{"id":8320,"date":"2024-09-17T13:26:29","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T13:26:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kohajone.press\/?p=8320"},"modified":"2024-09-17T13:26:36","modified_gmt":"2024-09-17T13:26:36","slug":"house-adds-big-troop-pay-raise-to-defense-bill-over-bidens-objection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kohajone.press\/?p=8320","title":{"rendered":"House Adds Big Troop Pay Raise To Defense Bill Over Biden\u2019s Objection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The House on Friday passed a massive defense spending bill that included several items and measures backed by Republicans, some over the objection of President Joe Biden and the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCongress\u2019 annual defense policy bill passed the House on Friday after a week of voting on more than 300 amendments, during which conservatives scored several victories on diversity, critical race theory and gender surgeries,\u201d Fox News reported<\/a>. \u201cThe National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes funding for military priorities across the Department of Defense and Department of Energy, with that funding later coming in the form of a defense appropriations bill.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But one provision, in particular, was passed over Biden\u2019s objections: A 19.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted troops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NDAA is typically a widely bipartisan effort, but the battle over cultural provisions alienated Democrats, prompting opposition from the White House regarding these and similar measures in the bill, Fox reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Republicans assert that undoing measures on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and other progressive issues will strengthen military readiness and tackle the recruitment crisis facing the U.S. military. Three amendments targeting DEI roles in the armed forces were passed this week. These include the elimination of the Chief Diversity Officer role, any DEI-related offices and their personnel, and the enforcement of a hiring freeze on any future such roles. Another approved amendment would ban the promotion of critical race theory and similar race-based theories within the military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two more measures prohibit Pentagon-related health policies from funding gender transition surgeries and transgender-related medical care, while a third provision bars the Pentagon from funding any abortion-related services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fox added:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The underlying bill, which advanced in a 57 to 1 vote out of the House Armed Services Committee last month, looks to make significant improvements to service members\u2019 quality of life. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A cornerstone initiative of that is the pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for other military roles. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA very significant pay raise<\/u><\/a>, particularly for our young enlisted, I think is really life-changing, and I hope will also be motivating for people to enlist and also to stay,\u201d Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., a member of the Armed Services Committee and a veteran, told the outlet earlier this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., another committee member and a retired general, stated that military families, especially in high-cost-of-living areas, had to rely on food banks to feed their families. \u201cPeople working at fast-food restaurants are making more than our junior enlisted,\u201d Bacon said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both lawmakers also took verbal swipes at Biden and his administration for opposing the pay raise for junior enlisted members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople working at fast-food restaurants are making more than our junior enlisted,\u201d Bacon said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, during his birthday rally in Florida, former President Trump promised<\/a> to build a \u201cgreat\u201d Iron Dome anti-missile shield for the U.S., saying that it would be \u201cmade in America.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy next term, we will build a great Iron Dome over our country,\u201d Trump said during his 78th birthday celebration at Club 47 in West Palm Beach on Friday evening. \u201cWe deserve a dome. We deserve it all, made state of the art.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a missile defense shield, and it\u2019ll all be made in America,\u201d he said. \u201cJobs, jobs, jobs.\u201d Trump added that, during Ronald Reagan\u2019s presidency, he wanted to build a similar system, \u201cbut at that time, we didn\u2019t have the technology.\u201d \u201cWe now have the technology,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel\u2019s missile defense system, or Iron Dome, is largely funded by the United States, but it was developed in Israel with U.S. assistance. The system is capable of effectively intercepting and neutralizing short-range rockets and artillery attacks originating from a distance of up to 43 miles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince its creation in 2011, the Iron Dome has rebuffed and destroyed rockets from Hamas militants, Palestinian forces and Iranian drones and missiles,\u201d Fox reported.<\/p>\n

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