After a marathon markup session, the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes an amendment that would require women to register for the draft. The committee voted 32-30 to include the provision, The Hill reported. The bill takes $23.1 billion from overseas contingency operations funds requested in the President’s proposed defense budget and applies it to base activities, Politico reported. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), chairman of the committee, said in a written statement that the bill “helps begin to correct the funding shortfalls that have led to a lack of readiness” and a higher level of risk to troops and national security. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.?), the ranking member of the committee, said “there are a lot of good things” in the bill, and he plans to support it when it comes before the full House.
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
