Washington – The House is about to meet Monday to vote to override President Trump’s veto of an annual defense policy bill, which could be the first time Congress has overridden a veto by Mr. leaves office.
The bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, was passed by both the House and Senate earlier this month with support from more than two-thirds of each chamber, removing the thresholds needed to override Mr. Trump’s veto. The Senate will meet on Tuesday to begin consideration of the case.
The $ 740 billion defense bill provides funding for military programs and construction projects, and allows a 3% pay rise for troops. But in the weeks leading up to its entry into force, Mr. Trump objected to the measure because it leaves untouched a federal law known as Section 230, which provides a powerful legal shield for internet companies. The president also addressed a provision of the bill that requires the Pentagon to rename military facilities and bases named after Confederate leaders.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle urged Trump to sign the Comprehensive Defense Bill, which has become law for 59 consecutive years. But the president went ahead with his threat to veto the measure last week, citing the “failure of Congress to end Section 230’s highly dangerous national security risk.”
Section 230 is a provision of the Communications Decency Act that protects Internet companies from liability for content posted on their platforms by third parties. The measure has become a political football, as Republicans and Mr. Trump believe it has been used by social media companies to censor conservative views and votes.
While GOP lawmakers agree with the president that section 230 should be changed, some argue that the NDAA is not the right vehicle to roll back the 24-year law.
“The NDAA has become law every year for 59 consecutive years because it is absolutely essential to our national security and our troops. This year should be no exception,” said Republican Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, chair of the Senate Armed Forces Committee. . in a statement following the president’s veto on the bill. Inhofe added that Congress “can and should use another legislative means to repeal Section 230.”
It remains unclear how many Republicans in the House will break with Mr Trump and vote to overcome his veto. The House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservatives, has pledged to support the president’s rejection of the defense bill, and Kevin McCarthy, leader of the House minority, told reporters earlier this month that he would uphold Mr. Trump’s veto despite that. he voted for the legislation.