Washington – The House is ready to meet on Monday to vote to overturn President Trump’s veto of an annual mandatory defense policy bill, establishing what could be the first time Congress overturns a Trump veto a few weeks before he left office.
The bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, was passed by the House and Senate earlier this month with the support of more than two-thirds of each chamber, clearing the boundaries necessary to overturn Trump’s veto. The Senate is due to meet on Tuesday to begin the process of handling the matter.
The $ 740 billion defense account provides funding for military programs and construction projects, and authorizes a 3% increase in troop payments. But in the weeks leading up to his approval, Trump raised objections to the measure because it does not change a federal law, known as Section 230, which provides a powerful legal shield for internet companies. The president also contested a clause in the bill that requires the Pentagon to rename military facilities and bases with the names of Confederate leaders.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have asked Trump to sign the broad defense bill, which has become law for 59 consecutive years. But the president maintained his threat to veto the measure last week, citing “Congress’s failure to end the dangerous Section 230 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 move became a political soccer ball, as Republicans and Trump believe it was used by social media companies to censor conservative views and views.
Although Republican Party lawmakers agree with the president that Section 230 should be amended, some argue that the NDAA is not the appropriate vehicle for reversing the 24-year law.
“The NDAA has become law every year for 59 consecutive years because it is absolutely vital to our national security and our troops. This year should not be an exception,” said Republican Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, chairman of the Armed Services Committee of the Senate in statement after the president’s veto of the defense bill. Inhofe added that Congress “can and must use another legislative vehicle to repeal Section 230”.
It is not yet clear how many Republicans in the House will break Trump and vote to overcome his veto. House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservatives, has pledged to support the rejection of the defense project president, and minority leader in the House, Kevin McCarthy, told reporters earlier this month that he would uphold Trump’s veto, despite voting for favor of legislation.