House Passes Compromised Version of Mammoth Annual Defense Bill Authorizing Some $770 Billion in Pentagon Spending

The Epoch Times Header

The House voted to pass an adjusted version of the mammoth annual defense policy bill on Tuesday night, authorizing some $770 billion in Pentagon spending.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2022 was introduced by Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking Republican committee member, in September, and contains 27 Republican-led amendments.

Each year, the bill sets policy for the billions of dollars in defense spending for military activities and programs such as research, development, testing, and weapon procurement as well as the salaries of service members.

This yearโ€™s NDAA authorizes a topline funding of $768 billion in discretionary spending for national defense and national security, with $740 billion designated for the Department of Defense.

The lower chamber overwhelmingly approved the 2022 bill by a vote of 363-70 just hours after the House and Senate Armed Services committees released the billโ€™s text. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it will be voted on later this week before heading to President Joe Bidenโ€™s desk.

This yearโ€™s defense bill will โ€œensure the United States remains the decisive leader in the technological revolution by developing and deploying emerging technologies to amplify our power and our ability to disrupt threats before they can reach U.S. soil,โ€ house representatives wrote in the bill. 

Specifically, the bill provides paid parental and bereavement leave, authorizes support for a 2.7 percent pay increase for servicemen and women, and makes โ€œhistoric and sweeping changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice to combat sexual assault in the military.โ€

It also authorizes โ€œrecord funding for historically black colleges and universities,โ€ and contains measures that serve to ensure diversity and inclusivity in the military. The bill also makes key investments to address climate change, something that Biden has made a top priority since taking office.

This yearsโ€™ NDAA also authorizes $5.8 billion more than Bidenโ€™s request in funding for research, development, testing, and evaluation, including a 24.7 percent increase in defense-wide basic research, applied research, and advanced technology development, and improves the pentagonโ€™s capabilities in cyberspace and addressing emerging threats.

Elsewhere, the bill includes $300 million in aid for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which provides support and assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, an increase from the budget request of $250 million.

It also establishes a multi-year independent Afghanistan War Commission to examine the 20-year conflict and the U.S. military withdrawal. The commission will โ€œreview key strategic, diplomatic, and operational decisions across the entirety of the U.S. government and develop a series of reports with recommendations and lessons learned regarding the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan,โ€ as per the bill.

Another $7.1 billion is authorized for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) a Pentagon plan that would bolster the militaryโ€™s ability to deter Chinese aggression in the Pacific region.

The compromised bill notably leaves out a provision that would have required women to register for the draft. Both the Senate and House Armed Services committees voted to include language expanding the draft to their respective chamberโ€™s version of the legislation earlier this year.

Another provision absent from the bill which was included in the NDAA the House passed in September would have established an Office for Countering Extremism in the Pentagon.

However, the compromise bill requires the Department of Defense to submit a report on including a criminal article in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to address violent extremism.

By Katabella Roberts

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

The Looming Threat To Our Homeland

After success of โ€œOperation Midnight Hammer,โ€ where U.S. military bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, the threat to America has never been greater.

Groundhog Day came late this year to the Land of Smiles.

itโ€™s the same rigmarole, on whatever pretext, the army commandeers the Thai state with vague promises to restore democracy at some unspecified future date.

Resource number one

Russia has an unsustainable birthrate worsened by mortality rate of Russian males through war and alcoholism. One solution, steal young children from other countries.ย 

Expansionist CCP Runs Amok in Pacific After U.S. Relocates Naval Assets to Mid-East

Caveat established, Chinaโ€™s been going bananas on the high seas as the eyes of the world, and U.S. military assets, hone in on Iran.

The Anti-Trump Protests โ€“ Why Are They So Important?

The anti-Trump stance is not a political position, but a desperate gesture, a mental diagnosis of those who refuse to accept the reality of the World today.

21.8 Million US Seniors Paying for Expenses With Only Social Security Income: Survey

An estimated 21.8 million senior citizens in America make ends meet solely using their social security funds, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) said.

Oil Prices Drop by 7 Percent as Marketโ€™s Iran Fear Factor Fades

Crude oil prices plummeted by more than 7% as investors were optimistic that Iranโ€™s limited retaliation could lead to a de-escalation in the Middle East.

New York Launches First New Nuclear Energy Project in US in 15 Years

Hochul directed NYโ€™s power authority to begin evaluation of techs, business models, and locations to develop stateโ€™s first nuclear power plant in 50 years.

Supreme Court Temporarily Allows Deportations to Third Countries

Supreme Court temporarily lifted lower court order blocking Trump admin from deporting illegals to so-called third countries they have no connection.

No Changes Planned for FDAโ€™s Vaccine Advisory Committee โ€˜At This Timeโ€™: Spokesperson

There are no plans to remove any members of the panel that advises the FDA on vaccines, a spokesperson said on June 20.

Trump Says Trade Deals Expected With India and Pakistan

President Trump expects US will sign trade deals with India and Pakistan, signaling growing momentum in push to reshape global trade through tariff diplomacy.

Trump Says US Intelligence Communityโ€™s Assessment of Iranโ€™s Nuclear Program โ€˜Was Wrongโ€™

President Trump said his director of national intelligenceโ€™s assessment in March that Iran had yet to decide on building a nuclear weapon was wrong.

NIH Ends Gain-of-Function Research, Implementing Trumpโ€™s Executive Order

The NIH announced the end of gain-of-function research. The instituteโ€™s update said the move is in compliance with President Trumpโ€™s EO on the topic.ย 
spot_img

Related Articles