A new measure in the newly passed defense bill has been added as an amendment to the newly passed 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (2024 NDAA). This measure bars any U.S. president from unilaterally withdrawing from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and has been sent to the White House for President Joe Biden to sign into law. Known as “Kaine Amendment No. 429,” it was first introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in March 2022 and reintroduced in July 2023 before it was added to the 2024 NDAA. The amendment states that the President needs the Senate’s advice and consent or an Act of Congress to withdraw from NATO and prohibits the use of Congress-approved funds to explore, directly or indirectly, such a decision. The Senate’s vote to pass this bipartisan bill reaffirms U.S. support for NATO and sends a strong message to authoritarians around the world that the free world remains united, according to Senator Kaine.
The defense bill earmarks $841.5 billion for the Department of Defense, $32.26 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration, and $12.1 billion in defense-related allocations for other federal agencies. It also includes a 5.2 percent pay raise for service members, $145 billion for research into artificial intelligence and hypersonics, and investments in Space Force among other items. Additionally, the bill has a four-month extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s (FISA) Section 702 which will expire on Dec. 31. The NDAA also requires the DOD to conduct a study evaluating the health effects of the COVID-19 vaccine and establish a board to review discharges and track down to query those discharged about reenlisting within the next six months.
The measure in the defense bill also prohibits the use of Congress-approved funds to explore, directly or indirectly, a similar decision and requires the president to notify the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and its House counterpart in advance of any consideration of withdrawing from NATO. Senators Kaine and Rubio applauded the passage of the amendment. President Biden is a strong supporter of the mutual defense mechanism of NATO, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.