On November 30, the Senate dealt with a slew of additional amendments, but then quit for the weekend.
The Senate resumes session at 2:00 PM today. Still pending: a revised Kyl amendment on briefings and consultations on U.S.-Russian negotiations and about 90 additional amendments.
On Friday, Majority Leader Reid filed a cloture motion to shut off debate, which is expected to be voted upon Monday evening unless there is an agreement on a limited number of amendments before then. Despite that motion, Senator McCain expressed a hope that the bill will be completed Monday night. As of Friday, the Senate had voted on about 94 amendments.
This list is divided into:
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
DEFENSE ISSUES
FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES
OTHER AMENDMENTS
AMENDMENTS ALREADY CONSIDERED
AMENDMENTS PENDING OR SUBMITTED
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
National Nuclear Security Administration: Kyl (R-AZ)-Tom Udall (D-NM) amendment No. 2927 to set up a special panel to evaluate the activities of the National Nuclear Security Administration, the agency tasked with managing the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.
Land-based missiles: Hoeven (R-ND) amendment No. 2992 requiring the U.S. to maintain 450 operational land-based intercontinental ballistic missile launch facilities whether in deployed or non-deployed status.
Nuclear weapons pits: Kyl (R-AZ) amendment No. 3033 would require a report on the feasibility, cost, and advisability of reusing pits in nuclear warheads.
Consultation with Congress: Kyl (R-AZ) (and many others) revised amendment No. 3123 to require regular briefings and consultations with Congress on any U.S.-Russian negotiations on nuclear arms, missile defense and long-range conventional strike weapons. There is a sense of the Senate recommending Senate treaty approval for any negotiated arrangements obligating the U.S. to reduce or limit forces or armaments “in any militarily significant way.”
DEFENSE ISSUES
C-23 aircraft: Begich (D-AK), Manchin (D-WV), Wyden (D-OR), Hutchison (R-TX), Merkley (D-OR) amendment No. 2951 to bar the retirement or transfer of any C-13 aircraft during Fiscal Year 2013.
Base closings: Snowe (R-ME)-Begich (D-AK) amendment No. 3006 barring any funds in this bill from being used to consider a new round of defense base closure and realignment.
Pentagon audit: Coburn (R-OK)-Manchin (D-WV) amendment No. 3111 requiring a complete and validated statement of budgetary resources of the Department of Defense is ready by not later than September 30, 2014.
Pentagon audit: Coburn (R-OK) amendment No. 3237 to set forth consequences for the failure of the Pentagon to obtain audits with an unqualified opinion on its financial statements by FY 2017.
FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES
Aircraft to Taiwan: Cornyn (R-TX)-Menendez (D-NJ)-Inhofe (R-OH) amendment No. 3068 to required the U.S. to sale no fewer than 66 F-16C/D aircraft to Taiwan.
Palestine: Barrasso (R-WY)-Lee (R-UT)-Inhofe (R-OK) amendment No. 3139 requiring the U.S., if Palestine is granted upgraded status by the UN, cut assistance by 50% to the Palestinian authority, cut assistance to any UN entity granting this status by 50% and cut assistance by 20% to countries that vote for enhanced Palestinian membership (with a national security waiver only for this last category).
Palestine: Hatch (R-UT)-Roberts (R-KS)-Chambliss (R-GA)-Barrasso (R-WY)-Inhofe (R-OK)-Wicker (R-MI)-Lee (R-UT)-Coburn (R-OK)-Risch (R-ID)-Rubio (R-FL) amendment No. 3171 to bar all U.S. funding to the United Nations if the General Assembly vote to upgrade the status of the Palestinians.
Palestine: Graham (R-SC)-Schumer (D-NY)- Barrasso (R-WY) amendment No. 3203 to prohibit all aid to the Palestinian Authority if the International Criminal Court adjudicates Palestinian matters.
Afghanistan: Baucus (D-MT) amendment No. 3228 to prohibit funding outside the regular budget for continuing the war in Afghanistan after December 31, 2014.
Iran sanctions: Menendez (D-NJ)-Kirk (R-IL) amendment No. 3232 to bar all transactions with Iran’s energy, shipping and shipbuilding sectors and its ports, and would ban the sale to Iran of certain metals, including graphite, aluminum, steel and metallurgical coal used in those sectors, as well as other industrial processes.
OTHER AMENDMENTS
Guantanamo Bay: Inhofe amendment No. 2976 to require the long-term detention of all high-value detainees at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.
Terrorist facility: Ayotte (R-NH)-Lieberman (I-CT)-Inhofe (R-OK)-Chambliss (R-GA) amendment No. 2999 requiring a plan for a long-term detention facility for terrorists outside the United States.
Guantanamo Bay: Ayotte (R-NH)-Inhofe (R-OK)-Chambliss (R-GA) amendment No. 3005 barring purchase of facilities within the United States to house detainees transferred from Guantanamo Bay.
MAJOR AMENDMENTS ALREADY CONSIDERED
Embassy security: McCain amendment No. 3051 to authorize additional Marine Corps personnel for the performance of security functions for US embassies, consulates and other diplomatic facilities abroad. Adopted by voice vote Nov. 28.
Biofuels: Udall (D-CO) amendment No. 2985 to restore the Pentagon ability to invest in biofuels by striking Section 313 in the bill. Adopted 62-37 Nov. 28.
Sexual offenses in the military: Gillibrand (D-NY)-Collins (R-ME)-Snowe (R-ME) amendment No. 3016 requiring the military to discharge service people convicted of certain sexual offenses. Adopted by voice vote Nov. 28.
Land-based missiles: Barrasso (R-WY) amendment No. 3083 urging the U.S. to – consistent with U.S. international obligations – retain intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch facilities currently supporting deployed strategic nuclear delivery vehicles within the limit of 800 deployed and non-deployed
strategic launchers, maintain ICBM’s on alert or operationally deployed status;
and preserve ICBM’s silos in operational or warm status. Adopted by voice vote Nov. 29.
Missile defense: Ayotte (R-NH)-Lieberman (I-CT)-Collins (R-ME) amendment No. 3003 to require three Environmental Impact Statements on potential East Coast sites and the Pentagon to deliver with the Fiscal Year 2014 budget request next year a plan to deploy interceptors at an East Coast site. Withdrawn Nov. 29.
Nuclear weapons triad: Hoeven (R-ND)-Tester (D-MT)-Hatch (R-UT) amendment No. 2991 endorsing the maintenance of the strategic nuclear weapons triad of land-based missiles, sea-based missiles and bombers. Adopted by voice vote Nov. 29.
Backlog on veterans’ claims: Cornyn (R-TX) amendment No.3158 to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a plan to reduce the current backlog of veterans claims. Adopted 95-0 Nov. 29.
Biofuels: Hagan (D-NC) amendment No. 3095 to strike a section in the bill that would limit the military’s ability to spend money on biofuel refineries. Adopted
54-41 Nov. 29.
Afghanistan: Merkley (D-OR) amendment No. 3096 to encourage an accelerated withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Adopted 62-33 Nov. 29.
Autism: Gillibrand (D-NY) amendment No. 3058 to provide treatment of autism in the Pentagon’s tricare program. Adopted 66-29 Nov. 29.
Afghanistan: McCain (R-AZ) revised amendment No. 3261 to require a report on risk assessments for changes in U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan. Adopted by voice vote Nov. 29.
Guantanamo Bay: Ayotte (R-NH)-Inhofe (R-OK)-Chambliss (R-GA) amendment No. 3245 prohibiting the transfer or release of individuals from the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility. Adopted 54-41 Nov. 29.
Indefinite detention: Feinstein (D-CA)- Lee (R-UT)-Coons (D-DE)-Collins (R-ME)-Paul (R-KY)-Lautenberg (D-NJ)-Gillibrand (D-NY)-Kirk (R-IL) amendment No. 3018 prohibiting the indefinite detention of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents without charge or trial. Adopted 67-29 Nov. 29.
Bilateral agreement with Afghanistan: Sessions (R-AL) amendment No. 3009 to cut 50 percent of the unobligated funds for the Executive Office of the President if the President does not submit to Congress details of a bilateral security agreement with Afghanistan 30 days before entering into the agreement. Adopted by voice vote Nov. 30.
Pentagon civilian work force: Cardin (D-MD) amendment No. 3025 to eliminate a cap on the Pentagon’s civilian work force. Defeated 41-53, Nov. 30.
Iran sanctions: Menendez (D-NJ)-Kirk (R-IL) amendment No. 3232 to bar all transactions with Iran’s energy, shipping and shipbuilding sectors and its ports, and ban the sale to Iran of certain metals, including graphite, aluminum, steel and metallurgical coal, used in those sectors, as well as other industrial processes. Adopted 94-0 Nov. 30.
Survival benefits: Nelson (D-FL) amendment No. 3073 to repeal a provision that reduces annuities paid to the surviving spouses of military personnel. Amendment failed under budget point of order 58-34 (60 votes needed) Nov. 30.
