Will Senate Dems Filibuster Vital Defense Bill During Time Of Diverse Global Conflicts?
Today in Washington, D.C. - Oct 6, 2015:
The House reconvened today at Noon (EDT). Recorded votes will be postponed until 6 PM.
Bills expected to be considered today:
H.R. 1525 — "To require the Securities and Exchange Commission to make certain improvements to form 10-K and regulation S-K, and for other purposes."
H.R. 1553 — "To amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to specify which smaller institutions may qualify for an 18-month examination cycle."
H.R. 1839 — "To amend the Securities Act of 1933 to exempt certain transactions involving purchases by accredited investors, and for other purposes."
H.R. 2091 — "To amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to clarify the ability to request consumer reports in certain cases to establish and enforce child support payments and awards."
H.R. 3102 — "To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to reform programs of the Transportation Security Administration, streamline transportation security regulations, and for other purposes."
H.R. 3510 — "To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a cybersecurity strategy for the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes."
S. 1300— "To amend the section 221 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide relief for adoptive families from immigrant visa fees in certain situations."
S. 2078 — "To reauthorize the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, and for other purposes."
The Senate reconvened at noon (EDT) today and resumed consideration of the conference report for the Fiscal Year 2016 Defense authorization bill, H.R. 1735.
At 1 PM, there will be a vote on cloture on the conference report (to cut off debate and move to a final vote).
The Defense authorization bill (H.R. 1735) lays out Pentagon programs, funding, and military policy. This bill has passed both houses before on a bipartisan basis, but President Obama has threatened to veto it. Senate Democrats have already filibustered the Defense appropriations bill and the Veterans Affairs appropriations bill. Will Senate Democrats filibuster even this bipartisan bill for our military?
Yesterday, the Senate voted 69-21 to confirm Dale Drozd to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of California.
Speaking on the Senate floor today, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, “Henry Kissinger recently said that our country faces the most ‘diverse and complex array of crises’ since the Second World War. It’s hard to disagree with him.
“Consider the daily situation reports received by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs: Taliban forces overrunning Kunduz in Afghanistan, retaking their first provincial capital in 14 years. Beijing exerting greater will in its aggressive military expansion, even deploying ships to patrol off the coast of Alaska. Russia deepening its aggression in Ukraine, and in Syria deploying the largest number of troops outside the former Soviet Union since the USSR’s collapse. Tehran showing its determination to expand the Iranian sphere of influence as it deploys additional forces to the Syrian battlefield. And in the Tribal Areas of Pakistan, Al Qaeda terrorists reminding us of their continuing resolve to attack the homeland. All this – to say nothing of the resilient, versatile threat posed by ISIL, or of ISIL’s consolidation of gains inside of Iraq and Syria.”
Now, add today’s news stories to the mix. The Washington Post reports, “President Obama is seriously weighing a proposal to keep as many as 5,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan beyond 2016, according to senior U.S. officials, a move that would end his plans to bring U.S. troops home before he leaves office. The proposal presented in August by Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would focus the remaining American force primarily on counterterrorism operations against the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and other direct threats to the United States.”
In Syria, The Wall Street Journal reports, “Russia has targeted Syrian rebel groups backed by the Central Intelligence Agency in a string of airstrikes running for days, leading the U.S. to conclude that it is an intentional effort by Moscow, American officials said.”
According to The New York Times, “Ratcheting up the confrontation over the Syria war, Russia said Monday that its ‘volunteer’ ground forces would join the fight, and NATO warned the Kremlin after at least one Russian warplane trespassed into Turkey’s airspace. . . .
“Although President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said he would not put troops in Syria, the plan for so-called volunteers was disclosed Monday by his top military liaison to the Parliament, Adm. Vladimir Komoyedov. It seemed similar to Russia’s stealth tactic in using soldiers to seize Crimea from Ukraine in March of 2014 and to aid pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine.
“Moreover, American military officials said they believed that more than 600 Russian military personnel were already on the ground in Syria, not counting aircrews, and that tents for nearly 2,000 people had been seen at Russia’s air base near Latakia, in northwest Syria near the Turkish border.”
In light of all these events, Leader McConnell said, “Today, the Senate has the power to help America navigate a treacherous world. Today, the Senate has the opportunity to help the Defense Department begin the hard work of rebuilding America’s combat capability as we seek to protect America’s interests across the globe.
“That’s why I’m calling on every colleague to join me in voting to advance the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act.
“The last time the Senate considered this legislation, 84 Senators — including a large majority of Democrats — voted to advance it. That was just this summer. I urge Democrats to vote the same way now.
“Because we’ve heard some worrying rhetoric from across the aisle. We’ve even heard a suggestion that this bipartisan reform bill is just, quote, a ‘waste of time.’
“I strongly disagree. . . . “The bipartisan bill before us is hardly a ‘waste of time.’
“That’s why it passed the Senate once already with overwhelming bipartisan support. Our troops should be able to count on that overwhelming bipartisan support again today. This is not the time to flip-flop on the men and women who protect us. This is not the time to flip-flop on America’s defense. Certainly not in this age of daunting global threats.”
Not only are some Democrats threatening to vote to filibuster this bill, the White House has been proclaiming that President Obama would veto it, even though it meets his budget request for the military.
A filibuster of this bill by Senate Democrats or a veto from Obama would be irresponsible. As The Washington Post editorialized\
--------------------
Tags: IGlobal Conflicts, Defense bill, Senate Democrats, president Obama To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
The House reconvened today at Noon (EDT). Recorded votes will be postponed until 6 PM.
Bills expected to be considered today:
H.R. 1525 — "To require the Securities and Exchange Commission to make certain improvements to form 10-K and regulation S-K, and for other purposes."
H.R. 1553 — "To amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to specify which smaller institutions may qualify for an 18-month examination cycle."
H.R. 1839 — "To amend the Securities Act of 1933 to exempt certain transactions involving purchases by accredited investors, and for other purposes."
H.R. 2091 — "To amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to clarify the ability to request consumer reports in certain cases to establish and enforce child support payments and awards."
H.R. 3102 — "To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to reform programs of the Transportation Security Administration, streamline transportation security regulations, and for other purposes."
H.R. 3510 — "To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a cybersecurity strategy for the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes."
S. 1300— "To amend the section 221 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide relief for adoptive families from immigrant visa fees in certain situations."
S. 2078 — "To reauthorize the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, and for other purposes."
The Senate reconvened at noon (EDT) today and resumed consideration of the conference report for the Fiscal Year 2016 Defense authorization bill, H.R. 1735.
At 1 PM, there will be a vote on cloture on the conference report (to cut off debate and move to a final vote).
The Defense authorization bill (H.R. 1735) lays out Pentagon programs, funding, and military policy. This bill has passed both houses before on a bipartisan basis, but President Obama has threatened to veto it. Senate Democrats have already filibustered the Defense appropriations bill and the Veterans Affairs appropriations bill. Will Senate Democrats filibuster even this bipartisan bill for our military?
Yesterday, the Senate voted 69-21 to confirm Dale Drozd to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of California.
Speaking on the Senate floor today, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, “Henry Kissinger recently said that our country faces the most ‘diverse and complex array of crises’ since the Second World War. It’s hard to disagree with him.
“Consider the daily situation reports received by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs: Taliban forces overrunning Kunduz in Afghanistan, retaking their first provincial capital in 14 years. Beijing exerting greater will in its aggressive military expansion, even deploying ships to patrol off the coast of Alaska. Russia deepening its aggression in Ukraine, and in Syria deploying the largest number of troops outside the former Soviet Union since the USSR’s collapse. Tehran showing its determination to expand the Iranian sphere of influence as it deploys additional forces to the Syrian battlefield. And in the Tribal Areas of Pakistan, Al Qaeda terrorists reminding us of their continuing resolve to attack the homeland. All this – to say nothing of the resilient, versatile threat posed by ISIL, or of ISIL’s consolidation of gains inside of Iraq and Syria.”
Now, add today’s news stories to the mix. The Washington Post reports, “President Obama is seriously weighing a proposal to keep as many as 5,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan beyond 2016, according to senior U.S. officials, a move that would end his plans to bring U.S. troops home before he leaves office. The proposal presented in August by Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would focus the remaining American force primarily on counterterrorism operations against the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and other direct threats to the United States.”
In Syria, The Wall Street Journal reports, “Russia has targeted Syrian rebel groups backed by the Central Intelligence Agency in a string of airstrikes running for days, leading the U.S. to conclude that it is an intentional effort by Moscow, American officials said.”
According to The New York Times, “Ratcheting up the confrontation over the Syria war, Russia said Monday that its ‘volunteer’ ground forces would join the fight, and NATO warned the Kremlin after at least one Russian warplane trespassed into Turkey’s airspace. . . .
“Although President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said he would not put troops in Syria, the plan for so-called volunteers was disclosed Monday by his top military liaison to the Parliament, Adm. Vladimir Komoyedov. It seemed similar to Russia’s stealth tactic in using soldiers to seize Crimea from Ukraine in March of 2014 and to aid pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine.
“Moreover, American military officials said they believed that more than 600 Russian military personnel were already on the ground in Syria, not counting aircrews, and that tents for nearly 2,000 people had been seen at Russia’s air base near Latakia, in northwest Syria near the Turkish border.”
In light of all these events, Leader McConnell said, “Today, the Senate has the power to help America navigate a treacherous world. Today, the Senate has the opportunity to help the Defense Department begin the hard work of rebuilding America’s combat capability as we seek to protect America’s interests across the globe.
“That’s why I’m calling on every colleague to join me in voting to advance the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act.
“The last time the Senate considered this legislation, 84 Senators — including a large majority of Democrats — voted to advance it. That was just this summer. I urge Democrats to vote the same way now.
“Because we’ve heard some worrying rhetoric from across the aisle. We’ve even heard a suggestion that this bipartisan reform bill is just, quote, a ‘waste of time.’
“I strongly disagree. . . . “The bipartisan bill before us is hardly a ‘waste of time.’
“That’s why it passed the Senate once already with overwhelming bipartisan support. Our troops should be able to count on that overwhelming bipartisan support again today. This is not the time to flip-flop on the men and women who protect us. This is not the time to flip-flop on America’s defense. Certainly not in this age of daunting global threats.”
Not only are some Democrats threatening to vote to filibuster this bill, the White House has been proclaiming that President Obama would veto it, even though it meets his budget request for the military.
A filibuster of this bill by Senate Democrats or a veto from Obama would be irresponsible. As The Washington Post editorialized\
--------------------
Tags: IGlobal Conflicts, Defense bill, Senate Democrats, president Obama To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
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