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In a First, Congress Overrides Trump Veto of Defense Bill

Associated Press

   WASHINGTON - Congress has overridden President Donald Trump's veto of a
   defense policy bill, a first by lawmakers since Trump took office
   nearly four years ago.

   In an extraordinary New Year's Day session, the Republican-controlled
   Senate easily turned aside the veto, dismissing Trump's objections to
   the $740 billion bill and handing him a rebuke weeks before his term
   ends.

   Trump had lashed out at lawmakers from his own party on Twitter,
   charging earlier this week that "Weak and tired Republican 'leadership'
   will allow the bad Defense Bill to pass."

   Trump called the looming override vote a "disgraceful act of cowardice
   and total submission by weak people to Big Tech. Negotiate a better
   Bill, or get better leaders, NOW!"

   The 81-13 vote in the Senate followed an earlier 322-87 override vote
   in the House of the widely popular defense measure. The bill provides a
   3% pay raise for U.S. troops and guides defense policy, cementing
   decisions about troop levels, new weapons systems and military
   readiness, personnel policy and other military goals. Many programs,
   including military construction, can go into effect only if the bill is
   approved.

   'Tremendous opportunity'

   Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said before the vote
   that Congress has passed the National Defense Authorization Act every
   year for 59 years in a row, "and one way or another, we are going to
   complete the 60th annual NDAA and pass it into law before this Congress
   concludes on Sunday.''

   The bill "looks after our brave men and women who volunteer to wear the
   uniform,'' McConnell said. "But it's also a tremendous opportunity: to
   direct our national security priorities to reflect the resolve of the
   American people and the evolving threats to their safety, at home and
   abroad. It's our chance to ensure we keep pace with competitors like
   Russia and China.''

   The Senate override was delayed after Senator Bernie Sanders, an
   independent who normally votes with the Democrats, objected to moving
   ahead until McConnell allowed a vote on a Trump-backed plan to increase
   individual COVID-19 relief payments to $2,000.

   McConnell did not allow that vote; instead he used his parliamentary
   power to set a vote limiting debate on the defense measure, overcoming
   a filibuster threat by Sanders and Senate Democratic leader Chuck
   Schumer of New York.

   Without a bipartisan agreement, a vote on the bill could have been
   delayed until Saturday night. Lawmakers, however, agreed to an
   immediate roll call Friday once the filibuster threat was stopped.

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