The Senate enacted an $886 billion defense spending proposal this week, a measure that includes financing for Ukraine, yearly pay hikes for personnel, and a reauthorization of the the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The Act was approved by a bipartisan majority of 87-13 in the Senate and now moves to the House, where some Republicans have vowed to derail it after lawmakers removed elements that would have changed the Pentagon’s abortion policy and provide “transgender” medical procedures.
“At a time of huge trouble for global security, doing the defense authorization bill is more important than ever,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, (D-NY) said on Wednesday. “Passing the NDAA enables us to hold the line against Russia, stand firm against the Chinese Communist Party and ensure America’s defense remain state of the art at all times.”
The NDAA includes measures such as authorizing $844.3 billion for the Department of Defense and $32.4 billion for national security programs within the Department of Energy.
The Act will also extend the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative through fiscal year 2027 and authorize the full budget request of $300 million in fiscal year 2024.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) was one of thirteen senators that rejected the NDAA, claiming the act would be used to “spy on Americans.”
“The Senate just voted to waive the point of order against the NDAA,” Lee said prior to the bill’s passage. “35 of us opposed the motion to waive. We needed only 41 to prevent this outcome, and to remove FISA 702 from the NDAA.”
