The Senate broke a monthlong impasse on its annual defense policy bill and secured a deal that could see the legislation pass as soon as Thursday.
Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) locked in an agreement on the floor to vote on 17 amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act, a substantial package of less controversial changes and passage of the bill itself “at a time to be determined” by party leaders.
Why it matters: The deal salvages passage of the defense bill, a legislative effort senators in both parties were concerned might have been abandoned without a breakthrough this week. Ahead of the deal, Wicker and Majority Leader John Thune had predicted votes could come as early as Thursday if Democrats agreed.
“We’ve got about 18 amendment votes that we could start today and finish today,” Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters.
The details: The roster that will receive votes includes 17 standalone amendments, plus a manager’s package of nearly 50 less controversial changes from both parties.
The list includes several Democratic priorities, including votes on National Guard deployments and roles in assisting law enforcement. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also gets a vote on his proposal to block funding for President Donald Trump to retrofit a gifted Qatari jet for use as Air Force One. And Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) will get a vote on his proposal to repeal the 2002 Iraq War authorization.
The agreement requires a 60-vote majority to adopt any amendments and to pass the overall bill.
Deadline drama: Senators in both parties largely acknowledged that this week is make-or-break for efforts to pass the NDAA on the floor.
Leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services panels aim to negotiate a compromise defense bill by Thanksgiving. If a vote didn’t happen this week, many senators expected the chamber to abandon the effort and head straight to negotiations with the House, which passed its own bill in September.
“If we do not bring this to the floor today, this matter will not have time for deliberation on the Senate floor,” Wicker warned on the Senate floor.
Background: The NDAA came to the Senate floor in early September, but has seen little action since then.
Democrats and Republicans have traded offers for amendments, but have been unable to break the logjam. All 100 senators must agree to quickly hold votes on amendments, meaning any single senator can’t throw up a roadblock and stall the process.
One hurdle was resolved recently when Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) dropped a push for a vote on his amendment to label Ashli Babbitt — an Air Force veteran who was shot and killed by police while attempting to enter a restricted area adjacent the House chamber during the Jan. 6 insurrection — ineligible for military funeral honors after the Air Force announced in August it will provide them.
Jordain Carney contributed to this report.
