The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Wednesday, authorizing a record $895 billion in annual military spending.
The bill, which passed with a vote of 281-140, will now be sent to the Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate for further consideration.
This year’s 1,800-page NDAA includes the usual provisions for military equipment purchases and efforts to strengthen U.S. competitiveness against adversaries like China and Russia.
Additionally, it focuses on improving the quality of life for U.S. military personnel, including a 14.5% pay raise for the lowest-ranking service members and a 4.5% raise for others, along with funding for military housing, schools, and childcare centers.
However, the bill also includes a contentious provision that bans the military health program, TRICARE, from covering gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members if such treatment could result in sterilization.
This move highlights the ongoing political debate surrounding transgender issues in the U.S., with Republicans indicating that they will continue to push for policies on this politically charged topic.
During the 2024 election campaign, Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump, criticized Democrats for supporting transgender rights, with the GOP maintaining control of the House and gaining control of the Senate and White House beginning next month.
Following the passage of the NDAA, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson praised the bill for refocusing the military on its primary mission: national defense.
“Our men and women in uniform should know their first obligation is protecting our nation, not woke ideology,” Johnson stated.
The NDAA did not include some other Republican-backed proposals on social issues, such as banning TRICARE from covering gender-affirming care for transgender adults or reversing the Pentagon’s policy of funding travel for abortion for service members stationed in states where abortion is restricted.
The NDAA, one of the few major bills passed annually by Congress, is a result of weeks of negotiations between Democrats and Republicans.
While the bill authorizes the Department of Defense’s programs, it does not allocate the funds.
Separate funding legislation for the fiscal year 2025 will need to be passed by Congress, though it is unlikely to be finalized before March.
If the Senate approves the bill, it will go to President Joe Biden for either signature or veto.
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