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Congress finally cleared the major national security legislation. Last week, the Senate approved the the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Authorization bill by a vote of 89-11. By Saturday night, both houses had passed the Fiscal Year 2015 Omnibus Appropriations bill covering 11 bills plus a Continuing Resolution to fund the Department of Homeland Security. It was a struggle in both the House and Senate (details below). In addition, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a bill authorizing the use of military force in Iraq and Syria — legislation that is going nowhere this year. The House has completed work for the year; the Senate will meet to consider a number of nominations. Click here for previous congressional action on these bills this year.
FISCAL YEAR 2015 DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL
The House and Senate Armed Services Committees competed negotiations on a joint bill the week of December 1. Then the House approved the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Authorization bill on December 5 by a vote of 300-119.. On December 12, the Senate gave overwhelming approval to the bill too by a vote of 89-11. It is the 53rd consecutive year that this bill has been approved by Congress. As usual with these huge measures, and this one was 1,600 pages, there were good provisions and bad provisions. Click here for a summary of the bill.
FISCAL YEAR 2015 DEFENSE, ENERGY AND WATER AND STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS BILLS
Early last week, the appropriations committee conferees agreed on a $1.1 trillion Fiscal Year 2015 Omnibus Appropriations bill covering 11 bills combined with a Continuing Resolution to fund the Department of Homeland Security. On December 11, the House approved the bill by a narrow 219-206, with both Democrats and Republicans split on the bill. The Senate struggled into the weekend on the bill, hampered by actions by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT) to block a unanimous consent agreement for a prompt vote. Late December 13, the Senate voted for the measure 56-40, after previously adopting cloture ending debate on the bill 77-19. On the final vote, again Republicans and Democrats both were split. Click here for a summary of key portions of the bill. The Cruz-Lee delays gave Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) the opportunity to move towards clearing a number of Obama Administration nominations before Republicans take control of the Senate next year.
U.S. TROOPS IN AND AROUND IRAQ AND SYRIA
On December 11, the Foreign Relations Committee approved a resolution to authorize the limited use of the United States Armed Forces against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The vote was s party-line 10-8, with all Democrats voting for the resolution and all Republicans against. Most Republicans objected to the three-year limit in the bill and other actions to restrict the flexibility of the President. With time having run out, the legislation will have to start again in 2015.
IRAN
The negotiators with Iran agreed to extend the deadline of November 24 for many more months to reach an agreement on Iran’s nuclear programs. Opponents of the deal may offer bills, resolutions or amendments related to the prospective agreement — or try to block any agreement finally concluded. But no floor votes will occur until the new session in 2015.
Congressional recesses in 2014
Adjournment for the year December 17?
Chain Reaction
Council for a Livable World is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit,
non-partisan advocacy organization dedicated to reducing the danger of
nuclear weapons and increasing national security.
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