Centrist GOP aims to sidestep NDAA showdown.

Centrist Republicans Urge Colleagues to Withdraw Controversial Amendments Threatening Defense Bill

As the House seeks to advance its annual defense authorization bill, centrist Republicans are urging their more conservative colleagues to withdraw a number of controversial amendments that could tank the must-pass legislation ahead of its looming expiration deadline.

The House Rules Committee met on Tuesday afternoon to begin its markup of the National Defense Authorization Act, an annual legislative package that outlines the policy agenda and budget for the Department of Defense. The bill typically garners bipartisan support and is able to pass through both chambers of Congress each year without much fanfare or drama.

Bipartisan Support for a Strong Defense

“This NDAA represents a truly bipartisan bill,” Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said on Tuesday. “It executes on hundreds of hours of bipartisan oversight conducted by members of staff. It will help build a ready, capable, and lethal body force we need to deter China and our atmosphere.”

Members of the Armed Services Committee voted 24-1 to advance the NDAA last month, with only one member, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), voting against the measure. Since then, members have filed more than 1,500 amendments for consideration, raising concerns among GOP leaders who hope to vote on the legislation by the end of the week.

Some Republicans have expressed opposition to several of the amendments they argue are more geared toward combating cultural issues rather than strengthening national security, such as provisions that target Pentagon policies on abortion, climate change, transgender issues, and more.

“I’ve heard the concern about members on both sides and over the past several years that the NDAA has turned into an omnibus authorization bill,” Rogers said. “In response, this bill will include only provisions squarely within the jurisdiction of the armed services.”

“However,” he added in his testimony to the Rules Committee, “if you consider which amendments to make in order, I would respectfully request that you focus on amendments that advance the security of our nation and the needs of our service.”

That could prove difficult as some hard-line conservatives in the House continue to use their growing influence over the chamber to advance their agenda, threatening to stall action if their demands aren’t met.

Controversial Amendments and Potential Roadblocks

One disagreement that could derail talks over the NDAA is the recently implemented Pentagon policy that allows service members to take up to three weeks of leave to travel out of state to receive an abortion and other “non-covered reproductive health care services.” The policy also states the DOD will reimburse members for any expenses related to that travel.

Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) introduced an amendment to overturn that policy, garnering the support of nearly 50 Republican co-sponsors. GOP leaders have indicated it’s likely the amendment will make it to the floor for a vote as several rank-and-file Republicans have accused the Biden administration of using the Defense Department to advance its own agenda.

“For the past two years, the Department of Defense has become yet another victim of the Democrats’ radical agenda that trades readiness and strength for left-wing priorities,” Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) told the Washington Examiner. “With our House Majority, Republicans have a mandate to ensure the warfighter has the tools and support necessary to confront pressing national security threats. This means passing an NDAA that’s free from the left’s divisive agenda.”

However, including that proposal in the full NDAA is likely to decimate Democratic support, which may be needed to pass the defense bill.

As a result, some Republicans, such as Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), suggested she would encourage colleagues to sidestep any controversial amendments in order to avoid a prolonged fight on the House floor.

“We need to get the NDAA passed. We cannot have a [continuing resolution]. This is not the time,” Kiggans, a former Navy helicopter pilot, told reporters on Monday. “It’s not something to ever put at risk.”

It’s unclear how long it will take for the Rules Committee to advance the must-pass legislation, but members have been working over the last few days to downsize the number of amendments before sending it to the full House. Still, it’s likely lawmakers will have to sit through dozens of amendment votes on the floor later this week, potentially leading to standoffs that could further delay its progress.

The Senate will then take up its own version later this month, although it remains unclear when a vote may be held in the upper chamber. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said the chamber plans to take up the NDAA next week, hoping to pass the legislation before Congress breaks for its August recess.

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