HASC Passes NDAA

Posted on April 30, 2015April 30, 2015

The House Armed Services Committee once again got its annual National Defense Authorization Act over the finish line this morning. Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) gaveled down at 4:39 a.m. after the panel voted 60-2 to approve the bill and 18 hours after the markup started. Over the course of the session, the panel considered roughly seven dozen amendments – not including those rolled into en bloc packages – with a host of spirited and often lengthy debates.

Overall the NDAA would authorize $495.9 billion in base Pentagon spending, and $611.8 billion in all when the Overseas Contingency Operations budget, Energy Department and mandatory spending are added. The bill is expected to be considered on floor when the House returns the week of May 11, the same week the Senate Armed Services panel will mark up its defense policy measure.

Feds Closed but Senate Holds Arctic Hearing

Posted on March 5, 2015March 6, 2015

With 4-10 inches forecast, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) held a hearing on opportunities in the Arctic today despite the federal government being shut down due to snow in the District of Columbia. UW professor Cecilia Bitz testified before the Alaskan Senator, who is also Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, on the topic. Professor Bitz was invited to testify by Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA).

The hearing can be seen here.

Snow Day!

Posted on February 17, 2015February 17, 2015

SNOW DAY!

Capitol Dome in Snow, Architect of the Capitol

The federal government is closed today as DC deals with a storm that has impacted the east coast from Atlanta to Boston. Winter storm warnings were in effect for 17 states, and the District remains under a warning until noon today. The Washington, DC metro area is expected to enjoy a balmy 32 degree high and snow totals ranging from 4 to 10 inches. Most neighborhoods within the beltway experienced 4 to 6 inches.

The House and Senate are in recess this week for President’s Day, so no action is expected on the Hill. Normal business for federal agencies is expected to resume tomorrow as the District shovels out today.

Expect immigration and the Obama Executive Order to be a hot topic in the next few weeks. Last night, federal Texas judge Judge Andrew Hanen, a George W. Bush appointee, blocked the controversial Executive Order. Judge Hanen said there was sufficient merit to the case to suspend the actions while the case goes forward. The Administration is expected to appeal the ruling. Read more at the AP.

Ashton Carter Confirmed as Secretary of Defense

Posted on February 12, 2015

Today, the Senate on Thursday confirmed Ashton B. Carter to be the next defense secretary by a vote of 93 to 5. The installation of the new Pentagon chief comes on the same day that the President has asked Congress for the authority to formally authorize (and increase) military action by the US against the Islamic State.

Carter, a former deputy defense secretary, and replaces Chuck Hagel in what has been a fairly swift confirmation process — the first hearings started in early February.

House Passes Repeal of ObamaCare, again

Posted on February 4, 2015

On Tuesday, the House voted, again, to repeal Obamacare. What makes this attempt notable, however, is that the measure contained instructions to the House Committees with jurisdiction to develop alternative policies and legislation in the absence of the health care law. This is the first time the House has coupled an ObamaCare repeal vote with instructions to write a replacement, but the legislation doesn’t impose any deadlines on committees to finish their work.

In addition, while the vote of 239-186 fell largely around party lines, this vote was the first time any Republicans have voted against repealing ObamaCare. Every Democrat in the chamber opposed the measure and three Republicans: Reps. Robert Dold (R-IL), John Katko (R-NY) and Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) voted against repeal. The defectors cited a lack of a clear substitute was the cause for their vote against repeal; it was not due to their support of ObamaCare. Of note, these three Members sit in seats held by Democrats in the last Congress and districts which Obama carried in the last presidential election.