By Smartencyclopedia Staff

The House of Representatives passed a defense bill on Friday that would provide a 5.2% pay raise for service members, but it also includes controversial provisions that would block abortion coverage, diversity initiatives at the Pentagon, and transgender care.

The bill, which passed by a vote of 219-210, is expected to go nowhere in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Republicans added the social policy amendments to the bill during a late-night floor debate this week. They argued that the provisions were necessary to protect the military from “woke” ideology.

Democrats, on the other hand, said that the amendments were discriminatory and would harm the military’s readiness.

The bill also authorizes $874.2 billion in defense spending for the coming year.

The vote on the defense bill came as the House was also considering a separate bill that would codify Roe v. Wade into law. That bill passed the House by a vote of 219-210, but it is also expected to go nowhere in the Senate.

The two votes highlight the deep divisions in Congress over abortion and other social issues.

Here are some of the key provisions of the defense bill:

• A 5.2% pay raise for service members
• Increased funding for the military’s readiness
• Provisions to block abortion coverage, diversity initiatives at the Pentagon, and transgender care
• Authorization of $874.2 billion in defense spending for the coming year

The bill is expected to be the subject of further negotiations between the House and Senate. It is unclear whether the two chambers will be able to reach a compromise on the social policy amendments.

However, the vote on the defense bill shows that Republicans are willing to use the annual defense bill as a vehicle to advance their social agenda. This could make it more difficult for Congress to pass a bipartisan defense bill in the future.

Source: With Agencies