House, Senate leaders look to speed up NDAA work this week

Both chambers of Congress will work to advance the annual defense authorization bill this week, trying to navigate through hundreds of member amendment proposals and adopt final drafts to be used in upcoming conference negotiations.

Senate leaders late last week set up votes starting Tuesday on the must-pass military legislation, which includes spending plans for hundreds of Defense Department programs and the renewal of a host of military pay and benefits programs.

Meanwhile, the House Rules Committee will meet Monday afternoon to discuss its planned path forward on the bill. More than 1,000 amendments were filed by members to that version of the legislation, but few will be ruled in order and included in debate on the chamber floor.

Topics of friction in both the House and Senate will likely focus on National Guard deployments, budget total targets and social issue fights. Defense leaders in both chambers are hopeful a compromise bill can be crafted and passed before Thanksgiving, but complications from the looming government funding fight could delay that timeline.