Leaders of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee (SAC) have reached an agreement to add $8B to the FY24 defense budget, using emergency spending authority to bypass spending limits put in place by a recent debt ceiling agreement.
The debt agreement was designed to suspend the debt limit for two years in exchange for capping federal spending.
The limit National security spending would be limited to the president’s requested level of $886B for FY25 and $895B for FY26.
As soon as the agreement was reached, lawmakers began discussing options for bypassing the spending limits. The option used was to apply an emergency supplemental spending bill, which wouldn’t be subject to the caps.
During opening remarks at a recent budget markup of several federal spending bills, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), chair of the SAC, outlined plans to increase federal discretionary spending by $13.7B above the caps, including $8B for defense and $5.7B for non-defense.
Members from both sides of the aisle have voiced concerns about the cuts to vital non-defense programs, and the caps on defense spending, Murray said.
The chairperson and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) have discussed how best to address these concerns, Murry said, and "agreed to make use of additional emergency appropriations ... to address in a bipartisan way some of the pressing challenges" to the nation.
The committee is scheduled to meet July 27 for its markup of the FY24 defense appropriations bill.
The House Appropriations Committee marked up its version in June. That bill falls in line with the spending limits established by the deficit agreement. (The AP 07/24/23) Senate Appropriators Agree to Bypass Spending Limits, Add $8 Billion for Defense – Defense Security Monitor (forecastinternational.com)
Schumer warns against late 'toxic' add-ons to NDAA
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) wants a quick conclusion to the defense bill.
The NDAA bill is full of provisions both parties "can celebrate," Schumer said, but "provide a strong foundation for the security of this nation.”
Schumer wants NDAA done before senators leave for the August recess, but warned against “toxic” amendments that could tank the package.
Chief among those are measures related to the Pentagon’s policy to provide leave and travel reimbursement for troops who cross state lines to seek abortions.
The issue has grounded top military promotion confirmations by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) who is jamming up the process in a bid to force DoD to reverse the abortion policy. (Politico 07/24/23) Senate aims to sidestep culture war land mines in race to pass defense bill - POLITICO
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