Congress Passes the FY2011 NDAA – HR 6523 at the Last Minute

Senate Passes Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011

WASHINGTON – Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Ranking Republican on the Committee, announced that the Senate has passed H.R. 6523, the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. This bill was the product of an agreement reached with the House earlier this month, after the Senate was unable to consider the legislation in the normal legislative process. With Senate action complete, the bill now returns to the House, which must now pass it without change to send it to the President.

“For the 49th consecutive year, we have demonstrated our continued commitment to the brave men and women who will spend their holidays defending our nation, and to the families who must celebrate the holidays apart from their loved ones,” Levin said. “At a time when we have roughly 150,000 U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, it will send an important message that we, as a nation, stand behind them and appreciate their service,” Levin said.

“I am happy to support the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011,” said Senator John McCain. “This bill funds the needs and requirements of our brave men and women in uniform to succeed in their mission. The enactment of this legislation will send an important message to our troops that we, as a nation, stand behind them and appreciate their service. I thank Senator Levin for working with me to remove many of the controversial provisions and I urge the House of Representatives to act on this legislation today and send it to the President for his signature,” continued McCain.

“This bill will improve the quality of life of our men and women in uniform and give them the tools that they need to remain the most effective fighting force in the world. It will improve the acquisition and management of the Department of Defense and address important issues of cyber security and energy security,” Levin added.