FY2014 DEFENSE AUTH. ACT IN SPOTLIGHT ON CAPITOL HILL THIS WEEK

House and Senate authorizers are scheduled to take further action on the Fiscal Year 2014 Defense Authorization Act this week, with the Senate Armed Services Committee planning to mark up its version of the bill starting Tuesday and the full House likely to take up its version of the bill mid-week. The House Armed Services Committee cleared its version of the bill last week, authorizing $8.1 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s weapons program, a $220 million increase over the President’s request, and establishing a host of policy provisions for the agency. Unlike its House counterparts, the Senate markup of the bill is closed to the public. The Strategic Forces Subcommittee will begin marking up the bill Tuesday, and the full Senate Armed Services Committee could take up the bill Wednesday.