Controversy rises over Senate’s passing of HR 8070 and GOP’s proposed amendments
MARYLAND – The House voted to pass the annual National Defense Authorization Act on June 13th, but this year it came with some extra controversy.
What is widely known as a bipartisan bill was almost entirely supported by Republicans. House Resolution 8070 passed 217 to 199 and only 3 Republicans opposed it. Besides the fact this would now force 18 to 26-year-olds to register for the military draft or face consequences, the $895 million bill has tacked on what many representatives have called divisive.
Dorien Rogers, President of the Maryland NAACP Youth and College calls this bill an attack on the consciousness of our country. “It doesn’t matter what you throw in that bill, at the end of the day if you assault your people in this county, why should they fight for you?… What’s alarming is a lot of the amendments that have been thrown in, to this defense act, which again historically happens, but are targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially which is the representation of this nation. by the people and for the people.”
Restricting abortion access, climate change, LGBTQ medical care, and prohibiting affirmative action are just a few amendments to the bill that the GOP is proposing. Failure to register with Selective Service is a federal felony and you could be fined and face prison time. Wethny Antione, a 24-year-old Salisbury resident, says he never wants to see combat. “I mean how much is the fine? like $2500 versus my life? 5 years in jail versus my life? I mean, unless it’s like a heavy fine, or like 20 years in jail, honestly, I’d take the fine.”
We reached out to the Director of Legislative and Government Affairs for the Maryland Military Department Dr. Tony Campbell who issued the following statement, saying in part quote: “The National Defense Authorization Act authorizes expenditures for the Department of Defense which includes all services, active reserves and guard.” Meanwhile, Rogers, who is also 24, says that every man should have a choice. “I come from a military family. Service is important, especially as black people in this country, but I want to fight for a county that going to fight for me.”
One of the amendments, a measure to restrict gender affirming care in the military, has been of top concern for some. Ericka Taylor-Daniel, a Board Certified Psychiatic Nurse Practitioner, explains how something like this can affect the overall mental health of some of our troops… “If we take that away and we have people hiding, and not being able to openly discuss who and what they are, I would imagine that rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorder will continue to raise… and if they end up with less opportunities, because they don’t work in the private sector, how is that giving the best we have to offer, to those who are giving the best of themselves for us.”
The Senate Armed Services Committee approved it’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act on June 13th, and President Joe Biden hasn’t formally threatened to veto the bill. It’s unclear when the upper chamber might debate the legislation. The House also adopted amendments to defund a beleaguered U.S. military pier off the coast of Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians amid Israels offensive. Many lawmakers say it is unlikely the current bill would pass the Democratic- controlled senate.
