House Passes $850 Billion NDAA, Adding $37 Billion More Than Biden Requested
The House on Thursday passed its version of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that authorizes $850.3 billion for military spending, increasing President Biden’s requested budget by $37 billion.
The massive spending bill passed in a vote of 329-101, with 62 Republicans and 39 Democrats voting nay. The Senate still has to pass its version of the NDAA, which is even bigger than the House one at $858.5 billion. Once it passes the Senate, the two chambers will then negotiate the final version.
Lawmakers in the House attached hundreds of amendments to the NDAA, including some that could restrict arms sales if they make it to the final version.
Two amendments aimed at limiting arms sales to Saudi Arabia were added to the bill. One, offered by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), would prohibit the sale of what would be considered “offensive” to Saudi Arabia over Riyadh’s harsh treatment of dissidents.
