and impose their right-wing ideology on the American people. The Senate is now working on its own version of the bill, and Democrats will need to collaborate with Republicans to ensure its passage.
(Read more House of Representatives stories.)
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