Домой United States USA — mix Overnight Defense & National Security — Senate Republicans block domestic terrorism bill

Overnight Defense & National Security — Senate Republicans block domestic terrorism bill

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Shawn Thew/Pool via AP File
FILE – Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., questions Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona …

Shawn Thew/Pool via AP File
FILE – Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., questions Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona as they testify before a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing on Sept. 30, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. In his pursuit of a third Senate term, Paul projects a national voice for a libertarian-leaning philosophy based on limited government and restrained spending. Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a bill that would’ve established domestic terrorism offices within federal law enforcement agencies. We’ll give you the rundown on the vote. Plus, we’ll talk about why President Biden’s nominee for NATO’s top commander in Europe is looking forward to Finland and Sweden joining the alliance. Welcome to Defense & National Security, you’re nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. For The Hill, I’m Jordan Williams. A friend forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Let’s get to it! Domestic terrorism bill fails in Senate
Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a bill to create domestic terrorism offices within federal law enforcement agencies in response to a mass shooting in Buffalo, N.Y., that left 10 people dead. The vote on the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act broke down along party lines, 47-47, with not a single Republican voting for the measure. What was in the bill? The legislation would have created an interagency task force within the Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security and the FBI to analyze and combat white supremacist infiltration in the military and federal law enforcement agencies. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N. Y. ) framed the bill as an opportunity to vote on Republican and Democratic amendments to curb gun violence, but his plea for GOP support to begin the debate fell flat with Republican colleagues.
“The bill is so important because the mass shooting in Buffalo was an act of domestic terrorism. We need to call it what it is, domestic terrorism. It was terrorism that fed off the poison of conspiracy theories like white replacement theory,” Schumer said on the floor before the vote. Why the opposition? Republican senators argued that new federal laws and offices are not needed to monitor and prosecute domestic terrorism because politically motivated violence is already covered by existing laws. They also voiced concerns that the bill could open the door to improper surveillance of political groups and create a double standard for extreme groups on the right and left of the political spectrum. On the House side: The failed Senate vote comes roughly one week after the House passed the legislation largely along partisan lines, 222 to 203. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) was the only Republican to vote for it. Read more here. Top NATO commander nominee supports Finland, Sweden NATO bid
President Biden’s nominee for NATO’s top commander says he looks forward to Finland’s and Sweden’s ascension into the alliance, saying that the countries fortify its defenses against Russia. Gen. Christopher Cavoli, currently the commander of U.S. Army Europe-Africa, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that the Nordic countries would immediately benefit the alliance. Who is Cavoli? Cavoli was nominated in May to the role of supreme allied commander, Europe. Should he be confirmed, he would also be dual-hatted as commander of U.S. European Command. Prior to commanding U.S. Army Europe and Africa, he’s served in several positions in the U.S., Europe and Asia, though he has extensive experience studying Russia. He also speaks Italian, Russian and French. U.S. supports new members: The Biden administration has championed the potential new members and invited the leaders of Sweden and Finland to the White House last week. However, the alliance would have to unanimously vote to allow the countries to join. More than 80 senators, led by Sens. Jean Shaheen (D-N. H. ) and Thom Tillis (R-N. C. ), have urged the administration to fast-track approval of their applications. Turkey has emerged as a possible roadblock over its accusations that the countries harbor Kurdish terrorist groups. From a military perspective: Cavoli told the Senate panel that Finland’s large army is well-equipped, well-trained and very quickly expansible. In addition, the country is “absolutely expert” in defending its 800-mile border with Russia. He added that Sweden’s army is smaller than Finland’s, but it is growing and “very capable.

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