Senate passes $886 billion annual defense authorization bill: The massive package includes short-term extension of controversial FBI spy tool and a pay raise for U.S. troops
- The NDAA will include a short-term extension of the FBI spy tool through April
- It also includes an amendment from Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, that would ban the Pentagon from using taxpayer money to fund experiments on Wuhan laboratory viruses.
- The enormous package will now go to the House of Representatives for final passage this week
The Senate has passed the massive $886 billion annual defense authorization bill, which includes a pay raise for U.S. troops and a short-term extension of the FBI's controversial surveillance tool.
The vote was 87-13 and includes a 5.2 percent pay increase for U.S. troops and requires the Pentagon to inform service members who have been discharged for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine that they can be reinstated.
It also includes $800 million in additional resources for Ukraine and $11.5 billion to deter the growing threat from China.
The House of Representatives is now expected to take up and approve the legislation on Thursday.
The legislation also includes a four-month extension of the FBI's controversial surveillance tool, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which expires at the end of this year. Lawmakers are working on a series of improvements to the law – which allows the US to surveil foreigners in an effort to thwart terrorists – before renewing it as a number of abuses have occurred.
In addition, the bill includes an amendment from Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, that would ban the Pentagon from using taxpayer dollars to fund Wuhan laboratory virus experiments, after previously funneling more than $39 billion to the EcoHealth Alliance.
The passage comes as the Senate remains divided over whether to approve a major spending request of more than $61 billion for Ukraine
Republicans are demanding that major border security measures be included in such a package
Ernst also included a provision to ensure that the Department of Defense uses materials already purchased for a southern border wall. The materials will have to be used, transferred or donated to ports of entry, which the senator says DailyMail.com will “stop illegal human and vehicle trafficking along the border.”
The bill also includes Republican-led measures to combat “woke” issues within the U.S. military, including teaching critical race theory.
But it does not preclude the Pentagon's current policy of reimbursing troops for travel expenses to obtain abortions, an issue that has held back Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., more than 400 military promotions.
The passage comes as the Senate remains divided over whether to approve a major separate spending request for more than $61 billion for Ukraine and additional aid to Israel and Taiwan. Republicans are demanding that major border security measures be included in such a package.
President Biden has indicated he is open to working with Republicans on border security to get crucial aid to Ukraine and other U.S. allies.
Reports this week indicated that the Biden administration is in talks with negotiators in Congress to dramatically expand detentions and deportations at the border, as well as revive the pandemic-era Title 42 policy by allowing migrants to be deported without hearing asylum applications.
In return, Republicans would accept Biden's proposal. But it remains to be seen whether lawmakers can reach an agreement before the Christmas recess.
Last week, Republican senators blocked President Biden's request for $110 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as the GOP demands tighter security measures be included at the southern border.
The package included $61 billion to Ukraine, in addition to aid to Israel in its ongoing war with Hamas terrorists, humanitarian aid to Gaza and funds to support U.S. partners in the Indo-Pacific.
Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, told DailyMail.com last week that there are ongoing “political discussions” about how to move forward a security package.
He said that while “each side” has different priorities, border issues are “at the top of the list” for Republicans.
The senator said aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan is important to make progress and “we want to get it done,” but “we have to worry about our southern border first and foremost.”
“The reason the whole package has not been approved is that we have not yet reached an agreement on that part of the package,” he explained.
“It's a top priority for us, our border, our national security, our voters.”
He continued, “No one ever said the democratic process was easy, smooth, or beautiful. But we'll get through this.'