The House Passed An Amended Controversial Defense Bill

Changes to the topics were expected to delay the approval of the amended bill. However, the House passed it on a party line vote of 219 to 210.

On Friday, the House voted to pass a defense policy following an intense debate and the adoption of several controversial amendments.

The amendments were made to the ‘National Defense Authorization Act’ that sets the policy agenda and authorizes funding for the ‘Department of Defense’.

Sections of the amendments included issues of abortion policy and transgender health care access. One amendment prohibits the secretary of defense from paying for or reimbursing expenses relating to abortion services. Another bans a health care program for service members from covering hormone treatments for transgender individuals and gender confirmation surgeries.

Changes to the topics were expected to delay the approval of the amended bill. However, the House passed it on a party line vote of 219 to 210. Only four Democrats voted in favor and four GOP members opposed.

The bill will still need to be passed through the Democratic-controlled Senate.