House Rules Committee sends defense appropriations bill to the floor

The GOP-led House Rules Committee voted 9-4 to advance the fiscal year 2025 defense appropriations bill, including 61 amendments that will receive votes on the House floor.

Democrats say they oppose the bill, however, because of “poison pill” provisions targeting abortion services, climate change mitigation and diversity initiatives. The White House has also said President Biden would veto the bill if it were to pass in its current form, which is unlikely as will be dead-on-arrival at the Democrat-controlled Senate.

Meanwhile, the House bill honors the cap mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, would appropriate $833 billion for the Defense Department.

Modernization spending is below what Congress enacted in FY-24, with procurement falling about $6.7 billion and RDT&E dropping by about $2.4 billion. The bill also rescinds $1.2 billion in previous-year spending.