National Security Legislative Calendar

Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Bill

On March 9, the Biden administration requested $886 billion in Fiscal Year 2024 budget authority for defense, including $842 billion for the Pentagon, a 3.2% increase over the enacted Fiscal Year 2023 level, plus $32.8 billion in atomic energy related defense spending. That number includes the request for the National Nuclear Security Administration, which builds nuclear weapons. As part of the request, the Pentagon asked for $15.3 billion to fund the U.S. military’s presence in the Pacific, part of the Biden administrations pivot to the China challenge. The Council’s sister organization, Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, prepared a detailed analysis.

The House completed action on its NDAA, H.R. 2670, on July 14. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) made a deal with the most conservative members of his caucus in return for their votes on final passage. The deal permitted votes on a variety of amendments that attacked abortion and healthcare access, gay and transgender people in the military, education about racism in the country, and diversity in the military.

Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), joined by the House Democratic leadership and ranking members of the House Armed Services Subcommittees, organized Democrats, most of whom had voted for the bill in the past, to vote no on the bill. The bill, usually approved on a broad bipartisan basis, passed 219-210, with four Democrats voting for the bill and four Republicans voting against.

Only two amendments pertaining to nuclear weapons were permitted floor votes. An amendment from Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) to prohibit the use of funds for the sustainment of the B83-1 gravity bomb was defeated 198-217. An amendment from Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) to strike a prohibition on the reduction of the total number of U.S. ICBMs failed 160-266.

The Senate Appropriations Committee will mark up its defense bill on July 27.

The Senate passed a much more typical, bipartisan NDAA in July, shortly before the Senate recessed for August. Staff of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees are likely to begin discussing the less controversial aspects of the NDAA in the near term. It remains to be seen how Congress will address the hot-button provisions added to appease the most conservative House Republicans on the House floor.

Authorization to Use Military Force

On March 8, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 13-8 to repeal 2002 and 1991 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force, or AUMF, that launched President George W. Bush’s invasion of Iraq. Before the final vote, the Committee rejected 13-8 a Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) amendment that would specify that the U.S. has the authority to attack Iran. An amendment Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) amendment to also repeal the 2001 AUMF — which came in response to 9/11— was rejected 20-1.

On March 16, Senate took a procedural vote of 68-27 to advance the repeal with 19 Republicans joining Democrats in support, strongly indicating the measure will pass the Senate.

On March 29, the Senate passed S. 316 to repeal the 1991 and 2022 AUMFs against Iraq by a vote of 66-30.

The Senate rejected six Republican amendments to the bill:

• Johnson (R-WI) amendment on using force against Iran failed 47-49.
• Ricketts (R-NE) amendment to require the President to consult Israel, Iran and other countries on the AUMF repeal failed 31-62.
• Cruz (R-TX) amendment on the President’s use of force against Iran failed 41-55.
• Sullivan (R-AK) amendment on responding to threats from Iran failed 38-57.
• Scott (R-FL) amendment to set up a joint select committee on Afghanistan failed 33-62.
• Hawley (R-MO) amendment to establish Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance failed 26-68.

The bill next goes to the House, where Republicans haven given mixed signals about their next steps on the legislation.

Aid to Ukraine

Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine less than one year ago, Congress has approved more than $113 billion of aid and military assistance to support the Ukrainian government and allied nations. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 omnibus appropriations package included an additional $47.3 billion of emergency funding to provide humanitarian, military, and economic assistance to Ukraine on top of the $65.8 billion of funding already approved in three other emergency funding packages enacted by Congress. Of the $113 billion approved in 2022, about three-fifths ($67 billion) has been allocated toward defense needs and the remaining two-fifths ($46 billion) to nondefense concerns such as general Ukrainian government aid, economic support, and aid for refugee resettlement. [Source: Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget]

Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations Bill

On June 22, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations Bill by a vote of 34-24. Click here for a Committee summary of the bill.

On July 27, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations bill by a vote of 27-1. Click here for a Committee summary of the bill. 

Fiscal Year 2024 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill

On July 12, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2024 bill for the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs by a vote of 32 to 27. Click here for the Committee summary of the bill.

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed its Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill for State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs on July 20 by a 27-2 vote. A committee summary can be found here. 

Fiscal Year 2024 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill

On June 22, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2024 Energy and Water Appropriations bill by a vote of 34-24. Click here for a Committee summary of the bill.

In a 29-0 vote on July 20, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Energy and Water Development Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill, which provides $58.095 billion in total funding for the Department of Energy, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and independent agencies. Click here for a Committee summary of the bill.

Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs (VA) Appropriations Bills

On June 12, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Bill by a vote of 34-27. Click here for a Committee summary of the bill.

Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Resolution

The Senate annual budget resolutions, which used to launch the budget process each year, may have gone the way of the dodo bird. However, the House GOP has promised a balanced budget resolution to cut federal deficits and spending, but not until May at the earliest.

Congressional Recess Schedule

September 29–October 17 — House out of session (Columbus Day)

October 6–16 — Senate out of session (Columbus Day)

October 26–November 13 — House out of session

November 16–28 — House out of session (Thanksgiving)

November 17–27 — Senate out of session (Thanksgiving)

December 14–31 — House out of session (Christmas)

December 15 — Target Senate adjournment