What’s in the National Defense Authorization Act before House vote?

The House and Senate Armed Services committees advance the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2024

The House and Senate Armed Services committees have made significant progress in advancing the $886 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal 2024. Each committee has drafted its own version of the defense bill, setting the stage for further debate and consideration.

House Committee clears the legislation with bipartisan support

The Republican-led House Committee members have demonstrated bipartisan cooperation by clearing the legislation with an impressive 58-1 vote on June 22. This achievement paves the way for the bill to potentially reach the full House floor for further discussion and deliberation. The Committee on Rules is scheduled to meet during the week of July 10 to consider the bill.

Rep. Ro Khanna stands as the sole opponent

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) has emerged as the sole opponent of the bill, casting his “no” vote against passing the legislation to the floor. This marks Khanna’s seventh vote on the NDAA as a member of the House Armed Services Committee. In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Khanna expressed his pride in opposing the bill, citing concerns over excessive defense spending and price gouging by defense contractors.

“We’re on track to a $1 trillion defense budget and over half of this spending goes to defense contractors who have a history of price gouging,” Khanna stated. He further highlighted his efforts to combat wasteful defense spending, including investigations into price gouging and successful hearings that resulted in the return of millions of dollars to American taxpayers.

The Senate Armed Services Committee adopts amendments and emphasizes national security concerns

The Senate Armed Services Committee has also made significant progress, voting 24-1 to advance their version of the NDAA bill on June 23. The committee considered 445 amendments and adopted 286 of them during the subcommittee and full committee markups of the legislation. In a press statement, the committee emphasized growing national security concerns and the need for additional funds beyond the defense spending limit.

The Senate’s draft of the bill allocates $844.3 billion for the Department of Defense and $32.4 billion for national security programs for the Department of Energy. Additionally, $6 billion has been designated for general transfer authority. Notably, the proposed budget for the DOD exceeds President Joe Biden’s request for discretionary spending, reflecting a commitment to bolstering national security capabilities and investing in cutting-edge technologies.

Military pay raises and technology expansions

Both the House and Senate armed services committees have approved President Biden’s proposed pay increases for military service members, which could potentially result in a 5.2% raise in 2024. This would mark the highest military pay raise since 2002.

Furthermore, both drafts of the bill prioritize technology expansions, including the extension of the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and additional support for DOD science and technology laboratories. Rep. Ro Khanna has been a vocal advocate for greater investments in cybersecurity, AI, quantum computing, space, and naval superiority in the Pacific, emphasizing the importance of preparing the military for 21st-century threats.

Controversies and debates

The NDAA bill has not been without its controversies and debates. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) introduced several amendments, including reducing aid to Ukraine, a move he has previously supported. Additionally, debates have arisen over the inclusion of environmental justice initiatives and diversity programs in the bill.

Despite these disagreements, the House and Senate committees have made significant progress in advancing the NDAA bill for fiscal 2024. The final version of the bill will shape the future of national defense and security, reflecting the priorities and concerns of lawmakers from both parties.