Leading defense authorizers say they hope to move swiftly on a top legislative priority — the annual, must-pass defense policy bill — when Congress returns to town in a month and a half.
“We have to be ready when we come back to go right to the ‘Big Four’ meeting, and that’s our objective,” Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I., told reporters last week, referring to the chairmen and ranking members of the Armed Services committees.
Those negotiations would clear the way for the release of a final, compromise version of the fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. Congress has passed the bill annually for more than 60 years.
