DoD Bill Also a Major Issue

Another major piece of legislation still needing work is the annual Defense Department authorization bill (HR-4200), which has been in a House-Senate conference since June. The bill addresses several major issues affecting civilian DoD employees, including whether or not to keep on track the process currently set to culminate with creation of a special commission that would recommend base closings and realignments next year. The House measure would delay that process by two years while the Senate would keep the process on schedule. Officials say that if there is to be a lame duck session, the DoD bill might remain stalled until then, since members of Congress are caught between White House pressure to keep the process moving and constituent concern about loss of jobs should the closings go ahead.