House postpones defense authorization bill mark-up

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) today postponed the planned April 30 mark-up of the fiscal year 2021 defense authorization bill because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As we have seen around the world, strict adherence to social distancing and other guidelines is vital to the success of any national response to the COVID-19 crisis," he said in a statement. “The House Armed Services Committee has been, and will continue to be, in strict compliance with the guidance we have received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Sergeant at Arms, and the House Attending Physician."

Smith said a new date for marking up the bill would be announced at "a later time."