WASHINGTON, July 19 (Reuters) - Leaders of the U.S. Senate said on Wednesday they expected a sweeping defense policy bill to pass the chamber with strong bipartisan support, which could mean a clash with a largely party-line bill approved by the House of Representatives.
The House passed its NDAA on Friday by a narrow 219-210, after Republicans added culturally conservative amendments addressing hot-button social issues.
The vote was almost entirely along party lines, a departure from typical bipartisan support for a bill that has passed every year since 1961.
That would not win the approval of the Democratic-controlled Senate, where a majority of lawmakers, including some Republicans, support abortion rights.
The contrast is glaring, and we hope, hope, hope, hope that the House takes a lesson from the Senate and works in a productive way so we can pass these important bills."
Persons:
Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Schumer, Joe Biden, Patricia Zengerle, Katharine Jackson, Matthew Lewis
Organizations:
U.S . Senate, Representatives, Democratic, Republicans, Republican, Democrats, Senate, NATO, White House, Thomson
Locations:
Washington