‘Defense of Our Nation Will Not Be Shortchanged by Congress’: House Dems Join Republicans to Increase Biden’s Military Budget
More than a dozen House Democrats on the Armed Services Committee joined with Republicans Wednesday to increase the military’s budget by over $20 billion from President Joe Biden’s initial request of $753 billion.
The new amendment — passed 42-17 — raises the total spending allotted for Fiscal Year 2022 fiscal year to just under $800 billion, similar to what was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“The bipartisan adoption of my amendment sends a clear signal: The president’s budget submission was wholly inadequate to keep pace with a rising China and a reemerging Russia,” Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), ranking member, said. “I hope this bipartisan, and now bicameral, move is understood by the Biden-Harris administration. The defense of our nation will not be shortchanged by Congress.”
Even America’s chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan emboldening the Taliban wasn’t enough for progressive Democrats, who demanded the budget not go higher.
The debate likely exposed the hard left lacking sway on defense issues, considering 14 of the committee’s Democrats supported the amendment, which is detailed here.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Silicon Valley), a former national co-chair of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ failed presidential campaign, criticized the proposal.- READ MORE
Responses