Congress
unveils defense bill, but Democrats object
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[September 30, 2015]
By Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After months of
wrangling, U.S. lawmakers unveiled a compromise version of the annual
$612 billion defense authorization bill on Tuesday, but the measure
includes funding provisions that anger Democrats and could prompt a veto
by President Barack Obama.
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Only two Senate Democrats and one from the House of
Representatives on the conference committee that negotiated the bill
signed it. Democrats object to the use of $90 billion in special war
funds to allow the Department of Defense to avoid mandatory
"sequestration" budget cuts.
Obama and his fellow Democrats argue that Congress should scrap the
cuts for domestic programs as well as defense, and call on
Republicans to negotiate a broad budget agreement.
Republicans argue that Democrats are holding national security
hostage to protect irresponsible spending.
The proposed 2016 National Defense Authorization Act tightens
restrictions on transferring inmates from the Guantanamo Bay
detention center in Cuba, even as Obama seeks to close the
controversial facility before leaving office.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Sep/30/images/ads/current/Mcquellons_sda_daily_HI-2015.png) The bill preserves a ban on transfers to the United States, and adds
a requirement that the defense secretary certify any transfer
elsewhere is in the interest of U.S. security.
It also bans transfers to Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Syria and calls
for Obama to send Congress a plan for the prison.
"If the administration complains about the provisions on Guantanamo,
then it's their fault because they never came forward with a plan,"
said Senator John McCain, the Republican chairman of the Senate
Armed Services Committee.
The bill includes another $600 million to train and equip Syrian
rebels, but specifies that the administration must get special
approval for each outlay of funds.
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The legislation also includes a ban on torture, and authorizes the
provision of defensive weapons to Ukraine as it faces aggression
from Russia.
And it provides a small raise for U.S. troops and authorization for
weapons, aircraft and other military equipment, as well as some cost
cuts.
The compromise addresses 874 differences between the House and
Senate versions of the bill.
Members of Congress pride themselves on having passed the National
Defense Authorization Act for 53 straight years, but that streak
could end this year if Obama uses his veto power.
Mac Thornberry, the Republican chairman of the House Armed Services
Committee, said he did not know what would happen.
"He'd be foolish to veto it, but I can't promise you he's not going
to be foolish," Thornberry said.
The first votes are expected later this week.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Eric Beech and Lisa
Shumaker)
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