Defense Spending Bill Clears Despite Rejection Of Key Amendments

On Thursday, the House rejected a series of amendments that lawmakers had tried to attach to a broader 2012 defense funding measure.

Though the full bill passed overwhelmingly 322-96, lawmakers had tried furiously to galvanize support for the amendments.

One amendment, offered by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), would have required the White House to present a detailed plan for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. Though President Obama has said that he’d like to start bringing troops home as early as July, McGovern’s measure would have pressured the administration to craft an “aggressive” drawdown. The amendment failed, but only slightly, 215-204. 26 Republicans voted in support, while 14 lawmakers, seven in each party, refrained from voting.

Another key amendment, offered by Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) would have required the removal of all U.S. forces from Afghanistan, leaving only those involved in counterterrorism operations. The measure failed 294-123.

Said Welch, “While we did not prevail today, I am heartened that the votes reveal bipartisan opposition to this ten-year-old war is growing.”

An amendment introduced by Reps. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) to remove language that several lawmakers said would give the President authority to prosecute a never-ending war failed by a vote of 234-187. Out of objection to this language, the White House issued a veto threat against the entire bill last week.

Additionally, the authorization bill included three separate amendments aimed at delaying the implementation of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and providing reinforcement to the impacts of DOMA. 

The three amendments were comprised of one that requires additional paperwork before the repeal of DADT can be implemented and two others that prohibit the use of military facilities or personnel for same-sex marriage ceremonies. The White House released a separate statement opposing the inclusion of these three measures.

“The Administration strongly objects to any legislative attempts to directly or indirectly undermine, prevent, or delay the implementation of the repeal, as such efforts create uncertainty for servicemembers
and their families,” the statement read.

The Senate will not likely include similar language in its version of the funding package, which leaves the real battle for a joint conference later this year to hash out one single version. However, the GOP effort to delay DADT’s repeal is likely moot considering both Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen have already signaled that they should be able to give the military the green light on implementing the repeal before the end of the summer.