At a moment Republicans are continuing to hold out on their refusal to support a massive $111 billion supplemental spending package that Biden wants for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan - the Senate did manage to get something big done, namely passage of the mammoth $886 billion 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
It passed on Wednesday, authorizing funding for the Department of Defense for this next year, in a vote of 87-13. Those voting against it included six Republicans, six Democrats, and an Independent. It now heads to the House where a vote is expected Thursday.
The no votes included GOP hardliners who "have been criticizing House Republicans... after the text of the compromise with the Democrat-controlled Senate removed a number of conservative policy goals on transgender surgeries and abortion, among others," according to FOX.
Other controversial, arguably more pressing aspects which also attracted a minority of Democrat criticism includes an amendment to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
