Senate Debates HR 5515 – FY 2019 NDAA

After a week of consideration of HR 5515 (with lots of talking and over 300 new amendments proposed), the Senate finally started taking concrete action on Thursday as they were preparing to leave for the weekend. Four recorded votes were taken, three amendments were agreed to, and final consideration of the bill is set for Monday. Thursday’s votes include:

• SA 2700 Cloture (35 to 62)

• SA 2282 Cloture (83 to 14)

• SA 2885 (97 to 0),

• SA 2276 (voice vote),

• SA 2282 (voice vote)

• HR 5515 Cloture (81 to 15)

Amendments

Amendment 2282 (pgs S3042-S3223) is the substitute language for HR 5515 that basically comes from S 2987 and specifically includes the cybersecurity provisions that I discussed in that bill. Neither of the other two amendments adopted would be of specific concern to readers of this blog. Amendment 2285 (pg S3916) would establish the John S. McCain Strategic Defense Fellows Program and SA 2276 (pg S3041) would require a report on permanent stationing of United States forces in the Republic of Poland.

Earlier in the day Sen. Lee (R,UT) attempted (pg S3940) to have the Senate consider a bloc of 45 amendments. That block included three that might be of specific interest to readers of this blog:

• SA 2509. Sen. Manchin (D,WV) – Report on cyber forces of the reserve components of the armed forces and cyberspace. [Pg S3360]

• SA 2721. Sen. Shaheen (D,NH) – Assistance for small manufacturers in the defense industrial supply chain on matters relating to cybersecurity. [S3704]

• SA 2887. Sen. Sasse (R,NE) – Study on cyber exploitation of members of the armed forces and their families. [S3917-8]

Lee’s request to consider the amendments required unanimous consent and was blocked by Sen. Graham (R,SC) who objected to the language in one of the amendments offered by Sen. Cruz (R,TX). No attempt was made by Lee to retry the en bloc consideration of all but the Cruz amendment.

Moving Forward

The Senate is currently scheduled to finish consideration of HR 5515 on Monday. There is a good chance that additional amendments will be considered individually and in blocks. The Senate will pass the bill with some level of bipartisan support. The differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill will then have to be worked out in conference committee.