Trump signs bill named for Sen Mccain... doesn’t mention him
FORT DRUM (US): President Donald Trump has signed a USD 716 billion defence policy bill named for John Mccain but included no mention in his remarks of the Republican senator, who is battling brain cancer at home in Arizona.
Trump and Mccain are engaged in a
long-running feud that dates to Trump's 2016 presidential run.
At campaign rallies, Trump regularly castigates Mccain without outright naming him for casting a dramatic thumbsdown vote that doomed Trump's effort
last year to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which was enacted by President Barack Obama.
Trump said there was "no better place than right here at Fort Drum" to celebrate passage of the defense bill, which will boost military pay by 2.6 per cent, giving service members their largest increase in nine years.
The bill formally named the John S Mccain National Defense Authorization Act but referred to by Trump as simply the National Defense Authorization Act will introduce thousands of new recruits to active duty, reserve and National Guard units and replace aging tanks, planes, ships and helicopters with more advanced and lethal technology, Trump said.
"Hopefully, we'll be so strong we'll never have to use it. But if we ever did, nobody has a chance," he said.
The bill also authorizes billions of dollars for military construction, including family housing. Besides setting policy and spending levels, the bill weakens a bid to clamp down on Chinese telecom company ZTE. It allows Trump to waive sanctions against countries that bought Russian weapons and now want to buy US military equipment.
The bill provides no money for Trump's requested Space Force but authorises the military parade he wants in Washington in November. The White House has said it will outline a budget for the space force next year.
The measure also addresses childon-child sexual assault at US military bases worldwide, an issue an Associated Press investigation revealed this spring.
The compromise bill removes a provision reinstating penalties against ZTE and restricting the company's ability to buy US component parts.
ZTE was almost forced out of business after being accused of selling sensitive information to nations hostile to the US, namely Iran and North Korea, in violation of trade laws.
Trump warned in May that the ban was causing heavy job losses in China, and the Commerce Department reached a deal to lift the ban in June, allowing business with U.S. companies to resume. The bill retains language blocking US government purchases and contracts with ZTE. The measure also includes provisions designed to improve how the Defense Department handles reports of sexual assaults among the tens of thousands of children and teens who live and go to school on the military bases where their parents serve.