Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) made a motion to proceed on the defense authorization bill Wednesday by asking the chamber for consent to bring the bill forward, National Journal reports.
Sarah Sorcher writes the bill provides the Pentagon a $614.3 billion budget, with $525.8 billion going to general operations and $88.5 billion to the overseas contingency operations account, which funds military operations in Afghanistan.
Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said he wants to reach an agreement this week on a few amendments for debate after Thanksgiving.
According to Sorcher, Levin told reporters he hopes to have an agreement on proceeding, for opening statements on the bill to occur Friday and receiving amendments to clear that morning also.
The House passed its version of a defense bill in July, allocating $606 billion in total funds for the Pentagon with $518 billion going to the base budget and $87.7 billion for the overseas operations portion.
