WASHINGTON — The United States House of Representatives approved this Thursday a legislative proposal with which it would end the mandatory nature of the vaccine from COVID in the Army, as well as an $858 billion funding injection for defense.
The bill, with broad support from both Republicans and Democrats – with 350 in favor and 80 against – will now pass the Senate before reaching the desk of US President Joe Biden and becoming law.
The proposal is a request from Republicans since the coronavirus health crisis erupted. This week, its leader in the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, celebrated that ending this obligation “by President Biden is a victory” for both the military and “common sense”.
At present, the White House has not confirmed whether Biden will refuse to sign the bill. The president insisted that lifting the ban would be “a mistake” as the measure focuses on having US troops “ready”
Within that $858 billion funding line, approximately $817 billion would go specifically to the Pentagon’s coffers. The proposal includes a wide range of measures, including a 4.6% salary increase for those in the different corps of the armed forces, cyber security improvements, infrastructure improvements and increased support for Ukraine.
SOURCE: With information from Europa Press
