House passes massive $858 billion defense bill that would scrap military Covid vaccine mandate, teeing up Senate vote - CNBC

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House has passed a monolithic measure to money the Defense Department for fiscal twelvemonth 2023, teeing up a last ballot successful the Senate successful the coming days that would nonstop the $858 cardinal behemoth to President Joe Biden's desk, wherever helium is expected to motion it.

The measure passed the Democratic-controlled House with a beardown bipartisan majority, 350 successful favour to 80 votes against it.

Among the much than 4,000 pages of authorities is simply a request that the Pentagon driblet its Covid vaccine mandate for progressive work servicemembers wrong 30 days of its enactment.

The mandate, primitively enactment successful spot past year, precocious emerged arsenic a lightning rod for blimpish Republicans, who threatened to descend the full measure if it wasn't rescinded.

The National Defense Authorization Act (or NDAA) was released Tuesday night, aft weeks of backroom negotiations.

Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin person some publically said they reason the proviso ending the vaccine mandate.

But the Democratic president of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, said connected the House level Thursday that it was the close clip to extremity the vaccine requirement. His remark was seen arsenic a beardown awesome that the White House volition backmost the last bill.

Biden's Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre would not corroborate oregon contradict Wednesday that Biden would motion the bill, alternatively telling reporters that Biden is "going to look astatine the NDAA successful its entirety, and marque his judgement connected that."

The House was initially scheduled to ballot connected the measure Wednesday afternoon. But its procedural way done the Rules Committee was stalled aft members of the Congressional Black Caucus sought to unit the inclusion of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act successful the bill.

The NDAA is an yearly contented successful Congress, wherever it is considered a "must-pass" measure due to the fact that its enactment is required successful bid for subject work members to person their wage and benefits connected clip aft Jan. 1, 2023.