WASHINGTON - Congress will begin formal negotiations this week on a compromise FY 2024 defense policy bill with final votes likely to occur before the holidays.
The annual bill is usually a bipartisan product, but conference committee talks may be trickier than usual.
House Republicans added numerous partisan provisions from the right-wing Freedom Caucus. The Senate version contains several of its own amendments that enjoy some bipartisan support.
The House passed 219-210 its $874 billion defense policy bill largely along party lines in July after Democrats defected when Republicans added the Freedom Caucus amendments.
In July, the Senate passed 86-11 its $886 billion defense policy bill without the socially conservative provisions.
Both bills have significant areas of overlap that have generated opposition from the White House: The procurement of an amphibious transport dock ship and language institutionalizing the sea-launched cruise missile nuclear program.
Less controversial items in both bills include a provision to deepen counter-fentanyl cooperation with the Mexican military and require the Pentagon to coordinate with Taiwan on cybersecurity.
The conference committee must still sort through the differing provisions. Here are some of the key differences ... (Defense News 11/28/23)
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