House, Senate Begin FY23 NDAA Legislative Process
Brian Domzalski | Department of Defense
Last week, Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, introduced the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) [H.R. 7900] for fiscal year 2023 (FY23). The NDAA is an annual bill that sets guidelines for defense and counterintelligence agencies, covers military related programs across the government, and provides direction spending federal funding. Congress has passed an NDAA each year for 60 years. Often, legislation unrelated to defense, including federal workforce reforms, are tacked onto the bill throughout the legislative process.
Traditionally, the formal introduction of the measure marks the first step in the legislative process for the NDAA. Because of this, the NDAA as it stands does not reflect the recommendations of the Armed Services Committee, but rather legislative proposals from the Department of Defense (DOD).
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), the Armed Services Committee’s Ranking Member, also released the full committee and subcommittee markup schedule. Next week, Armed Services officials will hear testimony concerning technology, strategy and tactics, military personnel, intelligence, and special operations.
Likewise, Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced the markup schedule for their chamber’s FY23 NDAA.
“America’s national security challenges are complex and urgent, and meeting them will require thoughtful defense strategies. This year’s National Defense Authorization Act will be critical to this effort, and the markup is an important part of a multi-step process,” commented Senator Reed.
Hearings considering the NDAA are nearly all closed door, except for the Readiness and Personnel subcommittees. The full Armed Services Committee will consider the state of the NDAA on Wednesday, June 15.
“The National Defense Authorization Act is the most important bill Congress does every year, and the committee markup is the next step toward enacting it for the 62nd year in a row. I look forward to continuing this committee’s long tradition of bipartisanship and comity as we have a robust and productive debate at the markup,” concluded Senator Inhofe.
