WASHINGTON – The House on Thursday approved a $ 840 billion bill that would increase the Pentagon budget requested by President Biden by $ 37 billion, reflecting a growing bipartisan appetite in Congress to increase military spending amid new threats from Russia and China.
The legislation would grant a 4.6 percent salary increase to military personnel, limit the Biden administration’s ability to sell F-16 fighter jets in Turkey, and require major national security agencies to report and combat the activity of military personnel. white supremacists and neo-Nazis in the application of federal law and the armed forces. Although the measure garnered broad bipartisan support, going from 329 to 101, Republicans had unanimously opposed the mandate to root out white supremacy, arguing that such an effort was not needed.
The bill also contains provisions aimed at mitigating civilian deaths and injuries caused by U.S. military operations and authorizing $ 100 million for assistance to Ukrainian military pilots. And it would repeal the 2002 law authorizing the invasion of Iraq, which has been pulled by multiple administrations to justify military action around the world.
“We have a complex threat environment, when we look at Russia, China and Iran,” said Rep. Adam Smith, a Washington Democrat and chairman of the Armed Services Committee. “The war in Ukraine is a devastating threat to peace, stability and democracy, not only in Eastern Europe, but around the world that we are working with partners to try to address. we have to make sure we have a strong bill. “
House Democrats initially proposed bringing together the military budget requested by Mr. Biden, but a bipartisan group on the Armed Services Committee overwhelmingly supported a move by Maine Democrat Rep. Jared Golden to increase the amount by approximately one. 4.6 percent.
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“Just look at world events in Ukraine, read reports on China’s plans and actions in the South China Sea, or just read the latest headlines about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and North Korea’s missile tests, as well as ongoing terrorist threats, in order to see why this additional funding is needed to meet the security challenges of our time, ”Mr.
By contrast, a perennial effort led by California Democrat Rep. Barbara Lee to cut the Pentagon’s budget – this year by $ 100 billion – failed in the House on Thursday in a resounding show of bipartisan opposition, 350 to 78 .
Also included in the military policy bill is a series of measures aimed at mitigating civilian deaths and injuries caused by U.S. military operations, following reports from The New York Times and others that the air campaign of the US against the Islamic State has been marked by defects. intelligence, confirmation bias and low responsibility.
The legislation would establish a “civilian damage commission” made up of a dozen expert civilians appointed by Congress to investigate “a representative sample of civilian damage incidents that occurred when the United States used military force.”
Lawmakers also voted to add to the military policy bill an amendment that would force major national security agencies to report and combat the activity of white and neo-Nazi supremacists in enforcing federal law and the armed forces. in a vote in which House Republicans unanimously opposed it. .
“This extremism is a threat to all segments of society. There is no reason to believe that our military is any different,” said Rep. Brad Schneider, an Illinois Democrat and sponsor of the provision. He said cases of extremism in the U.S. armed forces “are rare, but we must do everything we can to identify and frustrate them before the risks become a reality.”
All Republicans voted no, but only one, Arizona Representative Andy Biggs, publicly explained his opposition to the House. He argued that the proposal “tries to create a problem where there is none” and “denigrates our men and women in the service.”
“All members of the military who showed real interest or involvement in a white supremacist or white nationalist group have faced discipline,” Biggs said. “The corresponding branch degraded the individual, discharged him, or otherwise disciplined the sympathizer.”
The vote came as the nation continues to struggle with the aftermath of the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, which included dozens of current and former members of the service and sparked efforts at the Pentagon to undo extremism. the armed forces. In December, the Pentagon updated its anti-extremism rules, including tightening social media guidelines, changing the way it examines recruits, and examining how to prevent troops from withdrawing. be the target of extremist organizations.
The House also passed a provision, led by Rep. Kathleen Rice, a New York Democrat, that requires a review of national security agencies’ compliance with domestic terrorism reporting requirements already established by current law. Only four Republicans supported it.
Mrs. Rice said he introduced the legislation after agencies presented “incomplete and insufficient information” in their first report on domestic terrorism, mandated by Congress, which was nearly a year late.
The votes were the latest indication of Republicans’ reluctance to address the issue of white nationalism and white supremacy, although data show that these ideologies help drive a growing threat of domestic violent extremism. The party has largely refused to punish lawmakers in its ranks who have welcomed white nationalists, including representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Paul Gosar of Arizona, both of whom spoke at a white nationalist conference. . Mr. Gosar lined up closely with conference leader Nick Fuentes.
It was unclear whether the language of white supremacy, passed by 218 to 208 votes, would survive in negotiations with the Senate on the bill to be passed. At least some Republican support would be needed to gather the 60 votes needed to move the measure to the equally divided chamber.
In the House, lawmakers also voted to give the mayor of the District of Columbia the same authority over the DC National Guard as the governors of states and territories have over their National Guard, an attempt to address the situation that it left the DC mayor unable to quickly send members of the Guard to the Capitol on January 6, while the mutineers attacked the building.