The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $90.1 billion annual Defense Authorization Act with an overwhelming vote, sending the large legislation to the Senate before year-end. The bill was approved by 312 votes to 112, despite some Democratic members and a few Republican lawmakers opposing it. The bill covers increasing military pay, partial aid to Ukraine, restrictions on U.S. investments in China, and full removal of sanctions against Syria, and requires that part of the travel budget of Defense Secretary Mark Esper be withheld until he submits complete footage and orders for the air strikes on drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean. The voting process had its hiccups, as the Republican leadership in the House spent over an hour persuading several conservative lawmakers to reverse their stance and support the bill. Some Republicans complained that the bill's size exceeded the budget request of the Trump administration and opposed continued funding for Ukraine; conservatives also expressed dissatisfaction that the final text did not include a provision banning central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Democrats were angry about the deletion of a clause expanding IVF coverage for military personnel. Despite this, long-term negotiations between the two parties' armed forces committees still gained bipartisan support for the bill, allowing it to pass smoothly.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1851185607258121/
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