Senate Armed Services leaders: It’s this bill or nothing

Senate Armed Service Committee leaders Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and James Inhofe (R-Okla.) said the Senate has no choice but to pass the $585 billion Defense bill.

“Our last chance is this week,” Inhofe said on the Senate floor. “It just couldn’t happen if it isn’t this bill.”

{mosads}The Senate is debating whether to concur with the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Final passage is expected Friday.

Some Republicans have objected to advancing the legislation more quickly because it includes a lands package. Inhofe said he agrees that the process of including lands bills in the NDAA is “flawed” but that “it would be a disaster” not to pass the overall package.

Both the House and Senate had hoped to adjourn for the year on Thursday. The House might achieve that goal, but the Senate is expected to work through the weekend.

Congress has reauthorized the NDAA for 52 consecutive years. The legislation authorizes spending for Pentagon programs for 2015.

Levin said he and Inhofe were able to include more than 40 Senate amendments from both sides of the aisle. He said the bill includes language addressing military sexual assault, suicide, the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and aid for Ukraine’s defense against Russia.