The House passed the fiscal year 2023 spending bill for the Department of Defense on Thursday with more money sought by President Joe Biden.
The lower chamber voted 329-101 in favor of an $839 billion National Defense Authorization Act, which is $37 billion more than the president’s outline. The Senate hasn’t passed its version, but the Armed Services Committee has voted to add $45 billion to Biden’s initial proposal.
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The bill allocates roughly $808 billion to the Pentagon, slightly more than $30 billion to the Department of Energy, and roughly $400 million to other federal agencies.
“After months of hard work, negotiations, and vigorous debate the House has completed our work to pass the FY23 NDAA,” Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. “The annual defense bill serves as the legislative foundation for national security policymaking. The United States must meet global challenges with humility and in ways that live up to our values — that’s why this year’s bill includes a package of bold reforms to prevent and mitigate civilian harm in military operations.”
Democrats and Republicans voted on hundreds of amendments that were proposed and debated. Amendments that passed include those repealing the 2002 Iraq War authorization, requiring a report investigating white supremacy and neo-Nazi activities, and creating a secure system to report unidentified aerial phenomena, while others, such as one reversing the military’s coronavirus vaccine mandate, failed.
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“I am glad to see the FY23 NDAA pass the House with overwhelming bipartisan support,” Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. “However, our work is not done — we will continue to improve upon this bill in conference to ensure that this legislation gives our warfighters what they need.”
