Defense

  May 25, 2011, 9:21 pm

House finishes Wednesday work on NDAA

By Pete Kasperowicz

The House Wednesday night debated amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) until about 11 p.m. and considered several key amendments, although votes on these amendments were planned for Thursday.

Before adjourning just after 11 p.m., House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) said members need to consider just seven more amendments on Thursday, plus four en bloc amendments. Members are scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. Thursday to continue this work.

Two amendments related to terrorist detainees were debated in the Wednesday night session. One from Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) would allow the transfer of detainees into the U.S. in order to testify in federal court. Democrats generally have argued this would give the government the option of taking testimony, while Republicans have argued that Americans don't want these detainees brought onto U.S. soil.

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  May 25, 2011, 5:53 pm

NDAA amendment update: Voice-voted amendments

By Pete Kasperowicz

As of 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, the following is a list of National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) amendments that have been adopted by voice vote. This lists amendments as ordered by the House Rules Committee (see this listing here for more details).

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Archived under: House, Votes, Defense
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  May 25, 2011, 4:28 pm

House approves amendment saying Congress has not authorized use of force in Libya

By Pete Kasperowicz

The House on Wednesday afternoon approved an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that says the U.S. Congress has not authorized military actions in Libya. Adoption of the amendment, from Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.), was done by voice vote that also approved about a dozen other amendments.

Garrett's amendment is short, and simply states: "Nothing in this Act or any amendment made by this Act shall be construed to authorize military operations in Libya." It was approved after a brief debate in which only Garrett addressed his amendment.

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  May 25, 2011, 2:59 pm

House prepares to extend work week to deal with Patriot Act

By Pete Kasperowicz

Senate delays on the vote means the House will likely be in session Friday, delaying start of Memorial Day recess.

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  May 25, 2011, 12:49 pm

Democrats again lodge protest against 'permanent war' language in NDAA

By Pete Kasperowicz

House Democrats on Wednesday again protested language in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that they say is an open-ended congressional approval for military operations against terrorist groups around the world.

Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) raised a point of order shortly after noon in order to argue against the language, which he called an "unbelievably broad opportunity that this House should never give to any president at any time." This point of order was quickly dismissed by voice vote, but several amendments dealing with his concern will be debated Wednesday and/or Thursday.

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  May 25, 2011, 12:25 pm

House, Senate Republicans introduce Libya resolutions

By Pete Kasperowicz

Republicans from the House and Senate have introduced resolutions declaring that the Obama administration has exceeded its authority under the War Powers Act by keeping U.S. troops engaged in Libya for more than 60 days.

The House resolution, H.Con.Res. 53, was introduced Tuesday by Rep. Scot Garrett (R-NJ). The Senate resolution, S.J.Res. 14, was introduced Monday by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and was placed on the Senate calendar Tuesday night.

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  May 25, 2011, 10:49 am

Kucinich pushes for peace in Libya

By Pete Kasperowicz

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) will introduce legislation Thursday to end U.S. military action in Libya.

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  May 25, 2011, 9:31 am

Senate Dems hope small-business bill can be vehicle for Patriot Act extension

By Pete Kasperowicz

Senate Democrats have decided to use a small-business extension bill as a vehicle for approving an extension of expiring Patriot Act authorities.

The Senate on Wednesday will debate the House version of S. 990, which would extend two small-business programs until the end of the current fiscal year. The Senate had passed a version extending the programs until May 31, 2012, but appears willing to take up the House version.

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  May 24, 2011, 7:49 pm

Get ready for the NDAA marathon: 152 amendments made in order

By Pete Kasperowicz

The House Rules Committee on Tuesday night agreed to make 152 amendments in order for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), setting up a marathon process in the House for the rest of the week.

Rules allowed for 10 minutes of debate for each amendment, so if none are withdrawn, the House is in for 1,520 minutes of debate — more than 25 hours.

This is on top of other work the House has planned for the week, including passage of a healthcare bill (H.R. 1216), and possible passage of a bill extending provisions in the Patriot Act.

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  May 24, 2011, 2:39 pm

House approves rule for healthcare, NDAA, Patriot Act

By Pete Kasperowicz

The House Tuesday afternoon approved a rule allowing consideration of three bills, all of which are expected to be taken up this week. The rule was approved in a 238-181 vote; only six Democrats supported it, and one Republican opposed it.

The rule covers H.R. 1216, which would reduce federal funding for graduate-level medical education that was provided for in last year's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The House immediately moved to debate on this bill and is expected to approve it later Tuesday.

The rule also covers the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which the House is expected to take up Tuesday and Wednesday. And it allows the House to immediately take up an extension of Patriot Act surveillance authorities, which the Senate will vote on first this week.

Archived under: House, Healthcare, Defense
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