This annual, must-pass bill authorizes all Defense Dept. programs and activities. Relevant provisions for the purposes of this Monitor relate to U.S.-Israeli cooperation programs, Iran’s nuclear program, other international activities pertaining to Iran, and the conflict in Syria. The House Republicans rejected the Senate’s 6/18 amendment of the bill and called for a reconciliation conference, where agreement was subsequently reached in late 9/2015. The House (10/1) and the Senate (10/7) both agreed to the conference report but after Pres. Barack Obama vetoed the bill on 10/22/15, Congress had to go back to the drawing board to produce a so-called ‘clean’ NDAA, one without any of the provisions he found objectionable, including obstructions to the closure of the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay. None of the provisions relevant to this Monitor were altered in the subsequent draft, *S. 1356 of 5/14/15, which eventually passed into law. See that bill for details.
S.A 1983, submitted by Bob Corker (R-TN) on 6/10/15, 1 cosponsor.
This amendment contained a draft copy of the Dept. of State Operations Authorization and Embassy Security Act for FY 2016, which Corker would later introduce as an independent measure as S. 1635 of 6/18/15. Unlike the NDAA bill, Congress was not obligated to pass this measure. The amendment carried provisions on anti-Semitism, the PA, and Iran, and was not considered.
Last major action: 10/22/15 vetoed by the president (10/7/15 conference report agreed to in Senate by yea/nay vote, 70–27; 6/18/15 passed in the Senate, 71–25; 5/15/15 passed in the House, 269–151).