House Votes - H.R. 1585: National Defense Authorization Act

Long-Term Defense Plans Conflict
Democrats will have a chance to craft a defense authorization bill this week that would substantially reorder the White House’s defense-spending blueprint for the coming fiscal year.

Democrats Put Their Stamp on Defense Programs
Two House Armed Services subcommittees significantly rearranged the president’s defense budget today, shifting billions of dollars to reflect the Democratic leadership’s priorities, not the White House’s.

H.Res. 403: Providing for consideration of H.R. 1585

On Ordering the Previous Question
Passed 225-198

On Agreeing to the Resolution
Passed 229-194


H.R. 1585: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008

Debate

Amendments (GovTrack, Thomas)
CQ Today Preview; Procurement Oversight

H.Amdt. 186: Andrews of New Jersey Amendment
An amendment numbered 8 printed in House Report 110-151 to prevent funds authorized in the bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan from being obligated or expended to plan a contingency operation in Iran.
Failed 202-216

White House Levels Veto Threat Against Defense Authorization; Iran Amendment Killed
Facing a presidential veto threat, House lawmakers Wednesday rejected an amendment to the fiscal 2008 defense authorization that would have blocked the use of war funds for contingency planning against Iran.

H.Amdt. 187: DeFazio of Oregon Amendment
An amendment numbered 14 printed in House Report 110-151 to clarify that no previously enacted law authorizes military action against Iran. It also prohibits funding authorized by the bill or in any other act from being used to take military action against Iran without specific authorization from Congress unless there is a `national emergency created by an attack by Iran upon the United States, its territories or possessions or its armed forces' (language taken directly from the War Powers Resolution, P.L. 93-148).
Failed 136-288

H.Amdt. 188: Woolsey of California Amendment
An amendment numbered 21 printed in House Report 110-151 to require the Secretary of Defense to issue a report on the continued use, need, relevance, and cost of weapons systems designed to fight the Cold War and the former Soviet Union.
Failed 119-303

H.Amdt. 193: Tierney of Massachussetts Amendment
An amendment numbered 30 printed in House Report 110-151 to reduce the $8.1 billion specified for Missile Defense Agency (MDA) activities by $1.084 billion from specified programs.
Failed 127-299

H.Amdt. 194: Franks of Arizona Amendment
An amendment numbered 11 printed in House Report 110-151 to increase by $764 million the amount authorized for ballistic missile defense.
Failed 199-226

Carrying on the Reagan Defense Legacy
With the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1585) on the floor this week, RSC Member Trent Franks (R-AZ) penned an excellent editorial featured on National Review Online.

H.Amdt. 196: King of Iowa Amendment
An amendment numbered 41 printed in House Report 110-115 to add language to section 1222 to explain that the bill's prohibition on the establishment of permanent military bases in Iraq should not be construed to prohibit the United States from establishing a temporary military base or installation by entering into basing rights agreements between the United States and Iraq. The amendment also states that Congress recognizes the United States has not established any permanent military installations inside or outside the United States.
Failed 201-219

H.Amdt. 197: Moran of Virginia Amendment
An amendement numbered 15 printed in House Report 110-151 to require the Office of the Secretary of Defense to submit a report identifying the current capacity at Department of Defense facilities in the United States to securely hold and try before a military commission the detainees currently held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The report shall include the Department's estimated number of detainees that will be 1) charged with a crime, 2) subject to a release or transfer, or 3) held without being charged with a crime, but whom the Department wishes to detain. The report shall also describe actions required by the Secretary and Congress to ensure that detainees who are scheduled for release are released no later than December 31, 2007.
Passed 220-208

H.Amdt. 198: Holt of New Jersey Amendment
An amendment numbered 32 printed in House Report 110-151 to require the videotaping of interrogations and other pertinent interacti ons between U.S. military personnel and/or contractors and detainees arrested and held. Directs the Judge Advocates General of the respective military services to develop uniform guidelines for such videotaping. Provides access to detainees for representatives of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture for independent monitoring of detainee conditions and treatment.
Failed 199-229

On Motion to Recommit with Instructions
(consideration: CR H5351-5353; text: CR H5351)
Passed 394-30

On Passage
Passed 397-27

House Defies Veto Threats, Passes Fiscal 2008 Defense Authorization
The House today passed the largest defense authorization bill since World War II, ignoring White House veto threats against several provisions of the measure.

House Approves Cut to Army Modernization Plan
The House yesterday approved a 25 percent cut to next year's budget for an Army modernization program run by Boeing, despite protests from the service and the White House.

Abortion foes dodge military bullet

It appears liberals will not only concede placing a timeline for troop withdrawal from Iraq in the emergency defense spending bill, they will also concede loosening military abortion policy. One news report called the former "a significant concession to Bush and his Republican allies on Capitol Hill." The latter is equally significant.

Remarkably, despite a Democrat majority in the House, missing from the defense appropriations bill will be an amendment to fund military abortions overseas. What makes this remarkable is this will be the first year since 1996 liberals have not attempted to add this provision.

Also missing will be an amendment to make the Department of Defense pay for abortions in the case of rape or incest, which liberals have occasionally submitted through the years.