The US House passed a defense spending bill, 281-140, Tuesday.

Maine Democrat Chellie Pingree sided with other members who voted against the bill, which allocates spending for the US Department of Defense for 2025.  

Pingree, in a statement, blasted additions to the bill by House Speaker Mike Johnson that restricted gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members. 

“I will not support any bill that includes hateful, divisive language targeting transgender dependents of service members,” Pingree wrote. “The eleventh-hour addition by Speaker Johnson is not only intentionally hostile; it’s also dangerously vague, opening the door for future administrations to further target vulnerable children. This kind of rhetoric fundamentally undermines our country's ability to combat real threats to the United States and our allies, and has no place in a historically bipartisan, must-pass bill.”

Maine’s Second District Congressman Jared Golden voted in favor and touted what the bill will bring to Maine manufacturing.

Among other stipulations, the bill will pay for the construction of a new destroyer at Bath Iron Works, the use of Maine-based timber in military construction work, stopping the reduction of KC-135 aircraft, thus protecting positions in the Maine Air National Guard, and support for artificial intelligence technology at Compotech, a company based in Brewer. 

The bill also includes a 14.5% raise in pay for junior enlisted service members. Golden said it’s the largest pay raise at this scale in 40 years.

“By passing this bipartisan NDAA, Congress reaffirmed its commitment to keeping America safe and our servicemembers taken care of,” Golden said. “Whether it’s the brave men and women who answer the call of duty or the workers who build the equipment they need, Mainers play a vital role in our national defense — and this bill gets all of them the resources to do their jobs well.”

Pingree added that she supported the portions of the bill that benefit Maine.

“While I applaud the positive elements of the NDAA, I cannot overlook the hateful language inserted into this legislation and the dangerous precedent it sets,” she wrote. “I remain committed to working toward a defense policy that protects all service members and their families, strengthens our national security, and reflects our values as a nation.”