House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), the House panel’s ranking member, on Tuesday pledged to pass this year the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act amid the coronavirus pandemic, The Hill reported Tuesday.
The two lawmakers said they think the COVID-19 pandemic will affect how the House panel marks up the defense policy bill and are now in discussions with the leadership of both parties to address the issue.
“At the same time, we remain committed to the principles that have guided the bill in the past — regular order through the committee, transparency and bipartisanship,” Smith and Thornberry said in a joint statement.
The two House committee leaders said they hoped to have a bill ready for consideration by Friday, May 1, so the panel can mark up the measure as soon as the lower chamber reconvenes.
