WASHINGTON – The Senate on Thursday approved a $ 740 billion defense spending bill that includes a provision to remove the name of Confederate leaders from military bases, establishing a confrontation with President Trump, who opposes the measure.
The Republican-controlled chamber overwhelmingly passed the legislation with a vote of 81 to 14, well above the number required to override the presidential veto that Trump threatened to exercise last month in a bid to stop the bill.
The National Defense Authorization Act includes a plan to change the names of Army bases named after Confederate soldiers, such as Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Fort Benning in Georgia, named after Confederate People. Braxton Bragg and Henry Lewis Benning.
Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts introduced the provision that will require the Pentagon to establish a commission to rename over the next three years all military assets named after people who fought against the Union 155 years ago.
The extensive legislation also includes a 3 percent salary increase for the military. The House passed the bill on Tuesday with a similar bipartisan vote-veto vote of 295-125.
Trump has been a vociferous opponent of the idea of renaming the bases and threatened to veto the bill during an interview with Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday” over the weekend.
“I don’t care what the military says. I’m supposed to make the decision, “he said. “Fort Bragg is a big problem. We won two world wars, nobody knows General Bragg. We won two world wars. “
“What are we going to change the name? Will you name it by the Rev. Al Sharpton? What are you going to call it, Chris? He asked.” No, I’m not going to change them, “Trump added.
Cities across the United States have begun removing statues honoring Confederate leaders as the nation engages in an emotional conversation about race in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of white police officers in Minneapolis.
Warren explained his decision to submit the motion in a tweet last month, writing: “It is time to end the tribute to white supremacy at our military facilities.”
The president’s powerful allies in Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), said he had no problem with renaming the U.S. military bases.
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