The Senate voted 76-20 to advance the $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act, moving the bipartisan package — roughly $8 billion above the administration's request — closer to final passage before the holiday recess. The NDAA includes pay raises for service members, limits on certain China-related investments and continued military aid to Ukraine. Lawmakers are debating strengthened aviation-safety language after the Jan. 29 midair collision that killed 67, with Senators Cruz and Cantwell filing amendments and Sen. Mark Warner warning against rolling back post-crash safeguards.
Senate Advances $900B NDAA With 76-20 Vote; Aviation Safety Amendment Looms
The Senate on Monday cleared a major procedural hurdle as lawmakers push to approve the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) before the congressional holiday recess at the end of the week. Senators voted 76-20 to move the $900 billion, bipartisan defense package a step closer to final passage, though several more days of floor activity are expected.
The package, roughly $8 billion above the administration's original request, contains a range of provisions: a pay increase for service members, limits on certain U.S. investments tied to China, continued military assistance for Ukraine and other defense priorities.
Senate leaders said advancing the bill should be easier than the often-contentious process it faced in the House. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) negotiated with conservatives to secure votes on a procedural motion last week, and the House ultimately approved final passage by a 312-112 margin.
Aviation-Safety Fight Takes Center Stage
A key issue heading into the final days is language related to military aircraft operations near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The current NDAA provision would require military training aircraft to broadcast their position to air-traffic controllers, but it also allows the Secretary of Transportation and the head of an affected military service to waive that requirement.
Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and the committee's ranking member, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), filed an amendment to strengthen the aircraft-tracking language. The push follows a deadly midair collision on Jan. 29 last year between a civilian airliner and an Army helicopter that killed 67 people.
"The language in this provision could allow rolling back crucial new safety practices I fought to implement after the January 29 tragedy, and give the Department of Defense more discretion over safety procedures in the region," Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said. "After what happened in January, it’s clear that we cannot rely on the DoD alone to be the safety authority over its flights in this area and that we need more, not less, oversight to prevent another tragedy from ever occurring again."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters it would be difficult to amend the NDAA itself at this stage because changes would likely require sending the bill back to the House. Instead, he indicated a separate aviation-safety bill introduced by Sen. Cruz could receive an amendment vote and be attached to an upcoming spending package leaders hope to move on the floor.
The Senate is expected to continue debate and consider amendments in the coming days as lawmakers race to complete work before the district work period and holiday recess.
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