BUDGET/DEFENSE/HOUSE OF REPS: “The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of a massive annual defense bill on Friday [7-14-17], leaving out controversial amendments on transgender troops and climate policy but backing President Donald Trump’s desire for a bigger, stronger military.
The vote was 344-81 to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets military policy and authorizes up to $696 billion in spending for the Department of Defense.
Underscoring bipartisan support for higher defense spending in Congress, 117 Democrats joined 227 Republicans in backing the measure. Only eight Republicans and 73 Democrats voted no.
But the measure faces more hurdles before it can become law, notably because it would increase military spending beyond last year’s $619 billion bill, defying ‘sequestration’ caps on government spending set in the 2011 Budget Control Act.
Trump wants to pay for a military spending increase by slashing nondefense spending. His fellow Republicans control majorities in both the House and Senate, but they will need support from Senate Democrats, who want to increase military spending, for Trump’s plans to go into effect.”
-Patricia Zengerle, “House backs massive increase in defense spending,” Reuters, July 14, 2017 09:30am