The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill, 217 to 197, approving a $740 billion defense bill. This comes at a time when millions of citizens are struggling to even pay their rent.
Anti-war voices, such as Win Without War, are outraged tweeting: “A $740 billion Pentagon budget is inhumane at any time. In the midst of a pandemic—as people across the country struggle to make rent, to pay their bills, to survive a deadly disease—it should be unthinkable. Once again, the House has voted to put the interests of weapons manufacturers and war hawks over the wellbeing of people here and abroad.”
A $740 billion Pentagon budget is inhumane at any time.
— Win Without War (@WinWithoutWar) July 31, 2020
But the House’s vote to put the interests of weapons manufacturers & war hawks over the well-being of people here & abroad in the midst of a pandemic is just appalling.
Read our full statement: https://t.co/k8f5VLOPjh pic.twitter.com/M0V5t2c3Nq
The bill passes after weeks of debate over deciding to cut military spending by 10% (which failed) and whether or not to permit the Pentagon to use video game streaming platforms as a recruitment technique (also failed).
But Common Dreams reports some “significant bright spots in the legislation:”
- Rep. Barbara Lee’s (D-CA) provisions to repeal the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force, which have for too long acted as blank checks for the United States’ endless wars.
- Rep. Barbara Lee’s provision to require congressional authorization for war with Iran.
- Rep. Speier’s (D-CA) amendment to prevent the Department of Defense from spending funds to implement a ban on military service of transgender Americans.
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