The legislation — known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) — cleared the chamber in a bipartisan 281-140 vote, with 200 Republicans and 81 Democrats joining forces to push it over the finish line. Senate GOP Whip John Thune (S.D.) said he expects the package to hit the floor early next week.
Congressional leaders unveiled the sprawling $883.7 billion package over the weekend, which includes a 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5 increase for all other members.
The legislation advanced out of the House despite opposition from liberal Democrats, and some apprehension from Republicans, who took issue with a number of culture-war amendments that made it into the traditionally bipartisan bill.
The most contentious provision is a restriction on the use of funds from TRICARE, the health care program for active-duty service members, for gender-affirming care for the children 18 years and younger of service members.
Several Democrats, led by Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.), the ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, blasted the language. The Washington Democrat opposed the legislation.
“As I said a few days ago, blatantly denying health care to people who need it — just because of a biased notion against transgender people — is wrong,” he wrote in a statement.
Smith blamed Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for the inclusion of the provision, telling The Hill that he “was the one who insisted on it being in the final bill.”
Despite the frustration, Democratic leadership did not whip against the legislation. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said before the vote there were “some troubling provisions” in the NDAA but also some good priorities, and that he was not telling Democrats how to vote.
Even some Republicans criticized the inclusion of the provision. House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) suggested it was unnecessary to include the language in the defense bill since President-elect Trump will be back in the White House soon.
The top Republican said Johnson did not consult him about the provision.
It’s unclear how much resistance there will be to the amendment in the Democratic-controlled Senate when it comes to a vote.
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
