About 50 Democrats have reps to ban this practice. Marjory Taylor issued a rebuke of President Biden’s plan to send cluster munitions to Ukraine by voting in favor of an amendment by Greene.
The amendment, which was supported by 49 Democrats and 98 Republicans, ultimately failed to make its way into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), but opposition – and support – for indiscriminate bombs crossed party lines.
Among the Democrats were Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, N.Y., Maxwell Frost, Fla., Cory Bush, Md., Greg Kaser, R-Texas, Pramila Jaipal, R-Wash. and Jamal Bowman, NY
Biden said supplying bombs to Ukraine was a ‘difficult’ decision in the war against Russia but was ‘necessary’ for them to win the war.
Ukraine received its first shipment of cluster bombs on Thursday and vowed to use them to take out enemy troops. The bombs were part of an $800 million security package from the United States
US law prohibits the transfer of cluster munitions that have a ‘dud’ rate greater than one percent – or fail to go off more than one percent of the time. Such bombs that are not immediately detonated can create land mines and later detonate in civilian contact.
Ukrainian infantrymen backed by artillery and mortars destroy Russian military positions in trenches near Bakhmut, Ukraine, in unprecedented footage. The footage was released by the Office of Strategic Communications on Saturday, July 08, 2023.
Cluster munitions (pictured) have been banned in more than 100 countries since they ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which was adopted in Dublin, Ireland in May 2008.
The United States has decided to send a controversial cluster of weapons to Ukraine to counterattack against Russian forces.
But National Security Adviser Jack Sullivan confirmed that President Biden had signed a waiver allowing such arms transfers at a higher rate — but said the rate would be ‘no more than 2.5 percent.’
Cluster munitions explode and scatter a series of small bombs over a wide area, often killing civilians. More than 120 countries have signed a 15-year-old treaty banning their use, but both Ukraine and Russia have deployed them — and Ukraine’s supply of all types of ammunition is dwindling.
The House defense spending bill passed Bills 219 to 210 to set up a showdown in the Senate over amendments that bar military recruitment from considering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
The NDAA sets policy for the Department of Defense for years and is generally routine and widely supported by both parties.
Republicans have included several amendments on social issues as part of their bid to get rid of ‘weak’ policies in the military.
Four Democrats voted for the bill – Reps. Don Davis, N.C., Jared Golden, Maine, Marie Glusenkamp Perez, Wash., and Rep. Gabriel Vazquez, N.M. Four Republicans – Ken Buck, Andy Biggs, Eli Crane and Thomas Massive – voted against.
An amendment by Rep. Ronnie Jackson, R-Texas, passed the House to prohibit the Pentagon from helping pay for travel for abortion services. So did a ban that would prohibit military health care from paying for gender reassignment surgery.
An amendment to ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) considerations in military recruitment passed – but failed to ban a military DEI training.
Some far-right amendments — one by Matt Getz, R-Fla., to ban funding for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training, two by Marjorie Taylor Green, R-Ga. from, bills to ban the shipment of cluster munitions to Ukraine and strip $300 million in aid to the country, and allow the Pentagon to name a Confederate general from Rep. Bob Goode — were rejected.
The cluster bomb amendment, condemning President Biden’s plan to aid Ukraine in its war against Russia, won the support of 49 Democrats and 98 Republicans.
Nevertheless, most right-wing members of the conference voted in favor of the bill. The Freedom Caucus and those affiliated with it have been a wild card for Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s votes in debating legislation that must pass.
The original, unamended NDAA passed by a broad bipartisan margin from the armed services: 58-1. Democrats ripped Republicans for politicizing the bill during the amendment process.
But the bill included a 5.2 percent pay raise for service members — so four Democrats from moderate districts voted for it.
Republicans in Congress have passed a defense bill that includes limiting access to abortion for troops and limits on transgender care for service members.
The spending bill could be watered down in the Democrat-run Senate – leaving more House Democrats to vote for the final bill – and paving the way for fewer House Republicans.
The Freedom Caucus and Gaetz, who ‘respect’ the caucus but are not in it, celebrated their massive influence on the amendments they made to the bill.
‘We have slowly shifted the center of gravity of the Republican Conference to the right,’ Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said at a news conference.
The bill includes standard funding for military readiness and funds to help the Pentagon integrate more cybersecurity measures and AI initiatives — as well as a number of measures to counter China — thwart its espionage activities and bolster Taiwan’s defense needs.
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