On November 28, the Senate began grappling with amendments, and actually disposed of several of them. Scores of amendments have been filed, although many presumably will be disposed of by unanimous consent and/or in a “managers’ package” of amendments.
Today, the Senate reconvenes at 9:30 AM and resumes work on the defense bill around 10:30 A.M.
First up is the Kyl amendment No. 3123 (see below) on consultations with Congress on nuclear weapons, missile defense and other negotiations with Russia.
Next up is the Ayotte amendment No. 3003 to require a report on three possible locations for an East Coast missile defense.
Following Ayotte is Hagan amendment No. 3095 to strike a prohibition in the bill on biofuel refinery construction.
Levin and McCain, the managers of the bill, hope to clear a number of non-controversial amendments in the morning.
This list is divided into:
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
DEFENSE 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.
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.
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.
Missile defense: Ayotte (R-NH)-Lieberman (I-CT)-Collins (R-ME) amendment No. 3003 to require by the end of 2013 a report on three possible locations for an East Coast missile defense.
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) 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 reductions in the three areas. The exact language will be further negotiated with Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Corker (R-TN).
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.
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;
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.
Guantanamo Bay: Ayotte (R-NH)-Inhofe (R-OK)-Chambliss (R-GA) amendment No. 2998 prohibiting the transfer or release of individuals from the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility. There is a similar Sessions (R-AL) amendment No. 3012.
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.
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.
Afghanistan: McCain (R-AZ) amendment No. 3050 to require a report on risk assessments for changes in U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan.
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.
Afghanistan: Merkley (D-OR) amendment No. 3096 to encourage an accelerated withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
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.
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.
