Defense

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.

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).

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.