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House Overrides Defense Bill Veto FACES NATION COLLEGE FOOTBALL How the crew of Nashville bomber Fields, Lawrence land ‘Soul’ designed a left hints of trouble, on title stage after kid-friendly afterlife but motive elusive lobbying to play Page 18 Page 9 Page 24 Attorney: Green Beret charged in shooting suffers from PTSD ›› Page 3 stripes.com Volume 79 Edition 182 ©SS 2020 WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER 30, 2020 50¢/Free to Deployed Areas VIRUS OUTBREAK House overrides defense bill veto BY STEVE BEYNON Stars and Stripes WASHINGTON — The House on Monday voted to override Pres- ident Donald Trump’s veto of the $740.5 billion defense bill that boosts pay and benefits for troops and adds care for thousands of Vietnam-era veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange. In a 322-87 vote, the Democrat- controlled House successfully re- buked Trump’s rejection of the 2021 National Defense Authoriza- tion Act, which sets annual spend- ing and policy priorities for the Pentagon. The bill originally passed both chambers of Con- gress by veto-proof majorities. Pressure “It’s the exact same bill, not a comma has changed,” Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas, the ranking mounts Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said on the House floor ahead of the vote. RICKY CARIOTI/The Washington Post “The president has authorized his Deborah Henley fills a constitutional prerogative. Now … Virus surge continues as Washington squabbles over relief funds syringe with the Moderna it’s up to us.” coronavirus vaccine on Page 6 The House vote tees Congress Monday in Sterling, Va. up for the first veto override of Trump’s presidency in his last days in office. The Republican- controlled Senate is expected to Biden warns of Trump officials’ transition ‘roadblocks’ vote Wednesday on overriding the veto, which will require a two- BY ALEXANDRA JAFFE mine Americans’ security. “Right now we just aren’t get- dow of confusion or catch-up that thirds vote. The bill was passed in Associated Press During remarks Monday in Wil- ting all the information that we our adversaries may try to ex- the Senate in an 84-13 vote earlier WILMINGTON, Del. — Presi- mington, Del., Biden said his team need from the outgoing adminis- ploit.” He also said they need “a this month. The initial House vote dent-elect Joe Biden is warning of has faced “obstruction” from the tration in key national security ar- clear picture of our force posture was 335-78. massive damage done to the na- “political leadership” at the De- eas. It’s nothing short, in my view, around the world and of our oper- “My intention was and is to en- tional security apparatus by the fense Department and the Office of irresponsibility,” Biden said. ations to deter our enemies.” sure the Senate continues fulfill- Trump administration and “road- of Management and Budget as He warned that his team needs Biden’s remarks came after he ing our obligation to the men and blocks” in communication be- they’ve sought to gather neces- “full visibility” into the budget was briefed by members of his na- women of our armed forces,” Sen- tween agency officials and his sary information to continue the process at the Defense Depart- transition team that could under- transition of power. ment “in order to avoid any win- SEE TRANSITION ON PAGE 8 SEE BILL ON PAGE 4 PAGE 2 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, December 30, 2020 BUSINESS/WEATHER Stocks rise after Trump OKs stimulus EXCHANGE RATES Military rates So. Korea (Won) 1,094.69 Associated Press months. It combines $900 billion in more than recovered, helped by Switzerlnd (Franc) 0.8839 Euro costs (Dec. 30) $1.20 Thailand (Baht) 30.05 World stocks rose Tuesday, with COVID-19 aid with a $1.4 trillion massive infusions of central bank Dollar buys (Dec. 30) 0.7954 Turkey (NewLira) 7.3528 British pound (Dec. 30) $1.32 Japan’s Nikkei 225 benchmark hit- spending bill and reams of other cash and ultra-low interest rates, Japanese yen (Dec. 30) 101.00 (Military exchange rates are those available ting a 30-year high after President unfinished legislation on taxes, en- which make shares potentially South Korean won (Dec. 30) 1,067.00 to customers at military banking facilities in the Commercial rates country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Ger­ Donald Trump signed a $900 bil- ergy, education and health care. more lucrative than other invest- many, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Bahrain(Dinar) 0.3770 For nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., pur­ lion economic aid package. The hope is that the measures ments. Britain (Pound) 0.7408 chasing British pounds in Germany), check with Canada (Dollar) 1.28 your local military banking facility. Commercial Wall Street set fresh records will help tide the economy over un- In U.S. trading Monday, the S&P China(Yuan) 6.5306 rates are interbank rates provided for reference Denmark (Krone) 6.0615 Monday after Trump opted not to til vaccinations can bring surging 500 climbed 0.9% to 3,735.36, as in- Egypt (Pound) 15.7557 when buying currency. All figures are foreign veto the bill, helping to staunch un- infections under control, allowing vestors welcomed Trump’s deci- Euro 0.8153 currencies to one dollar, except for the British Hong Kong (Dollar) 7.7532 pound, which is represented in dollars­to­ certainty as governments reim- precautions to be relaxed and life sion to sign the aid package despite Hungary (Forint) 297.57 pound, and the euro, which is dollars­to­euro.) Israel (Shekel) 3.2108 pose pandemic-fighting travel and to begin returning to normal. his complaints that $600 payments Japan (Yen) 103.58 INTEREST RATES business curbs weighing on global Trading is thinning as tumultu- for most individuals were too low. Kuwait(Dinar) 0.3053 Norway (Krone) 8.6028 Prime rate 3.25 economic activity. ous 2020 draws to a close. But after The legislation also averted a fed- Philippines (Peso) 48.01 Interest Rates Discount rate 0.75 Poland (Zloty) 3.72 Federal funds market rate 0.09 Investors and economists have nosediving in March as the pan- eral government shutdown that Saudi Arab (Riyal) 3.7528 3­month bill 0.11 been pushing for the support for demic took hold, share prices have would have begun Tuesday. Singapore (Dollar) 1.3275 30­year bond 1.67 WEATHER OUTLOOK WEDNESDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST WEDNESDAY IN EUROPE THURSDAY IN THE PACIFIC Misawa 23/18 Kabul Seoul 50/23 27/12 Baghdad 62/37 Tokyo Drawsko Osan Kandahar Mildenhall/ 28/14 45/25 50/20 Pomorskie Busan Lakenheath 37/32 38/30 39/24 Iwakuni Kuwait City 41/23 Bahrain Brussels Zagan Sasebo 68/53 72/62 Ramstein 39/31 38/28 Guam 40/34 36/33 84/81 Riyadh Lajes, 67/46 Doha Azores Stuttgart Pápa 59/54 39/30 75/62 Aviano/ 45/33 Vicenza 44/32 Naples 56/51 Okinawa Morón 72/66 54/31 Sigonella Rota 64/44 The weather is provided by the Djibouti 55/39 Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 81/70 63/50 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. TODAY IN STRIPES American Roundup ...... 11 Classified .................... 13 Comics .........................16 Crossword ................... 16 Faces .......................... 18 Opinion ........................ 14 Sports ................... 20-24 Wednesday, December 30, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 3 MILITARY PTSD cited in Green Beret shooting hearing BY CAITLIN M. KENNEY traumatic brain injury, WREX re- his service record released by the Saturday, about 25 people were at from a local hospital. The teenag- Stars and Stripes ported. Bucko said Webb is pre- Army on Monday. He has also the bowling alley, which has an ers were there to pick up food and WASHINGTON —- Army Spe- scribed medication, but did not worked as a Special Forces engi- upstairs bar open for patrons in were not in the bar area, accord- cial Forces Sgt. 1st Class Duke say for what condition. neer sergeant and a parachute accordance with the state’s pan- ing to O’Shea. Webb suffers from post-traumatic Webb’s attorney also said the rigger. Webb’s demic restrictions, Dan O’Shea, “We believe this was a com- stress disorder, his attorney said soldier’s has memory loss issues, military awards the Rockford Police Chief, said pletely random act, and there is Monday during a court hearing the Rockford Register Star re- include two Sunday at a news conference. The no prior meeting or any kind of re- for the bowling alley shooting in ported. Webb was denied bond Bronze Star police believe Webb was shooting lationship between the suspect Rockford, Ill., that left three peo- Monday by Judge Debra Schafer Medals, two Ar- inside and outside the building. and any of the victims in this ple dead. and his next court hearing is my Commenda- Most of the shooting was captured case,” O’Shea said at the news Webb, 37, was charged in the scheduled for Feb. 16. tion Medals, the on surveillance footage from in- conference. He could not speak to Saturday evening shooting at Don Webb is a Special Forces assist- Army Achieve- side the building, according to any possible motive for the shoot- Carter Lanes with three counts of ance operations and intelligence ment Medal, and O’Shea. ing. Webb murder and three counts of first- sergeant assigned to 3rd Battal- four Army Good Three men, aged 65, 69 and 73, Webb was arrested without po- degree attempted murder. The ion, 7th Special Forces Group Conduct Medals. He has also were shot and killed. A 62-year lice officers having to fire their soldier attended the courtroom (Airborne), located at Camp Bull earned a Presidential Unit Cita- old man also suffered multiple weapons, according to O’Shea.
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