The House on Friday voted largely along party lines to pass key legislation setting military spending levels and policy.

Why it matters: The bill was amended to include controversial conservative language on abortion, transgender care, diversity programs and book bans.

Driving the news: The House voted 219-210 to pass the National Defense Authorization Act.

• Four Republicans, all members of the House Freedom Caucus, voted against the bill, while four Democrats voted for it.

The backdrop: The bill passed out of the Armed Services Committee by a lopsided 58-1 vote.

• But Democrats, incensed by Republicans passing an amendment to block a Biden administration policy allowing the Pentagon to cover abortion-related expenses, largely came out against the final bill.
• Some Freedom Caucus members were upset their amendments restricting aid to Ukraine failed, but most came around to supporting the bill.

What's next: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Thursday that the upper chamber will begin voting on their version of the NDAA next Tuesday, with votes on a "reasonable number" of amendments.

• The Senate's product is likely to be markedly more moderate than the House's version.
• The bill will then go to a conference committee, where negotiators from the two chambers will hammer out a compromise measure.

The big picture: This could end up putting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in a similarly difficult situation as the debt limit.

• His right flank ground floor...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiUmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmF4aW9zLmNvbS8yMDIz...