Senate Passes $858 Billion Military Spending Bill

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

The U.S. Senate on Dec. 15 passed a military spending bill with a top-line price to taxpayers of $858 billion.

The defense package, dubbed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed the upper chamber by an 83–11 vote.

The NDAA was passed by the House of Representatives on Dec. 8 in a 350–80 vote. A total of 176 Republicans in the lower chamber voted for the bill, 35 voted against it, and two didn’t vote. A total of 174 Democrats voted for the bill, while 45 voted against it.

One of the most noteworthy aspects of the package, and an early victory for Republicans as they prepare to take the House next year, was a repeal of President Joe Biden’s controversial COVID-19 vaccine mandate for military service members. Despite historically supporting Biden’s COVID-19 policies, Democrats yielded on the issue.

However, in an interview with NTD, Cesar Ybarra, vice president of policy at FreedomWorks, warned that this may not be the victory for Republicans that it seems to be.

“The legislation simply said that the Department of Defense is required to rescind the memo that authorizes the vaccine mandate on servicemembers,” Ybarra explained. “However … it gives us no assurances that DOD will not do that again, right.”

He added, “So it simply says get rid of it, but nothing that says you cannot do this again. And we’ve known from the COVID hysteria that these federal politicians always flip-flop on when or when we don’t need these vaccine mandates.”

Before passing the bill, the Senate rejected an amendment proposed by Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), which would have reinstated servicemembers removed exclusively for refusing the vaccine, as well as compensation for any salary and benefits lost due to the separation.

The amendment failed, with 40 senators supporting it and 54 opposing it.

“People serving our military are the finest among us. Over 8,000 were terminated because they refused to get this experimental vaccine, and so I’m urging all of my colleagues to support Senator Cruz’s and my amendment,” Johnson said.

By Joseph Lord

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.

Why Democracy, not Caesar, is the answer to our problems

Caesar-style leadership wins quick public support but inevitably sparks passionate resistance, conflict, bloodshed, and lasting social destabilization.

WATCH: Barack Obama Foments Color Revolutions in Eastern Europe

Obama astroturfed “pro-democracy” movements in Poland and Hungary to pressure their govts into accepting mass migration and social engineering.

J.B. Pritzker Puts the ILLeagals in ILLinois

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, once a California native, has revived the old “ILL” abbreviation—this time in his promotion of ILLegal aliens.

James Franklin’s contract fallout

Penn State’s decision to fire head coach James Franklin after a disappointing 22–21 home loss to Northwestern will cost an estimated $56 million buyout. 

Trump’s Middle East Trip Led to Historic Breakthroughs

Trump’s bold, unconventional strategy helped end the Israel-Hamas war and set the stage for a more stable, prosperous Middle East.

Trump Commutes Sentence of Former Rep. George Santos

President Trump commuted ex-Rep. George Santos’s seven-year prison sentence for fraud and identity theft, ordering his immediate release.

Jack Smith Referred to DOJ for Misconduct Investigation and Possible Disbarment

Former special counsel Jack Smith was criminally referred to the DOJ by Republican lawmakers for alleged misconduct and possible disbarment.

AI Is a ‘Real and Mysterious Creature,’ Not a Predictable Machine, Anthropic Co-Founder Warns

Handling AI is like dealing with “a real and mysterious creature, not a predictable machine,” said Jack Clark, co-founder of Anthropic, at a Berkeley conference.

Trump Refiles $15 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against New York Times After Court Dismissal

Trump refiled his $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, Penguin Random House, and 3 reporters after judge dismissed the case.

Army Corps of Engineers to Pause $11 Billion in Projects During Shutdown: Vought

Russ Vought, director of the White House’s OMB, has added to the growing pile of federal projects paused during the government shutdown.

Trump Signs Executive Order Putting New Restrictions on Federal Hiring

Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to restrict hiring, with exceptions for immigration, security, and political appointees.

Trump Says He Has Authorized Covert CIA Operations in Venezuela

President Trump authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela, expanding U.S. assets there to increase pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s regime.

Trump Posthumously Awards Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom

President Trump posthumously awarded Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the White House Rose Garden on Oct 14, Charlie's birthday.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central