The chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees still hope to meet the deadline for the markup of the proposed National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic, Defense News reported Tuesday.
Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), chair of HASC, plans to conduct the NDAA markup scheduled in April.
“Barring a material change, the Committee plans to proceed with the previously identified mark up date and deliver the NDAA for a vote on the House floor by mid-May,” Monica Matoush, a spokesperson for HASC’s Democratic majority, said in a statement. “While we are exploring other options to coordinate member involvement in the mark up process, no decisions have been made at this time.”
SASC Chairman Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) intends to hold a markup of the defense policy bill by the end of May.
The Senate panel “is continuing to take every step needed to meet this deadline, while also taking necessary precautions” as per the advice of the upper chamber’s attending physician and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said a spokeswoman for SASC.