US Lawmakers Agree To A Robust NDAA

Amidst Mr. Donald Trump’s impeachment proceedings, the US lawmakers are busy passing a bill for a robust defense budget worth $738billion. This will include new measures for competing with Russia and China, family leave for federal workers and the creation of President Donald Trump’s long-desired Space Force.

The last of the deals, the creation of the Space Force, is one of Trump’s most high-profile requests. This bill now establishes the U.S. Space Force as the sixth Armed Service of the United States, under the Air Force. The US lawmakers are also pushing for sanctions to be levied on Turkey for opting for the S-400systems over the American ones.

The much-debated National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has also reached its conclusion as the US House of Representatives and Senate Arms Services Committee could come to a consensus.  This legislation would include $658.4 billion for the Department of Defense and Department of Energy national security programs, $71.5 billion to pay for ongoing foreign wars, known as “Overseas Contingency Operations” funding, and $5.3 billion in emergency funding for repairs of damage from extreme weather and natural disasters.

The NDAA works on various levels and will affect the way the US uses its military resources regionally and its relations with other countries. So, it will decide whether to purchase, refurbish or discard certain military equipment. Also, the new NDAA also plans to impose sanctions related to Russia’s Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream pipelines and bars military-to-military cooperation with Russia.

It is for the first time in a decade that a 3.1 percent hike in the pay scale for troops, 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal workers.

The NDAA will also reauthorize $300 million of funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, to include lethal defensive items as well as new authorities for coastal defense cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles. The NDAA will use a sweeping approach to North Korea’s nuclear weapons development, apart from putting mandatory sanctions on its imports, exports of coal and other minerals and textiles, and petroleum products plus crude oil.  The new proposed bill which is going to get clearance before Congress goes off for Christmas will put additional sanctions on banks that deal with North Korea.

Right now, the bill is totally looking pro-Trump and will work in his favor, if he comes to power again post the 2020 American elections. 

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