Defense

The House on Thursday morning voted to hold a conference with the Senate over the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which both chambers have passed.

The Senate voted on Wednesday to conference with the House, and named its conferees. The House voice-vote to conference sets up meetings that many hope can be concluded by next week, which would let the House and Senate approve a reconciled NDAA bill before Christmas.

The Senate passed a bill authorizing funds the U.S. Coast Guard for another two years.

The House vote to go to conference for the defense authorization bill was delayed on Tuesday, adding another obstacle to the conference committee’s lame-duck time crunch.

The House announced Tuesday afternoon that the two evening votes — a motion to go to conference and a Democratic motion to instruct the conferees — had been postponed.

Congressional sources told The Hill the tie-up was due to parliamentary issues surrounding provisions in the Senate’s bill that could be considered “revenue originators,” which are not allowed under the House Republican’s “cut-go” rules.

Retiring Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) warned Monday that the expansion of the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) will not only lead to increased warfare around the globe, but will also make Congress less able to control the DIA's activities.

"Surely attacks on foreign countries will increase as a result of this move, but more and more the strikes will take place under cover of darkness and outside the knowledge of Congress or the American people," Paul said. "The move also represents a further blurring of the lines between the military and intelligence services, with the CIA becoming more like a secret military unto itself. This is a very troubling development."

The House on Wednesday morning approved a bill that authorizes the Coast Guard for two years, and sent it to the White House for President Obama's signature.

The House had approved similar legislation, H.R. 2838, in November 2011. The Senate then approved the bill with some amendments in September. Wednesday morning, the House approved a resolution, H.Res. 825, that accepts the Senate changes.

The National Defense Authorization Act passed the Senate unanimously after being debated for five days.

The Senate voted to pass an amendment to the defense bill that would require a report on military activities that could be used in Syria.

The amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, S. 3254, which funds the U.S. military and its operations, passed on a 92-6 vote.

The Senate voted to end debate on the defense bill Monday evening with a 93-0 vote.

Senators will continue work Tuesday on amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act, S. 3254, which funds the U.S. military and its operations.

The Senate passed an amendment package of nearly 20 more amendments once the hold was lifted.

The Senate voted Friday to pass an amendment requiring a report from the Department of Defense on sexual harassment in the military. 

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced Amendment 3105, which would require the report in addition to the development of a comprehensive policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment in the Armed Forces.