National Security Legislative Wrap-up, September 24-28 2007

Last week, Congress passed and sent to the President a Continuing Resolution, a bill to provide temporary funding early in a fiscal year when Congress has not completed funding on appropriations bills. The Continuing Resolution expires on November 16. The Senate is expected to complete consideration of the Defense Authorization Bill on Monday and to take up the Defense Appropriations Bill later in the week. The House may take up Iraq bills this week, including H.R. 3087, the Abercrombie (D-HI) - Tanner (D-TN) bill requiring the President to submit a comprehensive redeployment strategy within 60 days.

KEY NATIONAL SECURITY BILLS IN 2007

- DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL:

The Kyl (R-AZ), Lieberman (I-CT) amendment urging the Iranian Revolutionary Corps be designated as a terrorist organization on Iran was approved 76 - 22, although language authorizing the use of force against Iranian forces was deleted. The Senate is expected to complete consideration of the bill this week.

- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL:

The full Senate may consider the bill this week. The portion of the request to pay for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars -- which now reach $192 billion -- is not likely to be considered until October or November, or even early next year.