House Votes for Culture-War-Packed Military Spending Authorization Bill.

On Friday, the House of Representatives voted 217 to 199 for a military funding authorization bill (National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, for fiscal year 2025) filled with Republican culture warring.

Despite opposition from Democratic Leadership, six Democrats voted for the bill: Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Don Davis (NC-01), Jared Golden (ME-02), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Mary Peltola (AK-AL), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03).

3 Republicans voted against the NDAA, but for different reasons obviously: Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14), Tom Massie (KY-04), and Matt Rosendale (MT-02).

Here is a rundown of the amendment votes.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The House voted 211 to 208 to pass Ralph Norman (SC-05)’s amendment to eliminate any offices of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the Armed Forces and Department of Defense along with any corresponding personnel. Five Republicans voted no: Don Bacon (NE-02), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Jay Obernolte (CA-23), and Mike Turner (OH-10).

The House also voted 214 to 210 to pass Clay Higgins (SC-03)’s amendment to eliminate the position of Chief Diversity Officer of the Department of Defense and prohibit the establishment of any substantially similar position. Four Republicans voted no: Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Tom Kean (NJ-07), and Mike Turner (OH-10).

The House voted 216 to 206 for Glenn Grothman (WI-06) and Jim Banks (IN-03)’s amendment to establish a permanent hiring freeze for DEI jobs. Greg Landsman (OH-01) joined Republicans in voting yes, and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) joined Democrats in voting no.

Gender Equity

The House voted 214 to 207 for Beth Van Duyne (TX-24)’s amendment to prohibit the Secretary of Defense from paying for or reimbursing expenses relating to abortion services. John Duarte (CA-13) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) voted against it with Democrats, and Henry Cuellar (TX-28) voted for it with Republicans.

The House, however, did not pass Mike Waltz (FL-06)’s amendment to require men and women in the military to meet the same physical fitness standards, a conservative amendment to limit women in the military.

It failed 205 to 216, with 11 Republicans voting against it: Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Anthony D’Esposito (NY-04), Mónica De La Cruz (TX-15), John Duarte (CA-13), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), Jennifer Kiggans (VA-02), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Marc Molinaro (NY-19), and Zach Nunn (IA-03).

LGBTQ Rights

The House voted 218 to 205 to pass Ralph Norman (SC-05)’s amendment to prohibit the provision of gender transition procedures, including surgery or medication, through the Exceptional Family Medical Program. One Democrat — Henry Cuellar (TX-28) — voted for it, and one Republican — Neal Dunn (FL-02) — voted against it.

The House voted 213 to 206 for Matt Rosendale (MT-02)’s amendment to prohibit TRICARE from covering and the Department of Defense from furnishing gender transition surgeries and gender hormone treatments for individuals that identify as transgender. Henry Cuellar (TX-28) voted for it with Republicans. Tony Gonzales (TX-23) was the lone Republican no, but said that it was an accident.

The House voted 218 to 202 for an amendment that would prohibit military base schools (DODEA) from purchasing, displaying, or maintaining LGBTQ-friendly books. Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Don Davis (NC-01), and Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) joined Republicans in voting for it.

The House voted 217 to 206 for Cory Mills (FL-07)’s amendment to block the flying of Pride flags on military bases. Mike Lawler (NY-17) joined Democrats in voting against it.

Racist Monuments

The House rejected an amendment from Andrew Clyde (GA-09) to restore the racist, pro-Confederate monument in the Arlington National Cemetery. It failed 192 to 230, with 24 Republicans joining Democrats in voting no.

Climate & Environment

Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14)’s amendment to block any funding in the bill from going to electric vehicles or electric vehicle charging infrastructure failed 173 to 241, with 36 Republicans voting no.

Andy Biggs (AZ-05)’s amendment to exempt defense-related activities from the Endangered Species Act likewise failed 196 to 231. Mary Peltola (AK-AL) voted for it, but 23 Republicans voted against it.

However, Chip Roy (TX-21)’s amendment to defund implementation of Biden’s climate change executive orders passed 215 to 210. Mary Peltola (AK-AL) again voted yes with Republicans, and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) joined Democrats in voting against it.

The Marine Corps has been considering relocating its Parris Island Training Depot, which is likely to face increasingly frequent and ferocious hurricanes, floods, and extreme heat due to climate change. Nancy Mace (SC-01)’s amendment to block any such closure 201 to 218. Don Davis (NC-01), Ruben Gallego (AZ-03), and Stephen Lynch (MA-08) joined Repubicans in voting no, but 18 Republicans joined Democrats in voting no.

Ukraine

Andy Biggs (AZ-05)’s amendment to prohibit the use of funds for any project or activity related to NATO until the Secretary of Defense certifies to the congressional defense committees that each member country of NATO has spent 2 percent of the respective GDP on defense expenditures failed 81 to 346.

Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14)’s amendment to block any funding from going to Ukraine assistance similarly failed by a large margin: 74 to 343.

The House, however, unfortunately voted down an amendment from Matt Gaetz (FL-01) to prohibit the transfer of cluster munitions. It failed 134 to 286, with 67 Democrats and 67 Republicans — a strange bedfellows coalition of Democrats who care about human rights and Republicans who like Putin — voting for it.

The 67 Democrats were the following plus delegate from the Northern Mariana Islands Gregorio Sablan:

War on Gaza

The House voted 204 to 199 for a racist amendment from Brian Mast (FL-21) and Jodey Arrington (TX-19) to prohibits DOD funds from being used for the operation of aircraft to transport Palestinian refugees to the US.

It was party line, with the exception of Nicolas LaLota (NY-01) joining Democrats in voting against it.

The House also voted 272 to 144 for an amendment from John James (MI-10) to require a full review of bilateral relations with South Africa — a move targeted as a retaliation for South Africa’s pursuit of international criminal charges against the Israeli government for its war on Gaza.

Tom Massie (KY-04) was the only Republican to vote against it.

61 Democrats voted in favor of it:

Police Militarization

The House voted 238 to 187 for Mike Waltz (FL-06)’s amendment to prohibit the enforcement of Biden’s executive order limiting the transfer of military equipment to local police departments.

3 Republicans voted against it: Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Tom Massie (KY-04), and Matt Rosendale (MT-02).

24 Democrats voted for it:

Countering Extremism…Or Fostering It

The House voted 215 to 206 to pass Lauren Boebert (CO-03)’s amendment to prohibit federal funding for the Countering Extremist Activity Working Group or implement any recommendations from the group. The vote was party line, but with Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) joining Democrats in voting no.

The House was fully party line (218 to 206), however, on Roger Williams (TX-25)’s amendment to prohibit funding of companies who engage in fact-checking or other labeling of sources as misinformation, disinformation, or mal-information. “fact-checking” misinformation, disinformation, or mal-information.