In a last-minute rush to sanction spending before the end of the year, the Senate enacted a $886 billion defense spending proposal Wednesday, sponsored by President Joe Biden, that includes financing for Ukraine, yearly pay hikes for personnel, and most controversially, a reauthorization of the the National Defense Authorization Act. The NDAA funds Pentagon objectives such as training and equipment. The Act was approved by a bipartisan majority of 87-13 in the Senate. For the last 61 years in a row, Congress has advanced the must-pass defense budget measure.................
The Senate National Defense Authorization Act has measures that will:
- Authorize $844.3 billion for the Department of Defense and $32.4 billion for national security programs within the Department of Energy
- Support Defense department activities among Australia, United Kingdom, and the United States
- Extend the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative through fiscal year 2027 and authorize the full budget request of $300 million in fiscal year 2024
- Provide a 5.2 percent pay raise for military servicemembers and the Defense department civilian workforce
- Support requested funding for naval vessels, combat aircraft, armored vehicles, weapon systems and munitions
- Renew the secretive FISA Court and rubber-stamp mass warrantless surveillance
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) was one of just thirteen senators that rejected the NDAA..............Earlier, Sen. Lee called out the “warrantless backdoor surveillance” of Americans.....By 6 votes, the Senate just forced through a violation of your constitutional rights. Now all eyes turn to the House. They will put it to a vote TOMORROW.............To Read More....
