The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the Senate last night with a vote of 87-13. The NDAA authorizes $886 billion, with the bill authorizing $300 million to Ukraine for the 2024 fiscal year.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the NDAA will strengthen the U.S. military in potential conflicts against Russia and China, noting it “will ensure America can hold the line against Russia, stand firm against the Chinese Communist Party, and ensures that America’s military remains state-of-the-art at all times all around the world.”
The House and Senate disagreed on provisions in the NDAA addressing abortion and transgender policy issues. Reuters reported last week that Republicans and Democrats agreed to remove provisions from the 2024 NDAA that would block the Pentagon’s policy of reimbursing service members traveling to obtain abortions and coverage of transgender service members’ “gender-reassignment surgery.”
A bipartisan group of senators attempted to remove the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) spying provisions in the NDAA yesterday. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) tried to whip 41 votes to remove the FISA extension. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), author of the bill, said, “Extending this section 702 robs Congress of the ability to make reforms now, and likely robs Congress of the opportunity to make reforms anytime in the next year.” Paul’s motion failed to pass with a vote of 65-35.
The NDAA now advances to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to pass as soon as this week, after which President Biden is expected to sign it into law.
