Monday, June 10th, 2024
NDAA: The fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R.8070) would authorize $895 billion in spending in accordance with statutory budget caps set by lawmakers last year. With expected floor debate on the policy bill, lawmakers filed amendments that would shore up support for Israel as the country continues its war against Hamas. One would bar the use of authorized funds to build, maintain or repair the pier being used to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The project has come under fire from Republicans who say it could expose U.S. servicemembers to Hamas attacks.
The House Armed Services Committee spent a large chunk of its markup debating the Pentagon's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and that could continue on the floor. Provisions related to health care for transgender individuals have been filed too, including a proposal that would prohibit TRICARE from covering gender-affirming care. And several amendments were also filed that are related to reproductive health care access for troops.
Homeland Security Funding: House appropriators have begun marking up the FY 2025 Homeland Security bill, which would provide $93.8 billion in total discretionary appropriations, with a heavy emphasis on border security and Republicans' preferred immigration policies. It includes $600 million for border wall construction, according to the Republican summary. The bill also would mandate that the secretary of Homeland Security begin obligating border wall funds within 120 days and prohibit removal of existing border barriers.
State-Foreign Operations: House appropriators have also begun drafting the State-Foreign Operations FY 2025 funding bill. The bill would provide $14.6 billion for the Department of State and several related agencies and commissions, as well as $1.6 billion for the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Republicans would eliminate funding for the United Nations' regular budget, amounting to $761.6 million in savings. They would continue the prohibition on money for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The GOP summary said the draft bill would prohibit funding to the International Criminal Court, International Court of Justice, and the U.N. Commission of Inquiry against Israel. It would provide $3.3 billion in foreign military financing to Israel.
