"This is an alarming erasure of the suffering of the Palestinian people, ignoring the human toll of ongoing violence," Rep. Ilhan Omar stated, condemning the bill for its provisions that deny accurate death tolls from Gaza. She was among the lawmakers who voted against the $900 billion military budget, expressing serious concerns about the implications of silencing this critical information in favor of political agendas.
Rep. Omar's statement reflects a growing frustration among progressive lawmakers regarding the military budget's restrictive provisions. The inclusion of clauses that prohibit the Pentagon from acknowledging the Gazan death toll is seen not only as erasure but also as an affront to the severe human consequences of conflict, particularly for marginalized communities.
The NDAA's passage at 281 to 140, with substantial bipartisan support, indicates a troubling trend where the government's military priorities overshadow the pressing humanitarian crises affecting millions globally, including those in Gaza.
As the budget was passed, dissenting voices among progressive Democrats emphasized the importance of acknowledging and addressing the human toll of military actions and the moral responsibility of lawmakers to prioritize human rights alongside defense spending.
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