House Passes Defense Bill with Divisive GOP Add-Ons, Democrats Vote Against
The House of Representatives approved a comprehensive defense bill on Friday, which includes a projected 5.2% pay raise for service members. However, the bill deviates from traditional military policy, as Republicans introduced provisions that block abortion coverage, diversity initiatives at the Pentagon, and transgender care, causing deep divisions within the chamber.
Despite receiving almost unanimous support from the House Armed Services Committee several weeks ago, Democrats voted against the package after it was loaded with GOP priorities during a contentious late-night floor debate this week. The final vote was 219-210, with four Democrats siding with Republicans and four Republicans opposing the bill. However, due to the Democratic majority in the Senate, the bill is not expected to progress further.
Efforts to cease U.S. funding for Ukraine’s war against Russia were unsuccessful, but Republicans successfully added provisions to curtail the Defense Department’s diversity initiatives and restrict access to abortions. Senator Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, has been a vocal advocate for the abortion issue and has been stalling Senate confirmation of military officers, including the new commandant of the Marine Corps.
Representative Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado, highlighted their opposition to the Biden administration’s “woke” agenda, stating, “We are continuing to block the Biden administration’s ‘woke’ agenda.”
The transformation of the crucial defense bill into a partisan battleground underscores how deeply the military has become embroiled in disputes over race, equity, and women’s healthcare, which are now shaping the Republican Party’s priorities in the country’s widening national divide.
During a particularly tense moment in the debate, Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio, a former chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, expressed her frustration with Republicans chipping away at advancements for women, Black people, and other marginalized groups in the military.
Regarding an amendment proposed by Representative Eli Crane, a Republican from Arizona, to prevent the Defense Department from implementing race-based training for hiring, promotions, or retention, Beatty stated, “You are setting us back.” Crane argued that neither Russia nor China mandate diversity measures in their military operations, and the United States should follow suit, stating, “We don’t want our military to be a social experiment. We want the best of the best.”
When Crane used the term “colored people” to refer to Black military personnel, Beatty requested that his words be stricken from the record.
Friday’s vote marked a tumultuous week for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, as conservatives drove the agenda, forcing their colleagues to consider their ideas for the annual bill, which has historically received bipartisan approval since World War II. McCarthy’s management of the situation was praised by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, who initially opposed the bill but changed her stance after McCarthy offered her a position on the committee tasked with negotiating the bill’s final version with the Senate.
In a joint leadership statement, Democrats explained their decision to vote against the bill, stating that Republicans “turned what should be a meaningful investment in our men and women in uniform into an extreme and reckless legislative joyride.”
The defense bill authorizes $874.2 billion in defense spending for the upcoming year, aligning with President Joe Biden’s budget request. The allocation of funding will be determined later during Congress’s handling of the appropriation bills, following the standard process.
This year’s bill sets important policies across the Defense Department and other aspects of the Energy Department. It particularly emphasizes the United States’ approach to national security challenges posed by China, Russia, and other countries.
Although several attempts by Republicans to halt U.S. support for the war in Ukraine failed, other proposals to roll back the Pentagon’s diversity and inclusion measures and restrict some medical care for transgender personnel were approved.
Republican Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas, a former White House physician, spearheaded an amendment to prohibit the defense secretary from funding or reimbursing expenses related to abortion services. Jackson and other Republicans praised Senator Tuberville for his opposition to the Pentagon’s abortion policy and his support on the issue.
However, it remains uncertain whether the House’s position will stand as the legislation moves to the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority but will need to collaborate with Republicans to secure bipartisan support for passage.
McCarthy commended the House for eliminating “radical programs” that he believes detract from the military’s purpose.
Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee, led by Representative Adam Smith of Washington state, withdrew their support due to the social policy amendments. Smith, who is white, attempted to explain the importance of the Pentagon’s diversity initiatives in America, drawing on his own business experience of reaching out to individuals outside his immediate network to foster greater understanding and inclusivity.
Smith expressed disappointment, stating, “What was once an example of compromise and functioning government has become an ode to bigotry and ignorance.”
Contributions to this report by Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri, Stephen Groves, and Mary Clare Jalonick.
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