Senate moves to consider defense policy bill

By Tony Bertuca / November 15, 2021 at 6:57 PM

The Senate is taking procedural steps necessary to begin debating the fiscal year 2022 defense authorization bill, advancing the stalled, must-pass bill that has been signed into law for 60 consecutive years.

The Senate on Wednesday will vote on a cloture motion that, if successful, will allow for a vote on a motion to proceed to floor debate on the bill, according to a statement from the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“I am pleased that we are moving ahead,” Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) said.

“Our nation faces a complex and evolving range of security threats, and we must provide our military men and women with the resources they need to maintain our national defense,” he continued. “Enacting the National Defense Authorization Act is critical to this endeavor, and the floor debate is a crucial part of the process.”

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), who, along with other Republicans, has criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for not moving the bill sooner, said in a statement he is pleased the legislation is now progressing.

“As the global threat map grows more dangerous, I’m glad the Majority Leader finally took a key step forward on this year’s National Defense Authorization Act -- a bipartisan bill that takes care of our troops and gives them the authorities and resources they need to defend the country,” Inhofe said. “China continues unabated to accelerate its historic military modernization and Russia pushes the envelope at every turn, so it’s time for the Senate to do its job from start to finish -- with what I hope is an open amendment process. Today, we are one step closer to going to conference and enacting this must-pass bill -- just as we have for the last 60 years in a row.”

Senators have already proposed hundreds of amendments, though the vast majority are unlikely to receive votes as Senate Armed Services Committee leaders in past years have agreed to restrictions that would speed the process.

The Senate Armed Services Committee approved the $778 billion defense authorization bill in July, and it was filed for consideration on the Senate floor in September. The House passed its version of the bill Sept. 23 and is waiting on the Senate to enter conference committee negotiations.

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