While Donald Trump continues to wreak havoc both on the world stage and at home, his powers are not absolute. On Friday, House Democrats passed legislation to further limit those powers, a concept widely supported by Republicans under President Obama. GOP representatives were furious.
During consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act I spoke on the floor in support of my Bill to reestablish the Commission on Wartime Contracting, which is responsible for examining waste, fraud & abuse within US operations & reconstruction efforts overseas #FY20NDAA pic.twitter.com/DnCUXyIFST
— Rep. Stephen Lynch (@RepStephenLynch) July 12, 2019
Rep. Ron Wright (R-TX) called the Democrats’ additions to National Defense Authorization Act “poison pills” that Democrats knew Republicans wouldn’t be open to supporting. Apparently, the GOP is now opposed to limiting the powers of federal officials, standards around transparency and accountability, and cutting wasteful spending, although those were the exact things they insisted they stood for during President Obama’s terms in office.
.@HRC is grateful to @RepSpeier and members of Congress who voted to pass an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that ensures all transgender military service members have equal non-discrimination protections. #NDAA #ProtectTransTroops https://t.co/Q68Uj4KekW
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) July 12, 2019
Rep. Ted Lieu wrote four of those added amendments to the bill.At least one of them, barring Trump from selling arms to his friends in Saudi Arabia, has been supported by a bipartisan group of legislators, including Trump acolyte Lindsey Graham (R-SC). On Lieu’s website, his provisions to the bill are explained.
‘The final bill includes four amendments spearheaded by Rep. Lieu to stop the emergency arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates; limit Department of Defense funds from being used at Trump properties; prohibit U.S. military refueling of aircraft in Yemen; and require a report to Congress detailing the U.S. strategy for Libya.’
Proud the House passed today's #NDAA bill, which included four Lieu amendments demanding transparency and accountability from the Trump Administration. The NDAA allows us to advance American values while strengthening Congressional oversight. More here: https://t.co/OevuLMp7ta.
— Rep. Ted Lieu (@RepTedLieu) July 12, 2019
The bill also included provisions to restore protections for trans military members, ban Trump from using military funds to build his border wall, and demanded transparency in Trump’s approved spending decisions on military contractors in order to cut waste and reduce fraud. It also protects rape victims with the “Safe to Report” provision, which requires that the Veterans Administration inform victims of the status of their claims and decisions made in their cases. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-MA) added those provisions.
‘”Safe To Report”…makes sure we don’t turn the victims of the sexual trauma into criminals because they report what happened to them,” says Pingree.
“Pingree says her amendment ensures that the Veterans Administration informs victims of their rights and benefits as survivors of military sexual trauma.”
House passes National Defense Authorization Act with LGBTQ-inclusive amendments – Metro Weekly https://t.co/Oq6BBM9ySq
— Gonades Urbaines (@gonadesurbaines) July 12, 2019
Featured image via Flickr by Photos by Clark under a Creative Commons license
