The House narrowly voted to advance a slew of controversial amendments to be considered as part of Congress’s annual defense bill, setting the stage for dozens of votes on Thursday afternoon that could derail support across the chamber.
Lawmakers voted 220-208 to adopt a rule allowing the House to consider amendments seeking to overturn a number of Pentagon policies dealing with abortion, climate change, transgender issues, and more. The amendments have already caused a stir among Democrats, possibly threatening their support that will be needed to pass the full measure.
FIVE CONTROVERSIAL AMENDMENTS COMPLICATING MCCARTHY’S JOB OF PASSING THE NDAA
GOP leaders are aiming to hold a final vote by the end of the week to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, an annual legislative bill that outlines the policy agenda and budget for the Department of Defense. Although the bill typically garners bipartisan support and is able to pass easily through both chambers of Congress, several hard-line conservatives are seeking to use the must-pass legislation to rein in the Biden administration’s agenda, with some threatening to withhold their support if their demands aren’t met.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) was among a group of conservatives who threatened to vote against advancing the NDAA to the floor unless her amendment on Ukraine aid was considered for a vote. Greene’s amendment seeks to block Ukraine spending until a “diplomatic solution” is reached, rescinding the $300 million in aid that was authorized earlier this year.
Greene is pushing to remove that language from the NDAA and vote on military assistance as a separate piece of legislation.
“Take it out. Hold it in a separate vote because it will pass even with people like me voting no. They can easily put that $300 million on a separate bill, and they’ll have over 218 votes,” Greene told reporters on Wednesday. “But why put it in our National Defense Authorization Act that funds our Department of Defense, whose stated mission on their website says their mission is to deter war and protect the national security interest of our country? Giving $300 million to a neo-Nazi army funding a war is not deterring war, and it doesn’t protect our national security interests.”
Even as the amendment was approved for a floor vote on Thursday, some centrist Republicans were undecided about how they would vote.
Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), who has previously supported financial support to Ukraine, told the Washington Examiner he is in favor of “clinical targeted aid to Ukraine” but has not yet read Greene’s amendment to know whether he’ll vote to advance it. Similarly, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) said she remains undecided, noting she needs to read the proposal more closely.
“We have not utilized all the aid we have provided so far,” Mace said. “So, I just would want to see what it would be used for and how much.”
Some centrist Republicans have expressed opposition to several of the amendments they argue are more geared toward combating cultural issues rather than strengthening national security. As a result, some members have urged their colleagues to withdraw their amendments to avoid prolonged fights on the floor.
Meanwhile, some Democrats are welcoming the amendment votes, citing it as an opportunity to rebuke hard-line conservatives.
Rep. Jeff Jackson (D-NC), a military officer and member of the House Armed Services Committee, said that although a vote to strip Ukraine funding would send the wrong message to Russia and other foreign allies, it could send a strong signal within the House itself.
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“I’m actually glad the amendment is going to be offered on the floor because I think it’s going to be crushed,” Jackson told the Washington Examiner. “I think it’ll finally send a really clear signal that this Congress is still firmly behind Ukraine.”
The House will continue debate on Thursday, holding a series of votes on the amendments later that evening. It remains unclear when the House will vote on the NDAA’s final passage, but GOP leaders say it could come as early as Friday.
