Christmas cometh; whither the Defense Authorization bill?

It’s down to the wire for the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, over which the House and Senate are still working out differences. This as Congress prepares to depart for the holidays. For the details, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Bloomberg Government Deputy News Director Loren Duggan. Interview transcript: Tom Temin So they just need to vote, or what’s left yet to do, so that they make their annual deadline of end of calendar year? Loren Duggan Yeah, this is all about getting the final product across the…

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Senate bill would improve death benefits for civilian feds

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) offered up a companion bill aiming to improve death benefits for civilian feds. The new legislation would offer 10 times the current benefit amounts for families of civilian workers who are killed on official duty. The bill would also offer more money to the families to cover funeral expenses. The goal of the bill is to bring benefits for civilian employees in line with what military members and Foreign Service employees already get. Sinema’s bill comes after the introduction of the bipartisan House version earlier this…

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White House asks Congress to pass short-term funding bill to keep government operating

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House said Thursday that Congress should pass a short-term funding measure to ensure the government keeps operating after the current budget year ends Sept. 30. An official with the Office of Management and Budget said lawmakers would very likely need to pass a temporary spending measure in September to prevent a potential partial shutdown. The official was not authorized to discuss the administration’s plans and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Without such congressional approval, parts of the federal government could shut…

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Far-Left Hate Group Attacks Vance Bill, Falsely Claims Kids Can’t Get Trans Procedures

A far-left, pro-transgender group is attacking legislation put forward by Republican Ohio Sen. JD Vance that would ban euphemistic “gender-affirming care” for children, such as transgender surgeries, hormones, and puberty blockers. GLAAD, formerly known as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, is a defender of the anti-Catholic “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence,” a group of trans-identifying and queer activists who mock the Catholic faith, including with sexual depictions of Jesus Christ’s death. GLAAD also has strongly objected to the removal of explicit and pornographic books from school libraries. The organization…

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House Republicans push through defense bill limiting abortion access and halting diversity efforts

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed a sweeping defense bill Friday that provides an expected 5.2% pay raise for service members but strays from traditional military policy with Republicans add-ons blocking abortion coverage, diversity initiatives at the Pentagon and transgender care that deeply divided the chamber. Democrats voted against the package, which had sailed out of the House Armed Services Committee on an almost unanimous vote weeks ago before being loaded with the GOP priorities during a heated late-night floor debate this week. The final vote was 219-210, with four…

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House’s MAGA Debt Limit Bill Puts All Republicans On The Record In Favor Of Cuts To Veterans Benefits, Health Care and Other Vital Programs. We Will Hold Them Accountable

Washington, D.C. –In response to the House Debt Ceiling vote, MoveOn Political Action Executive Director Rahna Epting issued the following statement: “Every Republican just went on the record for devastating cuts to veterans benefits, health care and numerous other vital programs. We are going to make sure their constituents don’t forget it, today, tomorrow, and every day between now and Election Day.  Every member in a vulnerable district who aligned with Speaker McCarthy and Marjorie Taylor Greene are on notice for voting in lockstep with the deeply unpopular MAGA wing.” …

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