OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
1:38 PM – Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Despite Democratic opposition to a provision exempting children of military families from “transgender health care,” President Biden on Monday approved pay raises for junior enlisted men “purposed” to counter China's growing power. The National Defense Bill was signed into law. And total military spending will increase to $895 billion.
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“The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the Senate 85-14 despite inserting a bill restricting the “gender'' use of funds from Tricare, a medical program for active-duty military personnel. Affirm care' [medication and other treatments] For military children under 18 years of age. ” the hill Reported.
Surprisingly, Biden claimed that his administration strongly opposes this provision because it “interferes with parents' role in determining the best care for their children,” an unexpected response from the president. It was.
Biden also said he believes it would “target” groups based on gender identity and make it harder for an all-volunteer military to find and retain talent.
“Service members should never have to choose between their families' access to health care and their mission to serve our nation,” Biden said in a statement.
After voting last Thursday, the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 85-14 and sent it to Biden.
Biden reportedly announced that other provisions in the bill would prohibit the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to certain foreign countries and to the United States using funds designated for that purpose. reportedly objected to the He called on Congress to lift these restrictions.
The Pentagon's policy, set by the annual National Defense Authorization Act, increases pay by 14.5 percent for junior noncommissioned officers and 4.5 percent for others.
Additionally, the bill allocates funds for a “more aggressive strategy against China,” including the creation of a fund that could be used to provide military aid to Taiwan in a manner similar to how the United States has financially supported Ukraine. It is said that We also support U.S. ammunition production and invest in other cutting-edge military technologies and artificial intelligence (AI).
The defense bill adds further restrictions on Chinese products, from “drone technology to military commissary garlic,” adding to recent U.S. efforts to ban the military from purchasing Chinese products.
However, fiscal stimulus is still needed to support this policy.
Meanwhile, Kelly Robinson, director of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBTQ advocacy group, says Biden and Congress have “failed military families.”
“For them, this law is not about politics, it's about losing their freedom to make their own health care decisions,” Robinson said Tuesday.
Additionally, Rachel Brannaman, executive director of the Modern Military Association of America, a group that “advocates for the LGBTQ military and veteran community,” said Biden's signing of the bill “is an assertion that the Biden administration is the most professional.” It is directly opposed to that.” -LGBTQ+ in American History. ”
“The rider in this bill that prohibits medically necessary care for military youth will create significant hardship for the thousands of people who protect us every day. Once again, political expediency is prioritized. “The needs of the most marginalized and at-risk populations are being ignored,” Brannaman said.
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