House committee to debate defense bill June 22

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) said today the panel intends to mark up its version of the fiscal year 2023 defense authorization bill June 22 and get it off the floor in early July.

Smith announced the date today at the end of the committee’s annual “members day” hearing.

Democrats and Republicans are expected to debate several key national security issues, but the overall spending topline the bill authorizes will likely be the primary point of disagreement.

Democrats, led by Smith, mostly back President Biden’s $813 billion request for the total U.S. defense budget, which includes $773 billion for the Pentagon.

Republicans, however, citing concerns over historic inflation, say they want to see the FY-23 budget increased by 5% above the level enacted in FY-22, plus inflation. While Republicans haven’t tied themselves to a specific number, they could -- depending on what rate of inflation they argue is reasonable -- end up pushing for an increase in defense spending as high as $100 billion.