Mind Uncharted Explore. Discover. Learn.
Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) and other conservative lawmakers are proposing several culture war amendments to the Military Construction-VA appropriations bill. These amendments cover contentious subjects such as abortion, mask mandates, marijuana access, LGBT issues, and gender diversity. The Rules Committee will decide which amendments will be voted on, highlighting the increasing trend of tying culture war fights to even the most straightforward spending legislation. House Republicans are facing the task of deciding how many hot-button social issues to address as they bring their first two spending bills to the floor. This could potentially complicate the approval process for other spending bills in the coming months. However, most of the social policy restrictions proposed in these spending bills are unlikely to survive the Democratic-led Senate or President Joe Biden’s veto pen. The Rules Committee will meet to discuss the Military Construction-VA legislation and will also consider proposed amendments for the Agriculture-FDA appropriations bill. Meanwhile, in the Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is pushing for a vote on two amendments to the annual defense policy bill, one blocking certain countries from buying US farmland, and another requiring American firms to notify the government when investing in certain Chinese tech industries.
