Massive defense bill sees clear path in Senate, despite transgender measure

Massive defense bill sees clear path in Senate, despite transgender measure

The Senate is on track to vote on the country’s massive annual defense spending bill on Wednesday, with signs that it will pass smoothly despite Democratic objections to language involving transgender care for minors and its massive $895.2 billion topline.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which easily passed the House last week, is scheduled for a floor debate on Wednesday after a vote to invoke cloture planned for late on Monday.

All signs point to a relatively hiccup-free path ahead, which comes just days before a deadline to pass an overall government funding measure, or contend with a potential government shutdown ahead of Christmas.

Still, there are Democrats in the upper chamber displeased with the bill, with at least a dozen senators expected to oppose it.

Among them are Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley, (D-Ore.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), with the later on Wednesday saying the bloated bill is being placed ahead of bigger priorities such as health care, housing and feeding Americans.

“Mr. President, most Americans would agree that we need a strong military. I certainly do. But we do not need a defense system........

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