House Republicans this week scored a significant victory that certainly isn't sitting well with their colleagues across the aisle.
According to Breitbart, Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) led the House GOP in passing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which outlet described as a "major defense policy bill that would restrict Pentagon policies on abortion access, medical care for transgender troops, and diversity schemes in the military."
The $886 billion bill, known as H.R. 2670, will fund a long list of national programs next year.
While the bill, which contains several victories for Republicans, is a major win for the House GOP, it undoubtedly faces fierce resistance from the Democrat-controlled Senate.
The Senate could decide to pass its own version of the bill first, which would then force the two sides into reconciling, which could drag out in dramatic fashion, like many other previous bills.
Yesterday, I told Harris Faulkner that I agree with @SpeakerMcCarthy: The sole focus of the NDAA should be what our military is all about — lethality and winning America’s wars.
The military is not a social organization. It exists to protect America’s nat'l security interests. pic.twitter.com/YaJyzpiFDx
— Sen. Dan Sullivan (@SenDanSullivan) July 15, 2023
The bill was widely celebrated on the Republican side.
"It will enhance the congressional oversight of the DOD. It will improve the quality of life for our service members and their families. And it will help build the ready, capable, and lethal fighting force we need to deter the Chinese Communist Party," House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) said of H.R. 2670.
"My amendment to this year’s NDAA would exempt defense-related activity from the Endangered Species Act. Our military cannot be prohibited from conducting training exercises due to a cactus standing in the way. We must maintain readiness," Rep Andy Biggs (R-AZ) tweeted.
My amendment to this year’s NDAA would exempt defense-related activity from the Endangered Species Act.
Our military cannot be prohibited from conducting training exercises due to a cactus standing in the way.
We must maintain readiness. pic.twitter.com/MLNoJnWjBB
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) July 14, 2023
"The purpose of our military is to be a lethal fighting machine that protects America. The Biden Administration changed that to focus on climate, DEI, and CRT. Republicans are stopping the radical Biden agenda with this NDAA," Rep. Bob Good tweeted.
The purpose of our military is to be a lethal fighting machine that protects America. The Biden Administration changed that to focus on climate, DEI, and CRT. Republicans are stopping the radical Biden agenda with this NDAA. pic.twitter.com/CQrk70VbSN
— Congressman Bob Good (@RepBobGood) July 14, 2023
Democrats have already expressed outrage at various sections of the bill, dialing in on the parts about defunding transgender surgeries and limiting abortion access.
Only time will tell if the bill, in or close to its original form, will make it through Congress and into law.