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Six Democratic House lawmakers crossed the aisle on Wednesday to join a majority of Republicans in passing a nearly $1.15 trillion annual defense policy bill.
The Democrats who backed the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) all have a reputation of breaking with their party on key issues and many are running for reelection in swing districts this November.
The six House Democrats who voted for the NDAA are Reps. Henry Cuellar (Texas), Don Davis (N.C.), Jared Golden (Maine), Vicente Gonzalez (Texas), Adam Gray (Calif.) and Marie Glusenkamp Perez (Wash.).
“I voted for the National Defense Authorization Act to strengthen our national defense while improving the pay, housing, and childcare for our service members and their families,” Cuellar said in a statement to The Hill on Wednesday. “This vote is one step in the legislative process and I will continue working toward a final bipartisan agreement that strengthens our national security while providing more resources to the men and women who serve our country. “
Independent Rep. Kevin Kiley (Calif.), who changed his affiliation from Republican earlier this year, also supported the legislation, and seven GOP lawmakers opposed its passage. The chamber advanced the mammoth bill in a 216-212 vote.
Davis, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, said several NDAA provisions would bolster the main military installation in his district, including Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.
“By investing in our military installations, strengthening American manufacturing, and modernizing our military, this legislation helps ensure our servicemembers remain ready to meet evolving global security challenges,” Davis said in a statement. “These investments will create opportunities for eastern North Carolina, support military families and strengthen our nation’s ability to confront emerging threats and protect the American people.”
A majority of Democrats opposed the legislation, citing opposition to the Iran war and concerns about a provision in the bill that would establish the United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative. The section also directs the Secretary of Defense to appoint an “executive agent” at the Pentagon to oversee the newly formed initiative.
GOP Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.), who led an unsuccessful effort to remove Section 219 from this bill earlier this week, said this provision “tragically merges our military and supply chains with Israel’s.”
“Let’s hope this version fails in the Senate because Section 219 is a betrayal of our sovereignty,” Massie wrote in a social media post following the bill’s passage.
Republicans supportive of this bill disputed the Kentucky lawmaker’s characterization of this section. Texas Rep. Keith Self (R) told The Hill that “that is a tortured reading of the verbiage.”
The legislation includes raises to service members by five to seven percent, expands U.S. defense production capacity, greenlights about $1.8 billion for barracks and family housing, along with authorizing around $56 billion for aircraft development, including next-generation fighter jet, B-21 Raiders, F-35s and others.
“In an increasingly dangerous world, we are reminded of President Reagan’s admonition that freedom is not passed along in the bloodstream; it must be fought for and protected so the next generation may enjoy the same level of security and opportunity we have known,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said after the vote. “And that starts in Congress.”
“Safeguarding our liberties by providing for our common defense is one of our most basic responsibilities as elected representatives, and this year’s NDAA meets the moment,” Johnson said.
This story was updated at 7:47 p.m.
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