The National Defense Authorization Act addresses the future of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House protected Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst from a threatened round of budget cuts in legislation setting defense policy for the 12 months beginning Oct. 1.
The National Defense Authorization Act passed the House late Wednesday night. It rejected President Barack Obama's call for a new round of military base closings. Supporters of the joint base fear that the facility could be on the chopping block if the Pentagon begins closing facilities.
"As the largest employer in Southern New Jersey, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst remains a critical part of our region's economy and national defense," said Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-3rd Dist.), whose district includes the facility.
White House Office of Management and Budget officials cited the ban on base closings as one reason they would urge Obama to veto the legislation.
MacArthur and Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1st Dist.), who both sit on the House Armed Services Committee, had won approval of a provision in last year's defense bill that prevents the Defense Department from retiring the KC-10 refueling tanker planes now housed at the joint base until Sept. 30, 2017.
This year's defense bill also requires a study of whether to build an East Coast site to intercept incoming ballistic missiles, as already exists in California and Alaska. The focus would be on the feasibility and cost of installing an Aegis Ashore system, which employees at Lockheed Martin's Moorestown facility work on.
"Terrorists have shown in the past that they view cities like New York, Washington, and Boston as targets and will not hesitate to attack," MacArthur said. "Any increase in protection is certainly warranted and this study will present an alternative option and a proactive approach to our national security agenda."
The bill passed, 277-147, largely along party lines. All six House Republicans from New Jersey backed the measure while all six Democrats voted no.
Once again, our ban on base closures, has been upheld in #FY17NDAA -- protecting @jointbasemdl #NJ03
-- Tom MacArthur (@RepTomMacArthur) May 19, 2016
The Democrats objected to a provision that they said could allow religiously affiliated groups receiving federal contracts to refuse to employ or deal with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals.
"Instead of focusing on the nation's defenses, Republicans have used the bill to discriminate against America's LGBT community," Norcross said.
Rep. Steve Russell (R-Okla.), got the provision added when the committee drafted the measure. He wanted to ensure "religious service providers and contractors are not unfairly discriminated against," according to a release issued by his office.
House Republican leaders refused to allow a vote on the floor to remove the Russell provision from the defense bill.
On Thursday, MacArthur and fellow Republican Reps. Frank LoBiondo (2nd Dist.), Leonard Lance (7th Dist.), Rodney Frelinghuysen (11th Dist.) joined all six New Jersey Democrats in trying to negate the Russell provision.
They were among the 29 House Republicans who bucked their party and voted for an amendment to a different bill that would have cut off federal funds to any contractor not following Obama's executive order preventing discrimination against LGBT individuals. It failed by one vote after House GOP leaders pressured members to change their positions.
Deeply disappointed in @HouseGOP's actions on the floor today, allowing discrimination against #LGBT Americans.
-- Bonnie WatsonColeman (@RepBonnie) May 19, 2016
Reps. Chris Smith (R-4th Dist.) and Scott Garrett (R-5th Dist.) voted against the amendment.
Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-9th Dist.), a member of the House Budget Committee, said he also objected to using $18 billion earmarked for overseas military operations for programs that the Pentagon did not ask for. Similar efforts to use the overseas account to get around budget caps last year drew a presidential veto.
"I regularly support the defense authorization bill, but cannot accept Republicans in Congress playing political games with our nation's military funding," Pascrell said.
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.