The House of Representatives has approved its annual defense bill, which includes language banning taxpayer funding for transgender procedures that may result in the sterilization of children. This year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the House of Representatives Wednesday by a 281 to 140 vote, authorizing almost $900 billion in spending. Two hundred Republicans and 81 Democrats voted for the NDAA, and 124 Democrats and 16 Republicans voted against it. Section 708 of the NDAA states that “medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria that could result in sterilization may not be provided to a child under the age of 18.” The Daily Wire first reported this language on Saturday. Democrats and left-wing activists have argued that transgender procedures for children are “life-saving” and prevent kids from committing suicide. Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have vehemently pushed back against these claims, pointing out that these procedures can sterilize children, and argue that the military’s goal is to defend the United States, not to transition children. “Today’s NDAA is a step toward restoring our armed forces by rejecting the woke agenda and refocusing on military readiness,” said Rep. Michael Cloud of Texas. “This bill bans TRICARE coverage for sex-change surgeries for minors, authorizes National Guard deployments to secure our southern border, and provides a 19.5% pay raise for junior enlisted personnel.” “While this bill is a net positive, it’s not perfect,” he added. “Thankfully, we will soon have a new Commander-in-Chief who will take the necessary steps to complete what this bill started, fully restore our military’s focus on strength and readiness, and completely end the woke agenda across the federal government. This bill is just the beginning of the work that needs to be done.” On Saturday, House Speaker Mike Johnson called the NDAA provision a “critical and necessary step” in the fight against “radical gender ideology.” (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) “Taxpayer dollars should never be used to support procedures and treatments that could permanently harm and sterilize young people,” Johnson told The Daily Wire on Saturday. “In this year’s NDAA, we’re taking a critical and necessary step to protect the children of American service members from radical gender ideology and experimental drugs.” He further promised: “House Republicans will continue to take action to protect America’s kids.” But House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member, Adam Smith (D-WA), called the bill “bigoted against the trans community,” claiming it undermined the bipartisan bill. “The medical profession has no dispute that in some instances, this treatment is crucial to the health and well-being of our children,” he claimed. “And we are now denying that to the children of servicemembers.” Democratic Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, who chairs the House Equality Caucus, told POLITICO that “Big Brother, big government attacks like those just don’t belong in this bill,” arguing that Republicans prioritized “right-wing extremist dogma over national defense.” And Republican Congressman Mike Rogers said Tuesday that he disagrees with the move to ban transgender procedures for military children in the NDAA, arguing that President-elect Donald Trump could resolve the issue upon taking office. “My preference would have been that we just let the president, on Jan. 20, deal with these,” the Alabama Republican told The Hill’s Emily Brooks, “which he’s already indicated he’s going to do.” Trump “is going to stop all these social, cultural issues from being embedded as policies,” he added. “So my point is, I don’t know why this is in the bill when Jan. 20, it’s a moot point.” But the language has garnered praise from advocates opposing irreversible transgender transition procedures for children. American Principles Project president Terry Schilling celebrated the news of the legislation’s passage in a Wednesday statement, saying:  “We are grateful for the principled leadership of Speaker Johnson in ensuring this important protection was included in the bill. And we urge Republican leaders in both chambers to continue to prioritize this issue, both for the remainder of this Congress and especially in the next one. Voters this November gave the GOP a mandate to act — now they must follow through.”