The Senate has voted to pass the $559.2 billion negotiated version of the defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2015, appropriating $495.5 billion for Defense Department base funds and $63.7 billion in war funds, Defense News reported Friday. John Bennett writes that the bill, if signed by President Barack Obama, will …
Read More »Carl Levin: Senate to Vote on Defense Authorization Bill This Week
Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) expects the Senate to begin deliberation on the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2015 this week after its passage in the House on Thursday, The Hill reported Monday. Martin Matishak writes that Levin, the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, told reporters that the Senate could take up …
Read More »Sen. Carl Levin: Lawmakers to Approve ‘Pre-Conferenced’ Defense Spending Bill
Sen. Carl Levin expects the Senate and House Armed Services committees to pass a “pre-conferenced” version of the National Defense Authorization Act before the end of the calendar year, Defense News reported Wednesday. John Bennett writes that Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that the Senate may not have enough time to …
Read More »Frank Kendall Outlines Defense Department’s Acquisition Reform Plan
Frank Kendall — defense undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics — has outlined the Defense Department’s plan to reform its acquisition processes, Federal News Radio reported Wednesday. Jason Miller writes Kendall listed seven focus areas for the strategy in a June letter to Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.). He also asked Congress to prevent …
Read More »Lawmakers Fast-Track 2014 Defense Spending Bill; Carl Levin Comments
Senate and House lawmakers have expedited their consideration of a bill authorizing $607 billion in defense spending for fiscal 2014, Defense News reported Monday. Paul McLeary writes a bicameral panel of Congress’ Armed Services Committee members sought to reach a compromise for the 2014 defense authorization bill on Monday and …
Read More »Pentagon Policy Bill Held Up in Senate Committee
Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have moved to oppose the Defense Department spending bill as debates over legislative amendments continue, Defense News reported Sunday. John Bennett writes the National Defense Authorization Act mandates nearly $522 billion in base defense funding for fiscal 2014 and $80 billion for worldwide …
Read More »Amendments Hold Up Defense Authorization Bill in Senate; Buck McKeon Comments
The Senate has decided to put off its defense spending bill for fiscal 2014 after lawmakers proposed hundreds of amendments to the funding measure, DoD Buzz reported Thursday. Brendan McGarry writes senators left for their 11-day Thanksgiving recess on Thursday without voting on the National Defense Authorization Act. The Pentagon …
Read More »Carl Levin Wants Defense Bill on Senate Floor By Year’s End
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said Tuesday afternoon he is hopeful that the full chamber can take up the fiscal year 2014 defense authorization bill by the end of the calendar year, Defense News reported Wednesday. John Bennett writes the committee has already passed the bill that matches the …
Read More »Martin Dempsey Notes Risks, Costs of U.S. Military Intervention in Syria
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey said in a letter to lawmakers that using armed intervention in Syria would pose risks and cost the U.S. billions of dollars, CNN reported Monday. Jamie Crawford writes the missive was in response to a call from Sen. Carl Levin and Sen. …
Read More »Carl Levin Hopes to Have Defense Bill Amendments Before Thanksgiving
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 …
Read More »