Should Congress authorize $886.3 billion for national defense spending? (See description and bill text for detail)
This bill authorizes Department of Defense activities and programs for 2024 for military activities and construction, along with the military's fiscal setup. The bill includes an authorized $886.3 billion in total for national defense spending and includes a 5.2 percent pay raise for service members and federal workers. Amendments to the bill include those which would cut diversity initiatives, limit transgender healthcare access, limit abortion access, and prevent executive orders related to climate change. There are various provisions, namely the creation of a Space National Guard, exemptions to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 for Air Force testing occurring in the Elgin Gulf Test and Training Range, where endangered whales reside, and rules which would expand eligibility of Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) benefits for certain veterans. It does not include a bipartisan-supported provision that would repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq.
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Rogers (Republican, Alabama, District 3)
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How do you feel?
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Opponents say
• "The NDAA is going to need to have some serious amendments if you're going to want to get that thing moving. I'm just not all that confident currently that we're addressing the kinds of things that we need to address." Source: Rep. Chip Roy (Republican, Texas, 21st District)
• "Far-right House Republicans told their party’s leaders that they’d reject the legislation without votes on a series of culture war amendments. That left GOP leaders with a choice: They could pass the bill with Democratic votes, or they could move the bill sharply to the right, push Democrats away, and pass a partisan version of the NDAA with overwhelming Republican backing. Not surprisingly, the party chose the latter option, which meant a flurry of votes on amendments last night and this morning that turned a bipartisan bill into a divisive one. The result is an NDAA that would, among other things, limit abortion access for servicemembers, end diversity training in the military, curtail transgender care, prohibit work on combatting climate change, and even restrict what Defense Department schools can teach. There is no chance, of course, that the Democratic-led Senate will go along with such measures, and it’s a safe bet that the negotiations to reconcile the House and Senate versions will be incredibly difficult." Source: Steve Benen (MSNBC)
• "To have [House Speaker, Republican Kevin] McCarthy allow 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 — is just a horrible place to be in." Source: Rep. Mike Sherrill (Democrat, New Jersey, 11th District)
Proponents say
• "Our national security is vital, and we must take necessary action to provide for our service members and their families. While I don't agree with everything in the bill, nor how some of it was introduced, I felt it was critical to give our troops a deserved pay raise, invest in childcare facilities, and provide much-needed dental coverage for Guard and Reserve Service members through my Dental Care for our Troops Act. "It's my honor to represent and support the brave Guard, Reserve, and Active Duty Service-members living and working at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in my District. That's why I fought for legislation prioritizing our service members and their families while ensuring America remains the strongest, most powerful country in the world. These investments will better prepare our country for the unprecedented challenges ahead, allow us to continue supporting our allies, and maintain our competitive advantage globally." Source: Rep. Andy Kim (Democrat, New Jersey, 3rd District)
• "As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I know how much North Carolina contributes to America's strength on the world stage. The Old North State has a proud tradition of supporting our military, and it is my honor to vote for an NDAA that supports North Carolina's service members, their families, and our military installations." Source: Sen. Ted Budd (Republican, North Carolina)
• "The Administration strongly supports enactment of a National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for a 63rd consecutive year and is grateful for the strong, bipartisan work of the House Armed Services Committee on behalf of America’s national defense. The Administration looks forward to continuing to work with the Congress to set appropriate and responsible levels of defense and non-defense spending to support the security of the Nation, consistent with the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA). Alongside a strategically sound defense budget, a strong economy and investments in diplomacy, development, and economic statecraft are critical to ensuring that the Nation is positioned to respond to the myriad of national security challenges we face today and in the future." Source: The White House (Press Release)
