Generally speaking, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is about as easy to pass as any piece of legislation you will see.
That was not going to be the case this year, as Democrats were posturing, as were some Republicans.
In the end, the initial resistance was just that, posturing, because what once appeared to be a dire situation ended up with the measure's passage in clear bipartisan fashion.
Over the last few days, I felt like my head was on a swivel because of how the temperature on this issue was changing by the second.
Even last night, I was not sure the bill would pass because there were plenty of lawmakers still resisting.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) clearly made some backroom deals, and a shocking number of Democrats voted in favor of the legislation.
Just about all resistance folded, with the bill passing easily by a voted of 312-112.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) took a huge victory lap after the bill passed, making note of how much of the DEI spending had been removed from the budget.
He released a full statement on his website, but the overall theme was that this was a good day for America and our troops.
Roy stated, “This Republican majority, alongside the Trump administration, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, is sending a message to the entire world that the United States is serious once again. No more woke programs. No more progressive indoctrination programs at our elite military academies.”
His statement continued, "No more watering down the physical requirements for soldiers who cannot meet the physical demands of being an American warfighter -- expected to answer the call of duty at any moment. No more taxpayer dollars spent on sex changes in the military.”
Earlier this week, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) was a firm no on the measure, claiming that the NDAA was "filled with Americans' hard-earned tax dollars used to fund foreign aid and foreign country’s wars."
But then she made a deal that would help pass legislation that is near and dear to her. She explained, “I made a deal and changed my NO vote on the rule to a Yes in exchange for a floor vote next week on my bill that is one of President Trump’s key campaign promises and executive orders.”
She continued, “[House Majority] Leader Steve Scalise has promised me that my bill Protect Children’s Innocence Act, H.R. 3492, will be brought to the floor for a vote next Wednesday, Dec 17th. This would make it a class c felony to trans a child under 18. Every Republican campaigned to protect kids from the trans agenda.”
Listen, if you plan to go back on your word, make it worthwhile, and I think she made a good trade here. I am all for any legislation that protects children from monsters, but the sad part is that a deal never should have been necessary in order to get that bill on the floor. Unfortunately, that is the sad state of our political system today.
