UPDATED: FY 2012 Military Authorization: Amendments to Watch
The House voted to approve the fiscal year 2012 National Defense Authorization Act on May 26. Below we list what happened with several of the amendments that FCNL was following closely. Check our website for further details:
Afghanistan:
FAILED (Roll call #373 204-215) Amendment #55 (formerly #30): Reps. Jim McGovern (MA) and Walter Jones (NC) will offer an amendment similar to H.R. 1735 that will require the Obama administration to submit a plan for ending the U.S. war in Afghanistan, including a date for the end of the war. The amendment also calls for a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on al Qaeda.
NOTE: last year, a similar measure received 162 affirmative votes. This vote is a great show of momentum to end the war in Afghanistan.
PASSED (by voice vote) Amendment #117: Rep. Barbara Lee (CA) will offer an amendment stating that no funds appropriated in FY 2012 may be used for the purpose of establishing permanent bases in Iraq or Afghanistan. (Note: this is the first NDAA or equivalent measure since 2007 which does not have no permanent bases language on Iraq and Afghanistan).
FAILED (#364 123-294) Amendment #56: Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT) and Rep Peter Welch (VT) will offer an amendment that requires U.S. ground troops to withdraw from Afghanistan, aside from those involved in small, targeted counter-terrorism operations; Defense Secretary will be required to submit a withdrawal plan within 60 days of enactment.
Libya:
PASSED (#366 416-5) Amendment #61 (formerly #35): Rep. John Conyers (MI) will introduce an amendment prohibiting funds for the purpose of deploying U.S. ground troops in Libya. The amendment would also prohibit the Department of Defense from awarding contracts to private firms for the purpose of operating in Libya.
Permanent war:
FAILED (#361 187-234) Amendment #50 (formerly #155): A bipartisan cadre including Rep. Justin Amash (MI), Rep. Barbara Lee (CA), Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY), Rep John Conyers (MI), Rep. Walter Jones (NC) and Rep. Ron Paul (TX) will offer an amendment which will strike language that effectively expands the 2001 Authorization of the Use of Military Force (AUMF) in section 1034 of the NDAA. President Obama has threatened to veto the NDAA if section 1034 is not removed.
Peaceful Prevention of Deadly Conflict:
PASSED (#372 194-226) Amendment #152 (formerly #92): Rep. Cravaack (MN) will offer an amendment that will repeal Title VXII of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1985, which authorized the establishment of the United Institutes of Peace.
Military Spending:
WITHDRAWN Amendment #33 (formerly #171): Rep. Barbara Lee (CA) and Rep. Pete Stark (CA) will offer an amendment that will return Defense Department spending to 2008 levels, with exemptions for personnel and health accounts.
FAILED (by voice vote) Amendment #41 (formerly #21): Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL) will offer an amendment that would freeze Department of Defense funding at current levels until the Pentagon can successfully pass an audit.The amendment contains a national security waiver andexceptions for overseas contingency operations, defense personnel, and wounded warrior accounts.
NOTE: The text of this document has been edited to reflect which amendments made it through the House Committee on Rules on May 24, 2011. The amendments previously listed here that did not make it are: amendment #13 by Rep. John Garamendi (CA), amendment #168 by Rep. Barbara Lee (CA), and amendment #148 by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH). You can find a complete list of NDAA amendments here.
Last updated on May 26th, 2011 2:10 PM
