House GOP divided over ‘culture war’ amendments to $886B defense budget.

A Republican-Produced Summer Thriller in the House of Representatives

Get ready for a thrilling summer in the United States House of Representatives as they put together a Republican-produced spectacle filled with parliamentary intrigue, power plays, and shifting alliances. This all unfolds in the midst of debates on the nation’s must-pass defense budget, with hotly contested floor clashes on controversial “culture war” amendments. Brace yourself for a rollercoaster ride that will likely rage until the August recess.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Amendments

The House Rules Committee has agreed to send 290 proposed amendments to the defense budget, known as the NDAA, to the House for adoption. House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise announced that these amendments will be up for debate starting on the evening of July 13. But these 290 proposed changes are just the beginning, as there are still many more amendments to be reviewed and cleared by the House Rules Committee.

NDAA Express Derailed

The proposed NDAA has been adopted by both the House and Senate armed forces committees, but there are differences between the two versions. The Senate NDAA, which will be debated next week, does not include certain controversial amendments found in the House NDAA. These amendments cover topics such as critical race theory, diversity, equity, inclusion, and more. The House committee has already adopted several amendments addressing these issues, along with others related to military vaccinations and research funding.

What’s On Tap

The first set of 290 NDAA amendments to be heard on the House floor includes appropriations for Guam, declassification of UFO documents, veterans’ care, base infrastructure, and defense allocations for combating fentanyl trafficking. However, there are other proposals that have not advanced yet, such as repealing the Pentagon’s abortion policy and addressing “woke” policies. Some fear that the focus on these divisive social issues could hinder the adoption of the defense budget before the fiscal year begins.

Three Key Amendment Groups

— Abortion

Conservatives have proposed amendments to terminate a post-Roe DOD policy that covers expenses for service members and their dependents for traveling for out-of-state abortions. Among these amendments is a proposal to prohibit the DOD from paying or reimbursing expenses related to abortion services. Democrats have also filed amendments to strengthen the DOD policy.

— Cluster Munitions Resolution

A measure has been introduced to halt the transfer of cluster bombs to Ukraine. This proposal has gained bipartisan support and is being championed as a standalone piece of legislation.