National Security Legislative Wrap-up

Congress returns this week from its Thanksgiving recess. The top national security bill on the agenda is the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization Conference Report, likely on the House floor as early as Wednesday. It is possible that the Senate will again consider legislation to continue funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, it is reported that House and Senate appropriations staff are working on an omnibus appropriations bill which will cover the remaining 11 appropriation bills yet to be passed by Congress. The measure will include the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. The bill could be completed next week, before the current Continuing Resolution (CR) expires on Friday, December 14, but is still threatened by a Presidential veto.

ACTION IN THE LAST WEEKS

The Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization bill, H.R. 1585, is being considered by a House-Senate conference committee to work out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bills. It is expected that the conference report will be voted on by the House and Senate this week.

About a quarter of the Fiscal Year Supplemental Appropriations bill to pay for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars -- which now totals about $196 billion -- was considered the week of November 12. The bill was called a "bridge," in that it would provide temporary funding for current operations until the full amount can be considered next year. The measure would have required some U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq to begin 30 days after the bill is enacted, and it set a goal -- but not a requirement -- that most troops be brought home by December 15, 2008. In addition to these measures, the bill required more time at home between tours of duty in Iraq, banned waterboarding and other torture techniques, and prohibited the establishment of permanent bases in Iraq.

The House approved the bill by a 218 - 203 vote. The Senate refused to bring up the bill; it voted 53 - 45 in favor of beginning debate, but 60 votes were required and the bill died. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) tried to bring up a $70 billion bill to pay for the wars that had no restrictions, but his measure died 45 - 53. The Senate could reconsider the measure this week or next. Both Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) pledged not to approve new war funding without any restrictions. The Senate may consider a less restrictive version at that point in December, but the House may wait until 2008.

The Fiscal Year 2008 Energy and Water Appropriations bill has passed the House and the Senate Appropriations Committee but may never get to the Senate floor, instead going directly to a House-Senate conference as part of a larger package of bills. It is expected to be folded into a larger Omnibus Appropriations bill covering 11 appropriations bills not yet enacted.

The Fiscal Year 2008 State, Foreign Appropriations bill is being considered by a House-Senate conference committee to work out the differences between the two bills. It is expected to be folded into a larger Omnibus Appropriations bill covering 11 appropriations bills not yet enacted.