House GOP Targets Abortions, Gender Surgery in VA Spending Bill

House Republicans are taking aim at contentious Biden administration policies in a veterans affairs spending bill — targeting initiatives on abortion, gender transition, drag shows, and environmental, social, and governance.

The Washington Examiner reported that GOP lawmakers have introduced several amendments to prevent funding for the targeted policies; the House Rules Committee was expected to determine Tuesday which can be brought to a vote.

In one amendment, from Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., the Department of Veterans Affairs would be prevented from funding abortions; in the Senate, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., is already holding up hundreds of promotions to protest the Department of Defense's funding for travel to obtain abortions.

Other GOP lawmakers' measures include:

• From Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., an amendment to stop the Department of Veterans Affairs from paying for gender transition procedures.
• From Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., an amendment to stop federal funds from footing the bill for a program titled "Managing Gender Diversity in the Department of Veterans Affairs."
• From Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., a measure to block funding that would support "any adult cabaret performances or LGBTQ events" like drag shows.

Regarding green policies and ESG, House Republicans want to roll back any remnants put in place during the pandemic, the news outlet reported, noting:

• Rosendale and Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, are moving to ban the enforcement of mask mandates at military facilities; Boebert has introduced an amendment to ban masks in any nonsurgical areas of the facilities.
• Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, is backing an amendment barring any ESG panels or advisers.

Following the Rules Committee's determinations on the amendments, the House is expected to take up the bill this week, the Washington Examiner reported.

The White House has already signaled that it would veto a spending bill with those amendments.

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