On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed a defense policy bill worth $895.2 billion. This encompasses a contentious clause that bans specific medical treatments for transgender youth whose parents are military personnel.
A clause added by the National Defense Authorization Act prohibits TRICARE, a healthcare service for military members and their families. It does not include medical treatments for addressing sexual dysfunction. “Outcomes of sterilization” for millions of capable children under 18 globally. Secondary healthcare system or armed forces
The vote is expected to face significant challenges in the Democrat-dominated Senate and in the recent Republican plan to eliminate the knife questionnaire.
Last month House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has announced a policy banning transgender people from using bathrooms in certain parts of the Capitol that correspond with their gender. It comes after Rep. Nancy Mace, R.C., introduced a resolution with a similar effort targeting Delaware Democrat Sarah McBride. elected the first openly transgender woman to Congress in November.
The transgender issue has also sparked confrontations outside of Congress and even the Supreme Court. Justices will debate earlier this month whether the state can prevent transgender teens from using puberty blockers and hormone therapy. Conservative justices have repeatedly suggested that the question should be left to state legislatures.
The defense bill was approved by the House with a party-line vote: 281 to 140. Many Republicans and 81 Democrats opposed the bill. At the same time, 124 Democrats and 16 Republicans opposed the bill.
The legislation also incorporates bipartisan provisions, including a 14.5% pay raise for junior conscripts, a 4.5% increase for all other personnel, and $100 million allocated for historically Black military service schools and institutions. However, some have presented alternative arguments, like prohibiting funding for teaching critical race theory in military schools.
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., a graduate member of the House Armed Services Committee, argued in a statement Sunday that “Openly denying health care to those who clearly need help. Just because of bias against transgender people, that’s wrong.” He asked Johnson to withdraw to prepare for transgender people ahead of the vote.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., told Hill that Johnson had not talked with him about including the provision in the bill and emphasized that “My preference is to just let the president go on January 20th. Love it.” But Johnson said in a statement last week that the bill “It will end the violent agreed-upon ideology that is being imposed on our armed forces.”
The House of Representatives exit vote expressed support for the provision and confidence that the bill would be approved in the Senate.
“We shouldn’t be doing this with taxpayers’ money, you know, with me from the NDAA, we shouldn’t be providing evisceration. And hormone therapy and all that stuff to parents that you know you don’t have. You don’t have enough time to deal with the consequences of these things. The decision and it is just irresponsible and should not happen anywhere in this country,” said Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, who voted in favor of the bill.
Representative Mike Bost, Republican of Illinois Mentioning Jackson, noting that “They want to do this and they’re adults. Well, there are things you shouldn’t do before you’re 18.”
“Some people may try to make this a phenomenon. with more credit getting approval from the Senate,” he said, adding that the first priority for Republicans in January is to “Get rid of all this stimulating stuff.”
But Democrats pushed back on the provision. “Unfortunately, they hardly chose the transgender community to be the father of bitches. The new bastard they are attacking, intimidating and using this institution as a weapon,” said Rep. Jamal Bowman, D-N.Y., who lost his life. He proposed new elections.
“I mean, they are trying to include anti-trans legislation in everything they pass. (in January),” said Bowman, who voted against the bill. “It will be a part of everything.”
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oreg., has not yet voted on the bill. and said he had not reviewed the provisions. But he said he was a “let live democrat”.
