Key bills that impact military pay, nutrition and ASG funding have stalled in the U.S. Senate amid partisan fights ahead of the midterm November elections. KHJ News Washington D.C. correspondent Matt Kaye has the details.
Democrats are blocking Senate action on the must-pass FY ’27 national defense bill.
The House-passed bill has a 5-to-7 percent military pay raise and nearly $2 billion to improve housing, but Democrats refuse to advance a Senate bill.
Assistant Minority Leader Dick Durbin…
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[Transc.] Durbin: “We look at the Straits of Hormuz. Before we invaded Iran, they were open for the transport of energy, oil and fertilizers. Now, they are virtually closed, because of President Trump’s decision to invade Iran. Does it have any impact on you, personally? Filled our gas tank, lately? The cost of gas is going through the roof because of the invasion of Iran.”
But Alaska Republican Dan Sullivan says Democrats’ blocking-move is unprecedented and fails to honor the late Senator Lindsey Graham whose funeral was this week…
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[Transc.] Sullivan: “To my Democratic colleagues, you want to honor Lindsey Graham? Then let’s start debating the NDAA. Quit blocking it! I’ve never seen that before…in my entire time here. That doesn’t help anything. All it does is undermine our national security and our troops.”
Also stalled is a new farm bill that reauthorizes American Samoa’s Nutrition Assistance Program, ASNAP.
Democrats’ demand more time for the states to fix SNAP overpayments, before they’re hit with penalties.
Ag. Chair John Boozman…
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[Transc.] Boozman: “This is about having some sort of leverage to make them administer these programs in an efficient way and not waste money by overpaying people. So, as a result of that, we put this in place and it’s created some problems.”
And then there’s government funding that without a patch will run out at midnight on September 30th. And still no Senate deal on new spending, despite the House passing all its appropriation bills.
Top Senate Democrat on Appropriations—Patty Murray…
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[Transc.] Murray: “Republicans want to deliver over 4 new dollars in defense for every dollar in non-defense. And because of that, my Democratic colleagues and I have been clear, we will not accept their top-line.”
…forcing the now routine need for another continuing resolution to keep the lights on, delaying a House-passed ASG boost $1 million boost to $30 million and $1 million for Pago Pago port improvements.
