HR 2670 Passed in House – FY 2024 NDAA

Earlier today, the House completed action on H 2670, the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act by a near party-line vote of 219 to 210. The action was taken after a number of additional amendments were considered. Four Democrats voted for the bill and four Republicans voted against it.

While there has been mention in the press (see here for instance) that some of the more radical provisions added to the bill in the amendment process would make the bill harder to pass. There was never any doubt that Democrats would not be supporting the bill, but many people apparently thought that there would be some sort of moderat Republican groundswell against the bill. That never made any sense since the votes of those same moderates were necessary to pass each of the amendments that many commentors found objectionable.

There were a number of instances where moderate Republicans did join with Democrats to reject some of the more radical amendments. For example (votes from yesterday):

• An amendment, offered by Rep Greene (R,GA) (#48 printed on page 83 of H Rept 118-142) to prohibit cluster munitions or cluster munitions technology be sold or transferred to Ukraine. Failed by recorded vote: 147 - 276, 2 Present.

• An amendment, offered by Rep Gaetz (R,FL) (#52 printed on page 87 of the Report) to prohibit federal funds for training on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Failed by recorded vote: 210 – 221.

• An amendment, offered by Rep Biggs (R,AZ) (#55 printed on page 91 of the Report) to exempt defense related activities from the Endangered Species Act. Failed by recorded vote: 193 – 237.

The Senate will take up S 2226, the Senate version of the NDAA, next week. Even ignoring some of the more controversial amendments passed yesterday, the Senate version will be significantly different than the version of HR 2670 passed today. The differences between the two bills will be ironed out later this summer (hopefully) in a conference committee, the idea being that the revised NDAA produced in conference would be passable in both the House and Senate.

BTW: The Colorado Gazette is reporting that Rep Greene is going to be appointed to the conference committee for the NDAA. They note: “Greene said McCarthy offered her this spot in exchange for her vote on the NDAA.”