The Senate has passed an $886 billion defense bill

News

E Victor Nava

The Senate approved a record $886 billion in military spending for 2024 after passing the annual National Defense Authorization Act on Wednesday.

The 3,000-page must-pass bill received strong support from lawmakers in the upper chamber, clearing the Senate by a vote of 87-13.

It is now heading to the House, which is expected to be held before MPs go on vacation on Thursday.

The Democrat-controlled Senate has stepped back on social issues important to conservative lawmakers, refusing to include provisions restricting abortion and limiting health care for soldiers and the their families were in the House of the law that was passed at the beginning of this year.

A Pentagon policy to reimburse out-of-state travel for service members having abortions is the push behind 10 months of opposition from Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) where he blocked all military deployments on policy.

The legislation extends Section 702 of the Foreign Surveillance Act until April 19.

The surveillance authority, which allows foreign nationals to be monitored in the United States without a warrant, ended at the end of December.

The bill also provides the largest raises for service members with more than two decades of service, increasing military pay by 5.2% next year in an effort to boost military recruitment. and detention.

The 2024 NDAA, which sets out the Pentagon’s spending priorities for the fiscal year, also calls for $11.5 billion to push China into the Indo-Pacific and $800 million in aid. the military for Ukraine.

“At a time of great threat to global security, passing the defense authorization bill is more important than ever,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D -NY) on the floor before the vote.

“Passing the NDAA allows us to hold the line against Russia, stand firm against the Chinese Communist Party and ensure that America’s defenses remain at the highest level at all times.”

President Biden has asked Congress to approve an additional $61 billion in aid for Ukraine before the end of the week.

Republicans and Democrats in Congress have indicated that the 81-year-old president’s funding proposal for the war-torn country is unlikely to pass soon in the amid demands of the GOP that changes to the US immigration law be included in the Ukraine-aid bill. .

The NDAA bill also includes the approvals needed to implement the AUKUS ship sharing agreement between the US, Australia and the UK.

The agreement was made back in 2021 and calls for the transfer of three US Virginia-class attack ships to Australia.

“The Pentagon will be focused on solving national security challenges instead of doing new things with public policy,” said Senate Minority Leader Mtch McConnell about the law.

Six Republicans and six Democrats voted against the bill’s passage, including Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Ed Markey (D-Mass. ), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), JD Vance (R-Ohio), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) , Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Ron Wyden (D -Ore.). Sen. also voted. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on the law.