By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-11 22:11:55 | Updated at 2024-12-22 18:24:43
1 week ago
The House passed a nearly $1 trillion military spending package aimed at improving soldier's standards of life and reforming DEI practices while also pumping billions into new weaponry.
The major package, called the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), received a bipartisan passing vote on Thursday afternoon in the House.
Out of all the annual NDAA bills that have been passed consecutively for the last 63 years decades, this year's is the most expensive - about $10 billion more than last year's bill.
It comes as regional tensions around the world have hit new highs as Syria, Ukraine and Israel - countries heavily involved with the U.S. military - experience wars that some think could prompt WWIII.
The funding also has allocations specifically to counter China's growing military threats as it continues to carry out inflammatory actions throughout the Indo-Pacific region, like engaging with Philippine and Taiwanese forces.
It provides funding for the U.S. military for the next year, including salaries for soldiers, weaponry, military tech development, recruitment and base refurbishment.
The measure also includes a number of conservative wishlist items that Democrats loudly tried to push back on. In the end, 81 Democrats voted for it, with a surprising 16 Republicans who voted against the military spending.
'We spent a lot of time and effort working on it, because our servicemembers and their families deserve our best efforts,' Republican Speaker Mike Johnson said before the vote. 'We improved housing for our military families and other benefits, and it's also why we stopped funds from going to CRT in our military academies.'
A US armoured military vehicle drives on the outskirts of Rumaylan in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province, bordering Turkey, on March 27, 2023
A US soldier monitors the area as troops patrol oil fields near Syria's northeastern border with Turkey in the Qahtaniyah countryside in the far northeast corner of Hasakeh province on September 3, 2024
The United States has around 900 troops in Syria that are part of an anti-jihadist coalition and also have forces protecting the Conoco gas field and Al-Omar oil fields in east of the country
Johnson also highlighted his push to ban military families from using their insurance to pay for transgender care for minors, one of the most controversial portions of the major deal.
'We banned TRICARE from prescribing treatments that would ultimately sterilize our kids, and we gutted the DEI bureaucracy,' Johnson said of his efforts.
According to a House Armed Services Committee memo obtained by DailyMail.com, the NDAA 'bans transgender medial treatments for children.'
'[It] permanently bans DoD from providing minors with gender dysphoria medical treatments, like hormones and puberty blockers, that could result in sterilization.'
Johnson's inserting the trans care language upset lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
Republican House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers, who was responsible for overseeing the NDAA's formation, revealed that Johnson never told him about the trans initiative, and he admitted he wished it wasn't in the package.
The top Democrat on that committee, Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., dramatically announced he would vote against the NDAA should it contain Johnson's addition.
'Blankety denying health care to people who need it — just because of a biased notion against transgender people — is wrong,' the Democrat said in a statement.
'The inclusion of this harmful provision puts the lives of children at risk and may force thousands of service members to make the choice of continuing their military service or leaving to ensure their child can get the health care they need. For that reason, I will oppose final passage of the FY25 NDAA in its current form.'
The NDAA also forces the U.S. to commit military funding and ammunition to
The NDAA also forces the U.S. to commit military funding and ammunition to Israel
Republicans also touted how the NDAA 'Prohibits funding for the teaching, training, or promotion of CRT in the military, including at service academies and DoD schools.'
The GOP also was excited about cuts to 'DEI bureaucracy,' including a DEI hiring freeze extension.
It also aims to counter antisemitism and prevents a Military Green New Deal,' the internal memo explains.
In addition to the conservative items, the NDAA will boost entry level soldier's (E-1 - E-4) base pay by 14.5 percent. All other service members will receive a 4.5 percent pay boost.
It also allocates billions to refurbish and retrofit old barracks, military family dwellings, and weapons facilities.
The NDAA also provides tens of billions of dollars to counter China by allocating additional resources to the region meant to counter their growing military and espionage efforts.
