House CRUSHES Biden With Shocking Historic Vote
On Friday, the House approved a significant defense budget bill that incorporated various Republican-supported items and provisions, some of which were passed contrary to the wishes of the White House and President Joe Biden.
“Congress’ annual defense policy bill passed the House on Friday after a week of voting on more than 300 amendments, during which conservatives scored several victories on diversity, critical race theory and gender surgeries,” Fox News reported. “The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes funding for military priorities across the Department of Defense and Department of Energy, with that funding later coming in the form of a defense appropriations bill.”
Nonetheless, despite Biden’s objections, a specific clause—a 19.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted troops—was approved.
The NDAA is typically a bipartisan effort, but Fox reported that the White House opposed these and other related provisions in the bill because the debate over cultural issues alienated Democrats.
Republicans argue that reversing policies on diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) and other progressive topics will enhance military readiness and address the U.S. military’s recruitment challenges. This week, three amendments targeting DEI roles within the military were passed. These include the Chief Diversity Officer position, all DEI-related offices and staff, and the initiation of a hiring freeze on future similar roles. Another approved amendment prohibits the military from promoting critical race theory or other race-based ideologies.
A third clause bans the Pentagon from funding any abortion-related services, while two additional provisions prevent support for gender transition procedures and transgender-related medical treatments through Pentagon-related health programs.
Fox News further reported:
The underlying bill, which advanced in a 57 to 1 vote out of the House Armed Services Committee last month, looks to make significant improvements to service members’ quality of life.
A cornerstone initiative of that is the pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for other military roles.
“A very significant pay raise, particularly for our young enlisted, I think is really life-changing, and I hope will also be motivating for people to enlist and also to stay,” Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., a member of the Armed Services Committee and a veteran, told the outlet earlier this week.
Another committee member, former general Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., noted that military families, especially in high-cost areas, had to rely on food banks to support their families. “People working at fast-food restaurants are making more than our junior enlisted,” said Bacon.
Additionally, both congressmen criticized Biden and his administration for opposing the pay increase for junior enlisted troops.
At the same time, former President Trump announced that the Iron Dome anti-missile shield would be “made in America” and promised to build a “great” one for the United States during his birthday speech in Florida.
“By next term, we will build a great Iron Dome over our country,” Trump said during his 78th birthday celebration at Club 47 in West Palm Beach on Friday evening. “We deserve a dome. We deserve it all, made state of the art.”
“It’s a missile defense shield, and it’ll all be made in America,” he said. “Jobs, jobs, jobs.” Trump added that, during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, he aimed to build a similar system, “but at that time, we didn’t have the technology.” “We now have the technology,” Trump said.
Iron Dome, Israel’s missile defense system, was developed in Israel with U.S. collaboration but is primarily funded by the U.S. The system can intercept and neutralize short-range rockets and artillery strikes up to 43 miles away.
“Since its creation in 2011, the Iron Dome has rebuffed and destroyed rockets from Hamas militants, Palestinian forces, and Iranian drones and missiles,” Fox reported.