‘Woke’ military provisions are GOP sticking points as vote on defense policy bill looms
As Democrats race to push through a vote before the end of the year, Republicans are fighting against the inclusion of “woke” military policies in the yearly defense policy measure known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Given the limited amount of time left on the legislative calendar before Congress adjourns for the year, some Democrats have suggested trying to include the NDAA in a final end-of-year spending package rather than permitting a separate vote on the defense bill.
This tactic, according to Republican senators, makes it unlikely that Congress will approve the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which determines to fund the Department of Defense and other components of the country’s defense architecture.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was accused by Republican Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn (R) of playing politics with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by delaying its adoption to the last minute and limiting the whole debate on its substance.
It seems the military is Chuck Schumer’s new favorite political football, according to Blackburn.
“For the past 61 years, we’ve approved the defense budget. As it is, I have little doubt that proposal 62 will receive overwhelming support from both parties, which renders this rushed schedule even more pointless.”
Democrats are considering an updated version of the National Defense Authorization Act, which Republicans strongly oppose.
Example: Democrats inserted wording in the FY2023 NDAA to expand the military draught to women, causing Republicans led by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., to introduce the “Don’t Draft our Daughters” amendment.
According to Fox News Digital, Cotton argued that the military bill is not the appropriate location for Democrats to implement their “crazy notions” and “latest social experiments,” such as mandating that women register for the draught.
As one Democrat put it, “if Democrats want to protect America and keep our troops safe, they should agree to pass a clean bill and leave their woke pet projects out of it.”
In other cases, Republicans hope to insert language to weaken measures supported by the Biden administration.
Blackburn expressed concern over President Biden’s military vaccine mandate to Fox News Digital, saying that she would work to protect Americans from the “New Axis of Evil,” which includes China and other adversaries, by ensuring that the NDAA “protects our troops from being fired due to Biden’s vaccine mandate.”
Since the military is currently experiencing a recruiting crisis, she said that reducing the vaccine mandate is even more urgent.
One Republican Senate aide remarked, “Passing NDAA is crucial for national security.” “As soon as possible, please.
Nonetheless, members’ worries about the vaccine obligation for the military continue to contribute to a severe shortage of applicants.
After Vice President Joe Biden declared the pandemic “finished,” Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) proposed a second bill in September to remove the threat of penalties for military personnel who request a religious exemption from the Pentagon’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Additionally, in June, the senator proposed two changes to the NDAA to place stricter limitations on congressional funding for “woke” diversity, equity, and inclusion Department of Defense programs.
During a markup of the Armed Services Committee, the Democrats voted down both amendments.
A Republican aide said, “We must have the personnel and equipment necessary to keep us secure.” They went on to say that much of the resistance is coming from the House.
In light of the harsh provisions included in the NDAA, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has proposed postponing a vote on the bill until 2023.
McCarthy remarked at a news conference before Thanksgiving, “I’ve watched what the Democrats have done, especially in the NDAA, the ‘woke’ they want to bring in there.”
Put off voting on the NDAA until after the new year so we can make sure it’s done right. The Georgia Republican Andrew Clyde released a statement in July justifying his no vote on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.
“As a result, our national security is compromised by medical authoritarianism and the wokeness that supports it.
When every service struggles to meet recruiting and retention goals, why the Left’s ideology and vaccination preoccupation are being favored is puzzling and revealing.”
Over the summer, the conservative Heritage Foundation published a report calling on Congress to strike language encouraging “corporate wokeness” from the NDAA.
According to the report, public companies would be required to disclose annually “the racial, ethnic, gender identity, sexual orientation, and veteran status of their board directors, nominees, and senior executive officers” if the Senate passes the bill that passed the House in July and is currently being negotiated.
In addition, a committee dedicated to “enhancing corporate diversity” would be established by the provision.
The Heritage report argues that “this requirement has no place in U.S. corporate governance,” which raises the question of how such a clause was selected as fit for inclusion in a defense policy package.
The Republican Party has pledged to eliminate “wokeness” from the United States Armed Forces if they are elected to a majority in Congress.
Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind. ), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, stated, “I think it’s one of our very top objectives to clean up the mess the administration has caused with the excessive and risky COVID mandates on our troops at a time where we have historically low recruiting.”
Banks elaborated, saying, “I believe you should expect more or less the same as you’ve seen in the posture hearings and the legislative process of the NDAA over a previous couple of years.”
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, has previously stated that the GOP will prioritize military personnel concerns and will target the Pentagon’s “woke” policies beginning in January.
The Republican-ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment on the NDAA.
Source: Fox News
