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House passes compromise defense bill, creating a Space Force
"I will sign this historic defense legislation immediately!” President Donald Trump tweeted.
House Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.). | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
By CONNOR O’BRIEN
12/11/2019 06:07 PM EST
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Pushing through partisan politics, the House on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a $738 billion compromise defense policy bill that would create a Space Force as the newest military service.
In a 377- to-48 vote, lawmakers approved the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act — with both House Democrats and President Donald Trump taking credit for its marquee provisions, which also include parental leave for federal workers and a repeal of the military “widow’s tax.”
Trump wrote on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1204782262912503808
Wow! All of our priorities have made it into the final NDAA: Pay Raise for our Troops, Rebuilding our Military, Paid Parental Leave, Border Security, and Space Force! Congress – don’t delay this anymore! I will sign this historic defense legislation immediately!
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10:17 AM - Dec 11, 2019
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In a big organizational shift, lawmakers notably agreed to create a Space Force as the sixth armed service within the Air Force and a chief of space operations who would sit on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Trump has called for establishing a Space Force, now a common chant at his political rallies nationwide. But the House first proposed creating a new military space service under the Air Force in 2017. Backers were quick to note that members in both parties pushed the idea before the president.
“Trump’s belated support for a Space Force does not make this a Republican idea,” said Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), who chairs the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee.
The bill also grants 12 weeks of paid parental leave to federal workers, a benefit that extends well beyond the Pentagon. And the agreement would repeal the "widow's tax," an unpopular offset in military survivor benefits offered by the Defense and Veterans Affairs Departments that advocates have sought to eliminate for decades, which will be phased in over three years.
Democratic leaders have underscored both provisions as legislative victories to convince their members to support the legislation.
The $738 billion bill would authorize $635 billion for the base Pentagon spending and $23.1 billion for nuclear weapons programs under the Energy Department as well as $71.5 billion for war operations. It also would authorize another $5.3 billion in emergency disaster recovery for military bases damaged by extreme weather.
The legislation also greenlights a 3.1 percent pay raise for troops, the largest in a decade.
The final bill also would impose sanctions related to Russia's Nord Stream 2 energy pipeline. And it would block Turkey from taking possession of F-35 fighter jets over its decision to buy the S-400 missile system from Russia and urges Trump to sanction Ankara of the purchase.
House passes compromise defense bill, creating a Space Force
"I will sign this historic defense legislation immediately!” President Donald Trump tweeted.
House Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.). | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
By CONNOR O’BRIEN
12/11/2019 06:07 PM EST
Pushing through partisan politics, the House on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a $738 billion compromise defense policy bill that would create a Space Force as the newest military service.
In a 377- to-48 vote, lawmakers approved the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act — with both House Democrats and President Donald Trump taking credit for its marquee provisions, which also include parental leave for federal workers and a repeal of the military “widow’s tax.”
Trump wrote on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1204782262912503808
Wow! All of our priorities have made it into the final NDAA: Pay Raise for our Troops, Rebuilding our Military, Paid Parental Leave, Border Security, and Space Force! Congress – don’t delay this anymore! I will sign this historic defense legislation immediately!
114K
10:17 AM - Dec 11, 2019
Twitter Ads info and privacy
39.3K people are talking about this
In a big organizational shift, lawmakers notably agreed to create a Space Force as the sixth armed service within the Air Force and a chief of space operations who would sit on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Trump has called for establishing a Space Force, now a common chant at his political rallies nationwide. But the House first proposed creating a new military space service under the Air Force in 2017. Backers were quick to note that members in both parties pushed the idea before the president.
“Trump’s belated support for a Space Force does not make this a Republican idea,” said Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), who chairs the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee.
The bill also grants 12 weeks of paid parental leave to federal workers, a benefit that extends well beyond the Pentagon. And the agreement would repeal the "widow's tax," an unpopular offset in military survivor benefits offered by the Defense and Veterans Affairs Departments that advocates have sought to eliminate for decades, which will be phased in over three years.
Democratic leaders have underscored both provisions as legislative victories to convince their members to support the legislation.
The $738 billion bill would authorize $635 billion for the base Pentagon spending and $23.1 billion for nuclear weapons programs under the Energy Department as well as $71.5 billion for war operations. It also would authorize another $5.3 billion in emergency disaster recovery for military bases damaged by extreme weather.
The legislation also greenlights a 3.1 percent pay raise for troops, the largest in a decade.
The final bill also would impose sanctions related to Russia's Nord Stream 2 energy pipeline. And it would block Turkey from taking possession of F-35 fighter jets over its decision to buy the S-400 missile system from Russia and urges Trump to sanction Ankara of the purchase.
House passes compromise defense bill, creating a Space Force
I’m a fan of space exploration. If this helps us colonize Mars or the moon I’m all for it.
