“We are continuing to block the Biden Administration’s ‘woke’ agenda,” Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) said at a press conference.
QUICK FACTS:
- The U.S. House of Representatives approved a defense bill that pushes anti-woke measures, highlighting conservative values.
- The bill maintains the expected 5.2% pay raise for service members but includes actions to block abortion coverage and diversity initiatives and address transgender issues within the military.
- Democrats previously supported the bill, but some are now rescinding support after the Republican priorities took center stage.
- The final vote for the bill was 219-210, with four Democrats voting with Republicans, and four Republicans opposed to the bill.
- House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) defended the bill, saying Republicans did exactly what was expected, stating that a “military cannot defend themselves if you train them in woke.”
- The bill ultimately authorizes $874.2 billion to overturn the Pentagon’s abortion policy, restricts medical care for transgender individuals in the military, removes military DEI policies, and prohibits the Pentagon from applying Biden’s climate change initiatives.
- The abortion provision comes from Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson from Texas and prohibits the military from providing troops with paid travel for abortions.
- Rep. Matt Rosendale (R) from Montana was behind the provision banning sex reassignment surgery and hormone therapy for transgender servicepeople.
- South Carolina Republican Rep. Ralph Norman’s provision removes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices from the service.
- Rep. Chip Roy’s (R-TX) provision prevents the Defense Department from enacting Biden’s emission reductions.
- The bill is not expected to advance in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
DEMOCRAT OPPOSITION HEIGHTENS:
- In a press release, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY), Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA), and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-CA) claimed, “Extreme MAGA Republicans have chosen to hijack the historically bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act to continue attacking reproductive freedom and jamming their right-wing ideology down the throats of the American people.”
- “House Republicans have turned what should be a meaningful investment in our men and women in uniform into an extreme and reckless legislative joyride,” the statement continued.
- According to the Democrats, “The bill undermines a woman’s freedom to seek abortion care, targets the rights of LGBTQ+ servicemembers and bans books that should otherwise be available to military families.”
- “House Democrats will always put people over politics to protect our national security. We will vote no on final passage of this bill,” the statement noted.
BACKGROUND:
- House Republicans are also considering a budget proposal that would end funding for the World Health Organization (WHO).
- The proposal is part of the Fiscal Year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill.
- “The bill prioritizes agencies and programs that strengthen our national security, counter the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), provide support to our allies, and promote American values at home and abroad, while cutting spending for low-priority activities and programs,” reads a description of the bill.
- The bill also seeks to end the government’s involvement with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and prohibit funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the EcoHealth Alliance, and gain-of-function research.
