Congress’ fiscal 2025 defense policy bill is poised to include numerous energy and environment-related provisions — but it will omit some of the most significant legislative priorities that lawmakers had been hoping to tack on.
Senate Armed Services Committee leaders, led by Chair Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and ranking member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), on Thursday released a package of 93 bipartisan amendments for their National Defense Authorization Act, S. 4638, in anticipation of informal negotiations with the House before the end of the year.
With the House already having passed its own version of the NDAA in June — one loaded with attacks on the Biden administration’s climate policies — the Senate’s amendment package was seen as the last hope for lawmakers wanting their energy and environment priorities to hitch a ride on the must-pass bill.
The omissions don’t spell doom for the bills just yet; they could still pass on their own or as part of spending legislation before the end of the year. But floor time this Congress is quickly running out, and there will be few additional vehicles for passage.
