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The House just passed a defense bill with controversial abortion, LGBTQ measures. It doesn’t stand a chance in the Senate.

Transgender Rights,Abortion,Defense And Security,US House,US Military,Defense Department,Republican Party,Freedom Caucus,LGBTQ Issues,Diversity,Transgender Issues,Healthcare,Free Speech,Book Bans,Kevin McCarthy,Hakeem Jeffries

From the Left

House Republicans united to narrowly pass major defense policy legislation on Friday that restricts the Pentagon policies on abortion access, medical care for transgender troops and diversity in a narrow vote.

But the many culture war provisions Republicans packed into the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act to win conservative votes are doomed in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The 219-210 vote on Friday saw all but four Democrats oppose the bill, which authorizes a national defense budget of $886 billion for fiscal 2024. Conversely, only four Republicans opposed the measure as Speaker Kevin McCarthy held his conference together to clear the legislation.

“I take solace in the fact that this is not going to become law and we have an opportunity to correct it,” said Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, of the path forward. “But it’s really very disturbing how divisive all this has become, the degree to which the Republican majority wants to attack diversity. Bottom line. Attack trans people. Attack women. Attack people of color.”

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