Lawmakers Bump Up Troop Pay, Face Off on China and Culture

Washington saw a major defense bill pass through the Senate, focusing on significant pay hikes for junior military personnel. The bill, totaling $895 billion, also targets China's growing influence. Strikingly, it removes medical coverage for transgender children of military members. The measure faced months of debate due to Republicans' push for conservative social agendas, leading to reduced support from Democrats. Despite this, the bill passed by a comfortable margin of 85-14 votes. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the bill's stand against China but acknowledged it was imperfect. In the House, the bill was also passed, albeit with a majority of Democrats voting against it, due to the added ban on transgender medical care for children. Senate Republicans argued the bill's 1% defense spending boost wasn't sufficient, given current global tensions. They plan to increase defense funding once they gain control of the White House and Congress next year. The bill prioritizes a 14. 5% pay raise for junior enlisted members and a 4. 5% increase for others. This is crucial, as many military families significantly rely on support programs. The legislation also focuses on a more confrontational stance against China and invests in advanced military technologies like artificial intelligence and ammunition production. The US has been increasingly restricting military purchases from China, and the defense bill continues this trend by banning a range of products, from garlic to drones. China's foreign ministry dismissed the bans as laughable. Lawmakers from both parties agreed on China as a threat, but the bill's negotiation was hindered by divisive cultural issues.