On the Radar

NDAA

House Democrats passed their National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020Friday on a party-line 220-197 vote despite a veto threat from President Trump.

Stark differences between the House's NDAA and the Senate’s bipartisan NDAA have left lawmakers scrambling to forge a compromise between the two.

We look at some of the key differences between the two NDAAs, including: Defense Discretionary Topline, Guantanamo Bay Detainees, Southern Border Emergency, Nuclear Weapon Development, and the Trans Ban.

Read our story about differences (and similarities) in the defense bill, then tell your reps: Should Congress compromise on this year's National Defense Authorization Act?

Take It Above the Limit

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warned Congress that they may need to raise the debt limit before their August recess to ensure that the federal government doesn’t default on its debt.

The federal government reached its debt limit in early March and since then, the Treasury has used accounting procedures it refers to as “extraordinary measures” to continue paying interest on the national debt and avoid America’s first-ever default. 

This chart from USAFacts breaks down the groups that have bought U.S. debt in the form of Treasury bonds, including foreign entities, American households and businesses, the Federal Reserve, and state & local governments:

Should Congress raise the debt limit?

Under the Radar

Under the Overpass

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) is threatening to overturn a new Austin policy that allows camping in public areas, including sidewalks.

“Almost any strategy is superior to allowing people to camp out on places like Congress Avenue,” Abbott said, referring to the city’s main street.

Austin’s new policy makes public camping - except in parks – legal, as long as a person does not endanger "the health or safety of another person or of themselves" or make "usage of such area unreasonably inconvenient or hazardous."

People are also allowed to sit, sleep or panhandle on public sidewalks as long as they don’t engage in hazardous behavior or aggressive actions.

Police Chief Brian Manley told the Austin American-Statesman that the new policy will shift the focus of law enforcement from activities to conduct.

"I think the impact will be more on persons’ perceptions of their own safety and our inability now to act in cases where someone may have erected a structure in front of a business or is sitting or lying in front of someone’s business, but not necessarily being dangerous," Manley said.

Should homeless be banned from camping in public spaces?

Trans Ban

Last week, the Democratic-controlled House approved an NDAA amendment to reverse the Trump administration's policy banning transgender individuals from serving in the military. 

"Over the last three years, 14,000 transgender service members have served openly and successfully," said Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), who sponsored the amendment.

Democrats have dubbed the measure the "Truman Amendment," in honor of President Harry Truman's 1948 executive order integrating the military.

"Being from Missouri, I think Harry Truman would be shocked that this would try to be named after him," said Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO). "I would remind my colleagues that the [Department of Defense] DOD policy is based on medical conditions, not an individual's fluid and preferred gender identity. It's based on deployability and readiness, not discrimination."

Should transgender individuals be allowed to serve in the Army?

What You're Saying

Here's how you're answering Should Marijuana Offenses Not be Grounds for Inadmissibility or Deportation?