The Senate authorized 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 bipartisan support in the upper chamber, clearing the Senate by a vote of 87-13.
It now heads to the House, which is expected to take it up before lawmakers go home for recess on Thursday.
The Democratic-controlled Senate sidelined social issues important to conservative lawmakers, refusing to include provisions limiting abortion access and restricting transgender health care treatment for troops and their families in the House version of the law passed earlier this year.
The Pentagon’s policy of reimbursing overseas travel for service members who receive abortions was the driving force behind Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) where he blocked all military promotions over the policy.
Senators did not include the House-passed provision that restricts access to abortion and transgender medical care. C-SPAN
The legislation extends Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act until April 19.
The surveillance authority, which allows warrantless surveillance of foreigners in the United States, is set to expire at the end of December.
The bill also provides the largest raise for service members in more than two decades, increasing military pay by 5.2% next year in an effort to improve military recruitment and retention.
The bill includes a 5.2% increase in military base pay. AP
The 2024 NDAA, which sets the Pentagon’s spending priorities for the fiscal year, also calls for $11.5 billion to push China back in the Indo-Pacific and $800 million in military aid for Ukraine.
“At a time of great concern for global security, passing a defense authorization bill is more important than ever,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said ahead of the vote.
“Passing the NDAA allows us to maintain our line against Russia, stand firm against the Chinese Communist Party and ensure that America’s defenses remain on the cutting edge at all times.”
The legislation includes funding to deter China in the Indo-Pacific and money for Ukraine. AP
President Biden has asked Congress to approve an additional $61 billion in aid for Ukraine before the end of this week.
Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress have signaled that the 81-year-old president’s emergency funding request for the war-torn country is unlikely to be approved anytime soon amid GOP demands that changes to US immigration laws be included in Ukraine aid bill. .
The NDAA bill also includes the necessary authorizations to implement the trilateral AUKUS submarine sharing agreement between the US, Australia and the United Kingdom.
The deal is due in 2021 and calls for the transfer of three US Virginia-class attack submarines to Australia.
“It will focus the Pentagon more precisely on addressing national security challenges rather than creating new ones with partisan social policy,” Senate Minority Leader Mtch McConnell said of the legislation.
Six Republicans and six Democrats voted against passing the bill, including Sens. 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. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also voted against the legislation.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
