NDAA, appropriations hearings underway on Capitol Hill
Congressional committees have begun working on the annual defense and spending bills, kicking off a busy schedule for June and July.
The House Armed Services subcommittees held markups for various sections of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and the full committee will hold a hearing on the bill on June 22.
The Senate Armed Services Committee is holding a closed NDAA markup hearing from June 15-16.
House NDAA supports budget request, addresses NNSA activities
Contents of the House NDAA are beginning to be released by the subcommittees and Chairman. The Chairman’s draft bill would authorize roughly the same overall amount requested by President Biden of $29.8 billion for Department of Energy (DOE) national security programs, $6.9 billion for defense environmental cleanup, and $21.4 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
Also included in the House committee’s bill are provisions potentially impacting plutonium pit production and the NNSA budget.
The Chairman’s bill notes NNSA’s acknowledgement that production of 80 plutonium pits by 2030 is not achievable. A new provision would instead require the federal government to produce however many pits are identified as necessary by the Secretary of Defense, and ensure that Los Alamos National Laboratory and Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility have the ability to produce at least 30 and 50 pits during any year, respectively.
A subcommittee markup bill also includes a provision that would require the Nuclear Weapons Council to provide an assessment of the budget request each year, evaluating whether the request is sufficient for the nation’s nuclear weapons activities. If the Council believes a budget request is insufficient, it would submit alternative budgets and plans to Congress.
Appropriations process begins in House
The House Appropriations Committee began markup hearings for several of its spending bills, including defense and military construction, among others. A subcommittee markup of the energy spending bill is set to be held on June 21.
Appropriations leaders have expressed hope that the House will pass its bills in July. In the Senate—where appropriations have taken longer to pass in recent years—the appropriations leaders, Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Richard Shelby (R-AL), are aiming for July markups and passage of the bills before both Senators retire at the end of this session of Congress.
Dates to watch
June 15-16: Full Senate Armed Services Committee markup of NDAA
June 21: Subcommittee markup of House energy and water appropriations
June 22: Full House Armed Services Committee markup of NDAA
June 28: Full House Appropriations Committee markup of Energy & Water