Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) filed cloture on the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act Dec. 12, allowing for lawmakers to vote to advance the $738 billion authorizing bill Dec. 16.
He confirmed in his Thursday morning remarks on the floor that the Senate will pass the bill “next week.” The Senate will vote Monday afternoon to limit debate and advance the NDAA, and is expected to pass the bill soon thereafter on a largely bipartisan basis. President Trump has already said he will sign the bill once it passes Congress.
The House voted Wednesday to advance the conference NDAA report by a vote of 377-48 (Defense Daily, Dec. 11).
Meanwhile, key congressional appropriators said Thursday that they are very close to reaching agreement on all outstanding FY ’20 spending deals, with House Appropriations Committee Chair Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) telling reporters that a final agreement could be reached that evening.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). said Thursday that the House could begin considering funding bills by Dec. 17, urging negotiators on the Hill and in the White House to quickly reach the final deals.
“It is my hope that we will consider those appropriations bills on the floor on Tuesday — perhaps a series of minibus packages to fund all of government for the remainder of the fiscal year,” he said.