House advances $1.15 trillion defense bill with SAVE America Act included

WASHINGTON, DC: The House on Wednesday, July 22, narrowly approved the nearly $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in a 216-212 vote, advancing the annual defense policy measure.

The legislation, which includes several of President Donald Trump's defense priorities, was also paired with the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act before being sent to the Senate through a legislative process known as MIRVing. The vote came amid growing divisions in Congress over defense spending and US military operations against Iran.

House advances $1.15 trillion defense bill with Trump priorities

The Republican-led legislation authorizes more than $1 trillion in defense policy priorities, including expanding US defense production, providing pay raises of between five and seven percent for service members, allocating $1.8 billion for military barracks and family housing, and increasing access to childcare and education benefits for military families.

The bill authorizes $56 billion for military aircraft development and more than $60 billion for new submarines and destroyers.

It also codifies several Trump administration executive orders, including the proposed Golden Dome missile defense system, while renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War, limiting coverage for gender-affirming care and expanding service members' ability to carry personal firearms on military bases.

Following the vote, House Speaker Mike Johnson praised the legislation.

"This year's NDAA builds on key investments in the Working Families Tax Cuts as Republicans lead the charge to restore America's military dominance and rebuild the arsenal of freedom," Johnson said.

“Safeguarding our liberties by providing for our common defense is one of our most basic responsibilities as elected representatives, and this year's NDAA meets the moment," he added.

The House also attached the SAVE America Act, Trump's voter identification proposal, to the defense legislation before sending it to the Senate.

House vote reveals partisan divide over defense bill

The legislation passed with support from six Democrats after seven Republicans voted against it.

Democratic Reps Henry Cuellar, Don Davis, Jared Golden, Vicente Gonzalez, Adam Gray and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez supported the bill, while Republican Reps Josh Brecheen, Tim Burchett, Eli Crane, Harriet Hageman, Anna Paulina Luna, Thomas Massie and Chip Roy voted against it. 

Massie called the legislation a "betrayal of our sovereignty" and urged the Senate to reject it.

The NDAA, which has traditionally drawn broad bipartisan backing, encountered stronger opposition this year amid disagreements over defense spending levels and US military involvement in Iran. Senate Democrats blocked consideration of their chamber's version of the bill last week, raising concerns over the administration's military policies.

Democrats largely opposed the legislation, citing its spending levels and broader policy direction.

“The American people are being crushed under the weight of inflation, as Trump's unconstitutional war raises gas prices. And a small fraction of the money Republicans have put in this bill could restore the Medicaid cuts that pushed millions off their healthcare, any number of things that would actually ease the cost of living crisis,” Rep Pramila Jayapal said.