The Washington Post
Congress’s decades-long streak of bipartisan support for its annual defense policy and spending plan collapsed Friday, after House Republicans rammed through the most conservative National Defense Authorization Act in decades — restricting military personnel’s access to reproductive care and diversity protections, and imperiling lawmakers’ mandate to set major national security priorities.
The NDAA, which sets Pentagon policy and spending limits for the year ahead, includes increased investment in precision missiles, warships and newer technologies like artificial intelligence and hypersonics — necessities, leading lawmakers and the Biden administration say, as the United States directs greater attention toward China. It also authorizes a 5.2 percent base pay increase for military personnel and expanded support for their families through housing improvements, and broader access to child care, health care and education benefits.
Democrats were livid with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) for allowing “extremists to load up this bill with their wish list of extremist agenda items — so that we can’t in good faith pass this because we know it would harm the lives of servicewomen and service members’ families,” Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), a military veteran, told reporters Friday...
House Republicans voted late into the night Thursday approving the amendments that instruct defense officials to roll back policies that provide support to service members who must travel out of state to obtain an abortion and that fund diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. They also added prohibitions on specialized health care sought by transgender troops or members of their families...
“What about us scares you?” Rep. Jill N. Tokuda (D-Hawaii) asked from the House floor. “My grandfather, my father-in-law, my brother, they all fought and risked their lives for this country. Yet the sacrifices made by so many who feel marginalized — our communities of color — simply pale in comparison to the hate and fear that drives this obsession with DEI.”
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