The Senate Armed Services Committee planning to mark up the National Defense Authorization Act the week of June 8.
Now, the House Armed Services Committee has a tentative plan to complete its version of the fiscal year 2021 defense policy bill by August, CQ reported.
House subcommittee markups could begin the week of June 22, with full committee consideration the following week and floor passage in July. Committee aides stressed the schedule is not finalized, and the committee is still working out logistics on where the full committee, which includes 57 members, will meet safely for what is typically a long session.
“We had a meeting about it today, and the chairman hasn’t determined the best way forward,” Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a member of the committee told CQ Wednesday. “It’s very important that we do it. We owe it to the troops.”
Consensus seems to be forming that the bill should include a significant focus on deterrence activities in the Pacific region.
“The best way to protect U.S. security and prosperity in Asia is to maintain a credible balance of military power,” Senate Armed Services Chair James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and ranking Democrat Jack Reed (R.I.) wrote Thursday in a joint War on the Rocks op-ed. “But America’s ability to do so is at risk. And it’s not just U.S. interests at stake. Allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific are watching closely and wondering whether they will be able to count on America.”
Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Emiline L. M. Senn