The GOP-led Senate reached a deal Wednesday afternoon to allow the chamber’s fiscal 2020 NDAA a floor vote by the end of the week by agreeing to separate vote on a Democrat-sponsored amendment that would prevent President Donald Trump from striking Iran.
The agreement, negotiated by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and senior Democrats, paves the way for advancing the mandatory annual defense policy bill Thursday, CQ reported.
Democrats had threatened this week to block cloture on the typically bipartisan NDAA bill unless an agreement was reached to allow the chamber’s Democratic presidential candidates to vote on the attached Iran amendment.
Floor debate and possible passage of the NDAA is expected Thursday.
The negotiated amendment agreement permits a Friday vote to accommodate Democrat presidential candidates participating in debates Wednesday and Thursday evening, according to CQ.
The amendment, which has the support of at least two Republican lawmakers, would need 60 votes before being retroactively included in the FY 2020 defense policy bill.
In addition to Democratic amendments, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has also threatened to stall the NDAA through a filibuster, as On Base has covered.
McConnell said Wednesday Friday’s amendment vote would begin in the morning and be held open for several hours.
“We should put this issue to rest before, before we break for the Fourth of July recess,” he said. “Holding up the defense authorization bill is not an acceptable outcome.”