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Despite some last-minute obstacles thrown in by a handful of senators, the upper chamber cleared the measure with little fuss. The bill, however, still faces conservative opposition in the House after the administration proposed a brief extension of federal surveillance powers, along with the exclusion of many of their measures. priority basis.
Great Leader Chuck Schumer Law called the agreement “the kind of bipartisan cooperation that the American people want from Congress.”
“At a time of great threat to global security, passing the defense law is more important than ever,” Schumer said on the floor. “The passage of the NDAA allows us to hold the line against Russia, stand firm against the Chinese political party, and ensure that America’s defense remains at the highest level at all times.”“
The leaders of the House and the Senate entered into very divisive discussions. House Republicans almost passed a right-wing defense bill this summer with provisions to block or limit the Pentagon’s immigration policies, including medical treatment for transgender troops and programs to promote diversity and inclusion in the ranks. Democrats largely opposed the bill based on those conservative additions.
The Senate avoided the most controversial issues and passed his own bill with joint support. Measures from the House version fell through negotiations — including language limiting funding for abortion, transgender medical care and drag shows.
However, top Republicans argued that the compromise agreement included some uncertain victories they had made in the Democratic-led Senate.
“The Pentagon will focus directly on solving national security challenges rather than creating new things and social policies,” the young leader said. Mitch McConnell said about the bill.
While many of the proposals supported by the GOP to attack the diversity of the Pentagon, the equality and integration efforts were destroyed, the Republicans showed the provisions included in the final agreement to establish a wages and freezes for protected workers assigned to those programs.
The final bill also includes language that Republicans support banning the promotion of anti-Semitism and the display of unauthorized flags on military bases, such as the pride flag.
Republicans, led by the Senate Armed Services ranking member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), also introduced a provision that would require the Pentagon to develop a plan for what to do with unused military equipment.
Skeptics of Ukraine aid, who argued that the Biden administration did not adequately oversee the weapons and equipment sent to the war, also scored a victory when the negotiators agreed to create a People Special Inspector General for Operation Atlantic Resolve, the official name for the military response to the Russian aggression.
Senators were still angry that the final agreement had prompted dissenting votes.
Before the final vote, the senators blocked the final proposal of Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to remove the four-month extension federal authorities have to conduct surveillance of foreign communications, known as the Section 702 administration.
On the Democratic side, Sen. Michael Bennett Colorado threatened to delay Wednesday’s final vote in an effort to implore leaders to complete border negotiations to open the door. Additional funding for Ukraine. Bennet backed down and allowed the vote to proceed after he received assurances from Senate leaders that negotiations were moving forward.
The deal also includes a number of provisions to implement the AUKUS sharing agreement between the US, UK and Australia – including the transfer of the Virginia-class subs – after a bitter war. money.
Wicker blocked the authorization of the transfer to Australia in a bid to secure $3.4 billion under the manufacturing industry funded in the additional emergency bill, along with Israel and Ukraine aid. Under the final agreement, the subversion does not take effect until a year after the bill is enacted.
The bill also specifies a 5.2 percent increase in military pay.