Senate Democrats and GOP leaders remain silent on red lines in annual defense bill.
Senate Leaders Unclear on Red Lines for Defense Policy Bill
The $876.8 billion annual defense policy bill is causing uncertainty among Senate leaders. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (D-Ky.) were unable to clearly define the red lines their parties have in the bill.
The Democrat-controlled Senate has started voting on a total of 51 amendments to the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). These amendments include 21 from Democrats, 21 from Republicans, and nine bipartisan ones. The voting process is expected to continue into next week.
Democrats’ Stance
When asked about the red lines for Senate Democrats in the NDAA, Schumer avoided giving a direct answer. He emphasized the importance of passing the bill without any amendments that would undermine it or cause delays. He also mentioned that their Republican colleagues have been cooperative so far.
Republicans’ Stance
McConnell also sidestepped the question about red lines for Senate Republicans in the NDAA. He stated that it is difficult to predict what will happen during the voting process. However, he expressed confidence that the NDAA will ultimately pass with strong bipartisan support.
The GOP-controlled House of Representatives recently passed its version of the NDAA, mostly along party lines. The bill included amendments addressing various culture war issues, such as abortion and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the military.
However, Representative Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) believes that the Senate NDAA will be significantly different from the House version. She anticipates changes when the bill returns later this year.
Reconciliation and Focus on Defense
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) expressed confidence that the culture war amendments will not be difficult to reconcile. He criticized the Democrats for spending money on defense-related matters that do not contribute to training the military.
Both the Senate and House versions of the NDAA include a 5.2 percent pay raise for service members, the largest increase in over 20 years. Additionally, they address the latest technology to counter China and reverse the Pentagon’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Overall, the future of the defense policy bill remains uncertain as Senate leaders navigate through the amendments and strive for bipartisan support.
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