The House of Representatives today approved a comprehensive defense bill that includes a 5.2% pay raise for service members. However, the bill also incorporates controversial Republican provisions that block abortion coverage, diversity initiatives at the Pentagon, and transgender care. This has resulted in a deep division among lawmakers.
Democrats voted against the package, which was initially passed unanimously by the House Armed Services Committee. The addition of GOP priorities during a heated floor debate led to a final vote of 219-210, with four Democrats in favor and four Republicans opposed. Nevertheless, this bill is unlikely to gain traction in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Efforts to halt U.S. funding for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia were unsuccessful. However, Republicans managed to include measures that limit the Defense Department’s diversity initiatives and restrict access to abortions. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has been advocating for the abortion issue and has been blocking Senate confirmation of military officers, including the new Marine Corps commandant.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., stated, “We are continuing to block the Biden administration’s ‘woke’ agenda.”
This contentious debate surrounding the defense bill highlights the military’s unexpected involvement in disputes over race, equality, and women’s healthcare. These issues have become the top priorities for the Republican Party and have contributed to the widening national divide in the United States.
During the debate, Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio expressed her frustration at the Republican amendments that undermine progress for women, Black people, and other marginalized groups in the military. She accused Republicans of setting back the fight for equality.
Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., defended the amendments, arguing that neither Russia nor China enforce diversity measures in their military operations, and the United States should follow suit. He stated, “We don’t want our military to be a social experiment. We want the best of the best.” Beatty requested that Crane’s use of the term “colored people” be stricken from the record.
This vote has been a challenging moment for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as conservative lawmakers have driven the agenda. However, McCarthy’s management of the situation has received praise from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who initially opposed the bill but changed her mind after being offered a seat on the committee negotiating the final version with the Senate.
In a joint statement, Democratic leaders explained their opposition to the bill, criticizing Republicans for turning a significant investment in military personnel into an extreme and reckless legislative endeavor. They accused extreme MAGA Republicans of attacking reproductive freedom and imposing their right-wing ideology on the American people.
The defense bill authorizes $874.2 billion in defense spending for the coming year, aligning with President Joe Biden’s budget request. The funding itself will be allocated later during the normal appropriations process in Congress.
In addition to setting policies for the Defense Department, the bill focuses on the U.S. stance toward China, Russia, and other national security matters. Amendments proposing to cut U.S. support for Ukraine were largely unsuccessful. However, measures to roll back diversity and inclusion initiatives in the Pentagon and restrict medical care for transgender military personnel were approved.
GOP Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas, a former White House physician, spearheaded the abortion measure, which prohibits the defense secretary from funding or reimbursing expenses related to abortion services. Jackson and other Republicans commended Tuberville for his opposition to the Pentagon’s abortion policy.
As the legislation moves to the Senate, it is uncertain whether the House’s position will prevail. Senate Democrats hold the majority but will need to work with Republicans to secure bipartisan support for passage in their chamber.
McCarthy praised the House for eliminating “radical programs” that he believes distract from the military’s purpose.
Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee, led by Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, withdrew their support for the bill due to the social policy amendments. Smith, who is white, emphasized the importance of the Pentagon’s diversity initiatives, drawing on his own experiences as a businessman seeking to diversify his network and gain a deeper understanding of others.
Smith lamented that the originally bipartisan bill “no longer exists” and criticized it as an endorsement of bigotry and ignorance.
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