Bryan Watch: Pentagon 2021

In late September, the House debated the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, which funds military operations. Steil was among the 135 Republicans to support the Biden administration on the current Pentagon budget (RC 293, Sep 23).

In the midst of the Pentagon debate, the House passed HR 5323, the Supplemental Appropriations bill by a margin of 420 to 9 (RC 275, Sep 23). Steil and almost every other Republican supported it.

The NDAA attracts literally hundreds of amendments every year. Here are the two dozen important enough for the House to bother voting on in 2021.

One of the most interesting amendments (H Amdt 119) was by NY Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who sought to reduce Pentagon spending by 10 percent in this year’s budget. Only 86 members (all Democrats) agreed with her. (RC 284, Sep 23)

Adam Smith, who was shepherding the bill through Congress, had several En Bloc amendments, containing a mix of amendments from members. All three En Bloc amendments passed by decent margins, with Steil voting in favor. (RC 288, 289 and 290, Sep 23)

Torres (CA) Amendment 435: During the Trump administration, they ended reporting to Congress weapons sales to foreign countries. This amendment seeks to restore the responsibility for reporting weapons sales to the State Department. Steil (and all other Republicans) voted NO. (RC 292, Sep 23)

Leger Fernandez Amendment 241: Rep Fernandez Leger (NM) seeks an apology for the US government for testing nuclear weapons against the citizens of New Mexico, Utah, Idaho and other states. Steil and most Republicans (21-185) refuse to apologize (RC 291, Sep 23)

Bowman (NY) Amendment 105: Bowman seeks to add the President, VP and cabinet members to the list of federal officials who cannot contract with the government. Steil voted NO along with most Republicans (20-183). (RC 287, Sep 23)

Langevin (RI) Amendment 42: Seeks to make it easier for the US government to recruit foreign scientists for the National Security Innovation Base. Steil and most Republicans (15-186) vote against scientific expertise (RC 286, Sep 23)

Jacobs (CA) Amendment 41: Seeks to cut Pentagon by $24 billion, to meet the amount initially requested by the Biden Administration. While most Democrats (142-77) supported this, every Republican (including Steil) voted for an ever increasingly bloated Pentagon budget (RC 285, Sep 23)

Schrader (OR) Amendment 39: An effort to rein in the Unfunded Priority Lists program, which has started to give the military flexibility, but has grown out of hand in recent decades. Steil and almost all Republicans (3-205) vote against restraining Pentagon spending (RC 283, Sep 23)

Garamendi (CA) Amendment 38: A move by the California representative to slow down the arms race by banning funding for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent Program. Steil and every other Republican voted against sensible arms control (RC 282, Sep 23)

Johnson (GA) Amendment 36: Part of the continuing effort to end the militarization of US civilian police forces - unfortunately it failed 198 to 231. Steil and almost every Republican voted to continue sending weapons of war to domestic law enforcement agencies (RC 281, Sep 23)

Carolyn Maloney (NY) Amendment 35: Seeking to change the Plum Book, which lists government jobs, from a printed to an electronic database. Republicans (6 to 202) including Steil vote against making government hiring more efficient (RC 280, Sep 23)

Meeks (NY) Amendment 30 and Ro Khanna (CA) amendment 28: For the last several years, Saudi Arabia has been conducting an illegal war against Yemen. Meeks and Khanna are seeking to end US assistance to the Saudis that allows them to keep attacking Yemen. Republicans side with the brutal Saudi regime and against human rights (Meeks, RC 279; Khanna, RC 278, both Sep 23)

Mfume (MD) Amendment 26: Seeking to increase opportunities for small businesses to obtain military contracts. Republicans (5-202) vote against helping small business owners. (RC 277, Sep 23)

Bowman (NY) Amendment 25: While a majority of Democrats supported it (120 to 98), Rep. Bowman’s effort to end the US military presence in Syria failed. Only 21 Republicans voted for the Bowman amendment; Steil was not one of them. (RC 276, Sep 23)

Neguse (CO) Amendment 17: For several years, Joe Neguse has been promoting legislation to protection Colorado Outdoor Recreation (HR 577 in this Congress) and the Grand Canyon (HR 1052 in this Congress). The vast majority of Republicans (5-204) including Steil voted against protecting the environment in the western United States (RC 274, Sep 22)

DeGette (CO) Amendment 16: Seeks to add the language of the “Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act” into the bill. Once again, Republicans voted against (6 to 200) protecting the environment (RC 273, Sep 22)

Slotkin (MI) Amendment 15: Seeks to provide physicians at VA medical facilities with training on the treatment for exposure to PFAS (Forever Chemicals). A vast majority of Republicans (20 to 185) including Steil, vote against protecting veterans from toxic chemicals (RC 272, Sep 22)

Tlaib (MI) Amendment 11: The Detroit congresswoman is seeking to protect servicemembers who are facing credit threats due to large medical bills. Medical bills are the primary reason for bankruptcy in the US. Republicans (5 to 203) voted against helping US military personnel burdened with large medical debts (RC 271, Sep 22)

Plaskett (Virgin Islands) Amendment 6: Delegate Plaskett is seeking to ease customs and immigration restrictions on visitors to the Virgin Islands in an effort to promote tourism, the territory’s primary industry. Republicans (18 to 190), using a phony excuse based on the War on Drugs, oppose helping promote tourism to a US territory (RC 270, Sep 22)

Dean (PA) Amendment 5: Seeks to require private education loan holders to discharge the debt if the borrower becomes permanently disabled. Republicans (4 to 204) side with big bankers against disabled students. (RC 269, Sep 22)