President Joe Biden has signed a robust defense bill worth $895 billion that raises military spending and pays junior enlisted service members 14.5% more. Despite the bill's positives, Biden expressed strong opposition to a provision added by House Speaker Mike Johnson, which bans transgender medical care for children in military families. Biden argued that the provision targets individuals based on gender identity and interferes with parental rights. Additionally, he stressed that the policy could hinder the military's recruitment and retention efforts, stating, "No service member should have to decide between their family's health care access and their call to serve our nation."
The legislation, which cleared the Senate with an 85-14 vote, also imposed restrictions on the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees—a move Biden opposed. He urged Congress to reconsider these limitations, hoping to provide more flexibility in transferring detainees to foreign countries or within the US.
Beyond service member pay increases, the bill addresses growing concerns over China's military influence by directing resources towards defense strategies in Asia, including bolstering Taiwan's defenses similarly to US support for Ukraine. The bill proposes new investments in military technology, including artificial intelligence, and extends bans on Chinese goods, such as products from military commissaries, cementing restrictions on purchasing Chinese drone technology. Despite its passage, the bill still requires a supporting spending package to be fully effective. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
