NDAA Undergoing Key Moments in House and Senate

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is seeing key movements in both houses this week. 

The House Rules Committee will meet on Tuesday, June 11th, to set up debate on H.R. 8070 – the House version of the NDAA which aims to authorize $895 billion in funding. $33.3 billion would go towards Department of Energy (DOE) programs, with highlights including:

$25 billion - National Nuclear Security Administration

$7 billion – Defense environmental cleanup

$1.1 billion – Other defense activities

The House version would also include certain new provisions. One provision would block Chinese and Russian nationals from entering national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities unless the individual receives a waiver from the Secretary of Energy. 

Another provision would prohibit any funds authorized for DOE to go towards being used to reconvert or retire W76-2 warheads – low-yield nuclear submarine warheads. 

The House will convene the next day on Wednesday, June 12th to vote on whether to approve the NDAA bill. 

Meanwhile, The Senate Armed Services Committee will conduct a closed markup of the Senate NDAA, beginning on June 12th and continuing until June 14th. While this is traditionally a closed-door process, the Personnel markup, and, for the first time, Seapower markups will made open for the public to view.  

ECA will continue to provide updates on the NDAA as it develops.