Congress easily passes defense bill void of GOP demands on social issues
Dec 14, 2023
By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Ian Kennedy (Video Producer)
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Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden; conservatives stymied on cultural issues
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House passes annual defense policy bill in last-minute sprint, sending it to Joe Biden
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House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
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House passes defense policy bill, a rebuke of GOP’s far-right fringe
Click to see story on The Washington Post
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on The Mercury news
House sends defense bill to Biden, despite conservative anger over spy powers, culture wars
Click to see story on Politico
House approves pay raises for U.S. military
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The House passes the biggest pay raise for troops in decades, despite conservatives’ objections to cultural issues
Click to see story on PBS NewsHour
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on News & Record
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House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KIFI
House sends annual Defense policy bill to Biden’s desk
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Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on KVIA
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on Pioneer Press
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KCRA 3
House passes defense policy bill void of most Republican culture-war demands
Click to see story on Portland Press Herald
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WCVB
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WLWT
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WMUR
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on The Billings Gazette
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WLKY
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WESH
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on Koco News5
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KETV
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WDSU
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WTAE
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WYFF
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on Lincoln Journal Star
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on Helena Independent Record
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KCCI
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KMBC
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
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House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WISN
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WPTZ
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WMTW
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
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House Passes Defense Policy Bill, Leaving Out Abortion, Transgender Provisions
Click to see story on Wall Street Journal
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WAPT
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on KOB 4
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KOAT
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KWWL
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KITV4 News
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on Omaha World-Herald
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on The Sun (Lowell)
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WPBF
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on Daily Freeman
A big pay raise for troops is in the defense bill sent to Biden. But conservatives are stymied on cultural issues.
Click to see story on The Virginian Pilot
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WXII
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on The Delaware County Daily Times
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KSBW
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WJCL
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KHBS
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on The Reporter
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on The Pottstown Mercury
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
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Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
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Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden
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Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
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House passes NDAA as members leave town, angering conservatives in the process
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Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
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Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
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Senate Passes Massive $886 Billion National Defense Authorization Act – News From Antiwar.com
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A big pay raise for troops is in the defense bill sent to Biden. But conservatives are stymied on cultural issues.
Click to see story on Daily Press
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on Odessa American
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Untracked Bias
67 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
67
Leaning Left
10
Center
48
Leaning Right
7
Last Updated
5 months ago
The Senate and the House overwhelmingly passed the compromise $886 billion defense budget for 2024. The bill, which was approved by the Senate on Thursday, Dec. 14, was notably void of major social issue provisions sought by some Republicans, such as those on abortion and gender identity.
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The bill allows the Pentagon to pay for travel and time off for service members to obtain abortions and gender-affirming health care. Both of those provisions were blocked in the House version of the bill, but when House and Senate negotiators met, concessions were made to remove those restrictions, and the majority of Republicans in both chambers voted for the final bill.
Here’s what Republicans got in return:
In 2021, President Biden issued an executive order mandating the establishment of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices across all military branches to promote equity within the military. However, the 2024 defense budget will impose a hiring freeze on these DEI offices, and there will be a salary cap for employees working in these departments.
The defense bill incorporates language backed by Republicans, specifically stating that it “prohibits the promotion of critical race theory.”
Additionally, LGBTQ pride flags will not be allowed to be displayed outside military bases – along with any other unapproved flags.
Other sentiments inside the bill that satisfy conservatives are policies that will require the government to find use for border wall materials that have been stored for years.
The budget also permits the hiring of a “special inspector general” to enhance oversight of the tens of billions of dollars sent to Ukraine. The hiring of that position is seen as a win for Republicans in the defense bill negotiations.
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Republicans pointed to a lack of transparency as reason for upholding a separate $110 billion aid package. The majority of that money is set aside for Ukraine.
While the majority of Republicans voted with Democrats to approve the defense budget, GOP members are receiving criticism from their own party for conceding to “woke” military policies.
[Karah Rucker]
BOTH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED THE COMPROMISE $886 BILLION DEFENSE BUDGET FOR 2024. THE BILL WAS NOTABLY VOID OF MAJOR SOCIAL ISSUE PROVISIONS SOUGHT BY SOME REPUBLICANS — SPECIFICALLY ON ABORTION AND GENDER IDENTITY.
THE BILL ALLOWS THE PENTAGON TO PAY FOR TRAVEL AND TIME OFF TO OBTAIN ABORTIONS AND FOR GENDER-AFFIRMING HEALTH CARE FOR MILITARY MEMBERS — BOTH OF WHICH WERE BLOCKED IN THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE BILL.
YET THE MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS IN BOTH HOUSES VOTED FOR THE FINAL BILL.
NOW SOME ARE WANTING TO KNOW WHY? WHAT CONCESSIONS DID REPUBLICANS RECEIVE?
THE HOUSE-PASSED DEFENSE BILL INCLUDED TWO PROVISIONS THAT BLOCKED THE MILITARY FROM USING TAX-PAYER MONEY TO PAY FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE AND ABORTIONS. WHEN HOUSE AND SENATE NEGOTIATORS MET – CONCESSIONS WERE MADE TO REMOVE THOSE RESTRICTIONS. –
REMEMBER PRESIDENT BIDEN’S EXECUTIVE ORDER IN 2021 REQUIRING ALL MILITARY BRANCHES TO CREATE “DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION” OFFICES TO ADVANCE EQUITY IN THE MILITARY?
IN THE 2024 DEFENSE BUDGET –
THERE WILL BE A HIRING FREEZE IN D-E-I OFFICES AND EMPLOYEES IN THESE DEPARTMENTS WILL HAVE A PAY-CAP.
THE DEFENSE BILL INCLUDES LANGUAGE SUPPORTED BY REPUBLICANS THAT “PROHIBITS THE PROMOTION OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY”.
LGBTQ PRIDE FLAGS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE DISPLAYED OUTSIDE MILITARY BASES – ALONG WITH ANY OTHER UN-APPROVED FLAGS.
OTHER SENTIMENTS INSIDE THE BILL THAT SATISFY CONSERVATIVES –
ARE POLICIES THAT WILL REQUIRE THE GOVERNMENT TO FIND A WAY TO **USE BORDER WALL MATERIALS THAT HAVE SAT UNUSED FOR YEARS.
THE BUDGET ALSO ALLOWS FOR THE HIRING OF A “SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL” TO BETTER TRACK THE TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS SENT TO UKRAINE.
THE HIRING OF SOMEONE TO OVERSEE THAT MONEY IS SEEN AS A REPUBLICAN WIN IN THE DEFENSE BILL NEGOTIATIONS.
REPUBLICANS POINT TO A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AS REASON FOR UPHOLDING A SEPARATE 110-BILLION-DOLLAR AID PACKAGE –
WITH THE MAJORITY OF THAT MONEY SET ASIDE FOR UKRAINE.
WHILE THE MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS VOTED WITH DEMOCRATS TO APPROVE THE DEFENSE BUDGET –
THEY ARE RECEIVING CRITICISM FROM WITHIN THEIR OWN PARTY FROM **OTHER REPUBLICANS FOR WHAT THEY CALL CONCEDING TO “WOKE” MILITARY POLICIES.
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Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below.
Learn more about this dataLeft 15%
Center 74%
Right 11%
Bias Distribution
Far
Left
+0
Click to close
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden; conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on Associated Press News
House passes annual defense policy bill in last-minute sprint, sending it to Joe Biden
Click to see story on USA Today
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on CNN
House passes defense policy bill, a rebuke of GOP’s far-right fringe
Click to see story on The Washington Post
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on The Mercury news
House sends defense bill to Biden, despite conservative anger over spy powers, culture wars
Click to see story on Politico
House approves pay raises for U.S. military
Click to see story on WISH-TV
The House passes the biggest pay raise for troops in decades, despite conservatives’ objections to cultural issues
Click to see story on PBS NewsHour
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on News & Record
Click to close
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KIFI
House sends annual Defense policy bill to Biden’s desk
Click to see story on The Hill
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on KVIA
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on Pioneer Press
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KCRA 3
House passes defense policy bill void of most Republican culture-war demands
Click to see story on Portland Press Herald
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WCVB
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WLWT
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WMUR
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on The Billings Gazette
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WLKY
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WESH
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on Koco News5
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KETV
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WDSU
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WTAE
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WYFF
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on Lincoln Journal Star
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on Helena Independent Record
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KCCI
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KMBC
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WBAL-TV
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WISN
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WPTZ
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WMTW
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WVTM
House Passes Defense Policy Bill, Leaving Out Abortion, Transgender Provisions
Click to see story on Wall Street Journal
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WAPT
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on KOB 4
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KOAT
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KWWL
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KITV4 News
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on Omaha World-Herald
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on The Sun (Lowell)
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WPBF
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on Daily Freeman
A big pay raise for troops is in the defense bill sent to Biden. But conservatives are stymied on cultural issues.
Click to see story on The Virginian Pilot
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WXII
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on The Delaware County Daily Times
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KSBW
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on WJCL
House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military
Click to see story on KHBS
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on The Reporter
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on The Pottstown Mercury
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on Daily Local News
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on Sentinel and Enterprise
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden
Click to see story on Temple Daily Telegram
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on The Times Herald
Click to close
House passes NDAA as members leave town, angering conservatives in the process
Click to see story on Washington Examiner
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on MY Northwest
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on Boston Herald
Senate Passes Massive $886 Billion National Defense Authorization Act – News From Antiwar.com
Click to see story on antiwar.com
A big pay raise for troops is in the defense bill sent to Biden. But conservatives are stymied on cultural issues.
Click to see story on Daily Press
Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues
Click to see story on Odessa American
Click to close
Far
Right
+0
Click to close
Untracked Bias
67 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
67
Leaning Left
10
Center
48
Leaning Right
7
Last Updated
5 months ago
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