Almost half of the Senate Republican conference is urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to bring the National Defense Authorization Act to the floor before the chamber leaves town again in early October.

“[S]hould this body fail in its top constitutional responsibility of providing for a common defense, our armed services will be left directionless, lack stable funding and be devoid of civilian congressional oversight,” 23 GOP lawmakers wrote in a letter to Schumer.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Jack Reed (D-R.I.) recently said that he hopes the NDAA will come to the floor in September but noted there’s a growing list of pressing issues, including a continuing resolution that has to pass by the end of the month to avoid a government shutdown.

The House passed its version of the NDAA in July.

ADC photo by Will Noonan