Top House Dem promises defense bill vote this week

By Tony Bertuca / December 3, 2022 at 11:49 AM

SIMI VALLEY, CA -- House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) vowed today that a final compromise version of the fiscal year 2023 defense authorization bill will be filed on Monday.

"The lord as my witness, we will file the bill Monday," he said during a panel discussion at the Reagan National Defense Forum.

Smith also pledged that the massive, must-pass policy bill will pass this year.

“[W]e will vote and will pass it this week -- one way or the other,” he said.

The bill was expected Friday.

Congressional staffers said the aspects of the bill under the jurisdiction of the House and Senate Armed Services committees have been ironed out. But other legislation that has been added to the bill, including a plan to spend $10 billion equipping Taiwan to deter China.

Meanwhile, the defense bill would authorize a total of $847 billion that is aligned with an overall national defense topline of $858 billion, with the difference being accounted for by defense-related spending in other legislation that is not under the bill’s jurisdiction. President Biden, meanwhile, has requested $813 billion.

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