The US House was voting on and expected to send to the Senate for final approval, an $858 (B) billion-dollar annual defense bill, including the largest-ever pay raise for service members.
KHJ News Washington DC correspondent Matt Kaye reports…
The House passed the 62nd consecutive annual National Defense Authorization Act after months of tough negotiations.
But there was bipartisan support for more housing and commissary funding and a big hike in military pay…
Texas Republican Mike Burgess…
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…and one, key for American Samoa’s fighting men and women
Plus, there’s new money authorized for ships, planes and other security, that will support US allies and help defend the Pacific against adversaries…
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But there was controversy.
Key Senate Republicans threatened to kill the bill, despite its 45 (B) billion-dollar hike to the president’s request, if it didn’t end the military’s COVID vaccine mandate. Democrats defended the mandate.
Incoming House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers picked up the baton when asked if he’d look at those who refused to get vaccinated and were forced out of the military…
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The bill also reauthorizes the Coral Reef Conservation of 2000 backed by Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata…and it creates a Veterans “Advisory Committee on US Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States.”
Amata co-sponsored the original bill that includes American Samoan veterans on that committee.
