On Thursday, the House unanimously approved a large defense package that included a major Republican victory: removing the Biden administration’s military vaccination requirement.
The bill was approved with a vote of 350 to 80, but its outcome was in doubt as members argued over whether or not to incorporate contentious amendments.
The National Defense Authorization Act is “must-pass legislation” because it authorizes the Department of Defense’s day-to-day activities, such as paying soldiers, for the following fiscal year.
In light of its significance, it has been passed annually for the past six decades, making it an enticing target for Democrats to attach unrelated measures to the bill this year, just before Republicans are scheduled to win the House.
Despite this, the most contentious amendments proposed by Democrats were ultimately rejected because Republicans threatened to block further consideration of the plan if it included them.
The most controversial idea was supported by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). It would have harmed independent and conservative media sources by allowing mainstream media firms to join a cartel to bargain with Big Tech companies for promoting their material.
Democrats in the Senate went back and forth on including this provision, but in the end, Republicans staged a rebellion, and the idea was removed.
The Democrats also won a significant victory when they successfully included language into the measure to reverse an August 2021 directive from the Biden administration requiring all military personnel to receive vaccinations.
Even though the rule may have cost the jobs of at least 70,000 military people, the Pentagon refused to bend on it.
Senate Republicans’ efforts to block the mandate have intensified in the final week. This movement has been building for weeks.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) negotiated with Democrats on the Republican side. At the same time, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) led a group of Republican senators in the last days to get the language into the law.
Despite promises to fight for the return of the roughly 8,000 military personnel discharged because of the requirement, Republicans could not get wording allowing for their readmission before the Senate rejected it.
Senate Minority Leader Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) had hoped that Democrats would attach legislation that would have made it easier for marijuana businesses to open bank accounts, but they ultimately did not.
To fight an increasingly assertive China and to protect Taiwan, the bill allocates increased military resources to the Indo-Pacific area, with a total of $858 billion authorized for the DOD.
For Ukraine specifically, the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative received an increase of $800 million.
To help troops and their families cope with the current unprecedented inflation, the measure increased base food prices and provided a 4.6% pay hike for the Military.
The legislation has been sent to the Senate, where it is anticipated to get widespread support there.