Senate Passes Bill to Enhance Military Welfare and Environmental Conservation

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about 1 month ago - Politics

In a recent vote, the U.S. Senate agreed, with 85 Senators in favor and 14 against, to support a bill aimed at improving the lives of military personnel while also looking after the environment. This bill, with a lengthy and confusing name, is actually about making life better for people in the military and taking care of wildlife and natural spaces.

The bill is divided into several parts, each focusing on different areas like military and energy. For the military, it talks about new ways to help soldiers, improve their living conditions, and better prepare them for their duties. One of the cool things the bill introduces is a program that uses robots to help Army reserve soldiers practice their shooting skills. It also looks at changing how the Navy and Air Force buy and build things, helping them work better and more efficiently.

This bill is important because it works on making sure that the people who protect the country are living well and have what they need to do their jobs safely. At the same time, it supports efforts to conserve nature, showing that it's possible to take care of both people and the planet. Overall, this move by the Senate shows a commitment to national defense and the well-being of servicemembers, while also caring for the environment.

This is a bill that improves the living conditions of servicemembers and supports various defense and energy programs. The main focus is on enhancing quality of life for military personnel and ensuring the effective operation and organization of defense-related activities for the fiscal year 2025.

The bill is divided into several parts:

  1. Defense Department Support: It provides approval for budget spending on military needs including the construction projects and energy security tasks.
  2. Military Programs: Specific programs to enhance Army facilities' security, update Navy ships, and improve Air Force aircraft.
  3. Intelligence and State Department: Authorization for intelligence activities and initiatives by the State Department are also included.
  4. Technology and Research: There's significant emphasis on advancing technology and research in defense, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum science.

Each section has detailed regulations and directives to outline the spending and measures for upgrading military equipment and facilities, strengthening national security, and improving servicemember living conditions. This includes everything from construction of new facilities to development of advanced technology to ensure U.S. military remains capable and effective.

99 votes

Yes

85

No

14

Not Voting

1

  1. Presented to President.
  2. Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered).
  3. Motion by Senator Schumer to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 5009 with an amendment (SA 3317) withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.
  4. Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  5. Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 5009 by Yea-Nay Vote. 85 - 14. Record Vote Number: 325.
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  6. Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 5009 by Yea-Nay Vote. 85 - 14. Record Vote Number: 325.
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  7. Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered).
  8. Motion by Senator Schumer to refer to Senate Committee on Armed Services with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 3319) fell when cloture was invoked on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 5009 in Senate.
  9. Cloture on the motion to concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5009 invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 83 - 12. Record Vote Number: 324. (CR S7045)
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  10. Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered). (consideration: CR S7045-7048)
  11. Motion by Senator Schumer to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 5009 with an amendment (SA 3317) made in Senate. (CR S6980)
  12. Motion by Senator Schumer to refer to Senate Committee on Armed Services the House message to accompany H.R. 5009 with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 3319) made in Senate. (CR S6980)
  13. Cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 5009 presented in Senate. (CR S6980)
  14. Motion by Senator Schumer to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 5009 made in Senate. (CR S6979)
  15. Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6979-6980)
  16. On motion that the House agree with an amendment to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 281 - 140 (Roll no. 500). (consideration: CR H7099-7100; text: CR H6827-7091)
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  17. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  18. Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate amendment.
  19. Engrossed Amendment House

    This is a bill that improves the living conditions of servicemembers and supports various defense and energy programs. The main focus is on enhancing quality of life for military personnel and ensuring the effective operation and organization of defense-related activities for the fiscal year 2025.

    The bill is divided into several parts:

    1. Defense Department Support: It provides approval for budget spending on military needs including the construction projects and energy security tasks.
    2. Military Programs: Specific programs to enhance Army facilities' security, update Navy ships, and improve Air Force aircraft.
    3. Intelligence and State Department: Authorization for intelligence activities and initiatives by the State Department are also included.
    4. Technology and Research: There's significant emphasis on advancing technology and research in defense, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum science.

    Each section has detailed regulations and directives to outline the spending and measures for upgrading military equipment and facilities, strengthening national security, and improving servicemember living conditions. This includes everything from construction of new facilities to development of advanced technology to ensure U.S. military remains capable and effective.

  20. Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree with an amendment to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 281 - 140 (Roll no. 500). (consideration: CR H7099-7100; text: CR H6827-7091)
    Learn more
  21. Engrossed Amendment Senate

    This is a bill that continues the funding for wildlife conservation efforts from 2024 to 2028 and introduces multiyear grants for conservation projects. Here are the key points:

    1. The bill extends funding for various conservation acts, such as those focused on fish, elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, great apes, and marine turtles, for another five years—from 2024 to 2028.

    2. It also allows for multiyear grants of up to five years to be awarded to projects showing effective, long-term strategies for conserving animals and their habitats. These grants can help ensure ongoing efforts without needing to reapply every year.

    3. Each year, the Secretary of the Interior must report to Congress about the implementation of this funding. This report will include details like the total amount of money given, the organizations receiving the funds, the countries where the projects are taking place, and a description of the planned and completed projects.

    This policy is designed to sustain and support the conservation of endangered species and their environments, ensuring these efforts can continue uninterrupted over multiple years.

  22. Placed on Calendar Senate

    This is a law that helps protect wildlife and their homes for five more years, from 2024 to 2028. It allows organizations to get money for projects that help keep animals like African elephants, Asian elephants, rhinoceroses, tigers, great apes, and marine turtles, as well as freshwater turtles and tortoises, safe and their environments healthy. These projects can last up to five years. The government promises to provide the necessary money for these projects during these years. This means these animals and their homes will have support and protection for a longer time, helping to ensure they survive and thrive.

  23. Engrossed in House

    This is a congressional act that continues funding for programs that help protect animals and their homes until 2028. This includes special funds that save African elephants, Asian elephants, rhinoceroses, tigers, great apes, and various turtles.

    1. African and Asian elephants: Programs that support saving these large animals will get money for projects that last up to five years. These projects aim to save elephants and the areas where they live.
    2. Rhinoceros and Tiger: Similarly, grants are provided for plans that help save rhinoceroses and tigers and improve their living environments.
    3. Great Apes: The act supports efforts to protect great apes with projects that can also last up to five years.
    4. Marine and Other Turtles: The act includes helping save different types of turtles, with a focus on both their marine and freshwater habitats.

    Each of these sections makes sure that funding will continue from 2024 through 2028. Key to the act's approach is allowing multi-year grants—a way to fund efforts that require more extended periods, thus ensuring that the strategies have enough time to be effective.

  24. Reported in House

    This is a law that extends wildlife conservation programs from 2024 to 2028, supporting various animals and their habitats. The main focus is on providing longer funding periods, up to five years instead of just one. This helps with planning and maintaining efforts to save species like African elephants, Asian elephants, rhinos, tigers, great apes, and various types of turtles.

    It changes previous laws to replace the old time frame of 2019-2023 with the new one, 2024-2028. The law allows the government to give grants to projects that show they can effectively protect these animals and their living areas over the long term. This means if someone shows they have a good plan for saving these animals, they can get funds for up to five years, rather than having to ask for money every year. This can help them focus more on helping wildlife because they won’t have to spend as much time each year on paperwork to get funds.

  25. Introduced in House

    This is a plan to continue programs that protect the homes and lives of animals like elephants and tigers, and to fund these efforts until 2028.

    1. For American Wildlife: The "Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act" allows for money to be given out from 2024 to 2028 instead of stopping in 2023. This helps fund projects that save animal homes and environments in the U.S.

    2. For African Elephants: Grants (a kind of funding) can now last up to 5 years. These grants support projects designed to help African elephants live safely and happily. The government promises to provide money for these purposes from 2024 to 2028.

    3. For Asian Elephants: Similar to the African elephant plan, there's also a 5-year grant program in place for projects that help Asian elephants. Money will also be available from 2024 to 2028 for these efforts.

    4. For Rhinoceroses and Tigers: Just like with the elephants, rhinos and tigers have a program that can fund 5-year conservation projects to help them and their homes. This funding is assured from 2024 to 2028.

    5. For Marine and Other Turtles: Projects to protect marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises can get up to 5 years of funding. This is also set from 2024 to 2028.

    In simple terms, this act is all about making sure the government continues to support and fund important wildlife conservation projects for different animals and their environments until the year 2028.