House Republicans in WASHINGTON passed the National Defense Authorization Act after the GOP leadership made several concessions to the party’s right flank in a big gamble.
The legislation passed 219-210.
Members of the House Freedom Caucus, some of the most conservative lawmakers in the house, lobbied McCarthy to hold last-minute votes on several controversial amendments, ranging from targeting the Pentagon’s abortion policy to rejecting initiatives on climate change. Despite the infighting, House Republicans managed to pass the NDAA without much Democratic support.
The amendments jeopardized the final passage of legislation, a pending defense bill that sets the Pentagon’s political agenda and authorizes how the Department of Defense uses federal funding. The NDAA has traditionally passed with bipartisan support, but some conservative amendments have alienated Democratic lawmakers from backing the final version this year.
I shy away from appeasement and calm and all of that stuff, Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, told reporters Wednesday, dismissing any notion that the amendments could scare away crucial votes. Each member of the body has the right to propose amendments.
What amendments were the Conservatives in the House trying to promote?
Among some of the sore points for the Conservatives of the Chamber:
- Abortion: An amendment offered by Representative Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, would dismantle a Pentagon policy that reimburses out-of-state travel for service members who receive abortions. This is one of the most popular amendments among House conservatives, with more than 70 co-sponsors. Republicans approved the measure in a mostly partisan vote of 221-213.
- Spending of Ukraine: A vocal minority of GOP House lawmakers who have expressed skepticism about continued US assistance to Ukraine have tabled amendments aimed at limiting military aid. Most lawmakers on both sides support sending funds to Kiev. An amendment from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., which sought to withdraw $300 million in funding from Kiev was defeated by a bipartisan vote of 89-341.
- Anti-trans provisions: Some amendments target the Pentagon’s transgender health policies. Representative Matt Rosendale, R-Mo., offered an amendment limiting gender affirmation assistance for transgender service members. Republicans passed it in a mostly party-based vote of 222-211.
Senate to vote on its version of the defense bill
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., announced on the Senate floor Tuesday that the upper house will vote on its own version of the NDAA.
Both versions of the legislation include President Joe Bidens proposed a 5.2% wage increase for federal workers and military members. The two bills are also close to Biden’s recommended budget of $886 billion for the Department of Defense.
The House version, which rejects the Pentagon’s abortion policy, will likely be a key negotiating point between the two houses as they seek to solidify their versions of the bill.
Conservative House members withdraw Pentagon abortion policy
A key victory for more conservative House lawmakers was the passage of an amendment dismantling the Pentagon’s abortion policy that reimbursed travel expenses for service members who travel out of state to receive abortions.
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee told the Washington Post on Monday that he has specific concerns about the far-right amendments that have been tabled, particularly those related to abortion, women’s arms, the border, and issues of social policy and equity.
Even Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., one of the most outspoken lawmakers on the right, said earlier before the abortion vote he had doubts the amendment would go into the bill.
I don’t think we have a pro-life House, Gaetz told reporters on Thursday, adding he still thought it was important for lawmakers to vote on the policy record.
Why is the NDAA so important?
The NDAA is a common battleground for political debates, but this time, House conservatives have pushed hard to see their demands met. Since the House passed the debt ceiling deal brokered between McCarthy and Biden earlier this year, far-right lawmakers have threatened to block legislative action.
What’s the rush? Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, told reporters Tuesday night about the timing of the final pass, adding he didn’t see a reason why the NDAA needed to be ended the week lawmakers returned on Capitol Hill.
The NDAA does not provide funding, but it does authorize how the money is spent. Defense Department officials have for several years been urging Congress to act quickly to maintain national security. The NDAA is a first step toward new funding for the military, something Congress will need to address later this year.
The best way Congress can secure our strategic advantage is with timely appropriation, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee in May.
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