The House green-lighted an expansive defense spending bill after diligent deliberation last Friday. This bill was remarkable as it incorporated several measures that Republicans vigorously advocated for, despite President Biden and his administration’s reservations. After an intense week of voting on more than 300 proposed amendments, conservatives successfully advanced their stances on diversity, critical race theory, and gender transition surgeries. A notable aspect of this bill was a significant 19.5% pay raise for junior enlisted troops, a provision enacted against Biden’s stance.
Evidently, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) generally enjoys bipartisan support. However, this time, the debate over cultural provisions sparked disagreements. These differences led to the White House’s objections to several proposals in the bill, as reported by Fox News. According to Republicans, retracting policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and other progressive issues would bolster military preparedness and address the ongoing recruitment crisis in the U.S. military.
Among the successfully passed proposals were three amendments specifically addressing DEI positions in the armed forces. These included eliminating the Chief Diversity Officer role and any existing DEI-centric offices and personnel, and the imposition of a freeze on hiring for any similar future positions. Another prominent amendment, approved by the lawmakers, excludes the promotion of critical race theory and other race-related theories within military ranks and files.
Furthermore, two more resolutions restrict Pentagon-associated health policies from allocating funds for gender transition surgeries and transgender-specific medical care. An additional stipulation prevents the Department of Defense from providing funds for services related to abortion. These crucial amendments aimed to prioritize military readiness above all other considerations, ensuring that the U.S. military remains strong and agile.
The core bill, which received an overwhelmingly positive vote of 57 to 1 from the House Armed Services Committee last month, makes a concerted attempt to enhance quality of life for service members. An integral component of these enhancements is the pay raise for junior enlisted members and a 4.5% increase for other military roles, a significant announcement for our men and women in uniform.
Representative Chrissy Houlahan, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, a part of the Armed Service Committee, and a veteran herself, commended the significant pay raise, particularly for the young enlisted personnel. In her words, such a move could be not only life-changing, but it could also motivate new recruits to join and stay in the service. Her sentiments echo the larger consensus within the military establishment.
Further endorsing these initiatives, Representative Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, who is also on the committee and a retired general, outlined the struggles of military families. He highlighted that those living in areas with high living costs sometimes depend on food banks. He compared their circumstances with employees at fast-food restaurants, who he stated are earning more than junior enlisted personnel in the military, accentuating the need for these pay reforms.
On another exciting note, during a birthday rally in Florida, President Trump made a captivating promise. He pledged to construct a grand ‘Iron Dome’ anti-missile shield for the United States, proudly proclaiming that it would be ‘Made in America.’ This commitment was made during the celebration of his 78th birthday at Club 47 in West Palm Beach, amplifying the enthusiasm of his supporters.
‘By next term, we will build a great Iron Dome over our country,’ Trump declared during his birthday festivities. He stressed the necessity for such a dome, insisting that its state-of-the-art standard is what America deserves. Drawing attention to the job creation potential of the project, he highlighted, ‘Jobs, jobs, jobs,’ further affirming his commitment to the American workers.
President Trump also took the moment to recall the ambitions of former President Ronald Reagan. Reagan had shown a keen interest in constructing a similar defense system during his presidency. However, the technology wasn’t yet advanced enough to make these plans a reality.
Our technological capabilities, Trump reassured, now support such an ambitious venture. The technology to construct the ‘Iron Dome,’ he asserted, is now at our disposal. His reassurance strikes a positive chord with American technological ambitions and their power to foster strong defense capabilities.
Interestingly, Israel’s missile defense system, called Iron Dome, has been primarily funded by the United States, although the technology was developed in Israel with assistance from the U.S. This system has the power to successfully intercept and cancel with high precision short-range rockets and artillery attacks from as far as 43 miles away.
The Iron Dome, ever since its inception in 2011, has effectively defended against and destroyed rockets from various regional adversaries. These include rockets from Hamas militants, Palestinian forces, and even Iranian drones and missiles, as Fox News reported. As such, an American Iron Dome could serve as a robust shield against incoming potent threats, bolstering the security of the nation.
House Passes Defense Bill to Raise Pay for Troops Against Biden Administration appeared first on Real News Now.
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