The House Armed Services Committee announced its markup schedule for the FY21 defense authorization bill. The full committee markup is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1.
The Subcommittee on Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities and the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces will meet on June 22 ahead of the full committee markup. The remaining defense subcommittees, as follows, will meet on June 23: Tactical Air and Land Forces, Military Personnel, Readiness, and Seapower and Projection Forces.
Due to concerns about COVID-19, senators will have the option of appearing in person or joining the session remotely. The committee also strongly recommends that the media view the markups remotely.
Meanwhile, subcommittees on the Senate Armed Services Committee begin their markups June 8, with a full committee markup scheduled for June 10. The full committee markup will extend into June 11, if necessary.
The markup process is running slightly behind schedule due to the pandemic. Lawmakers have said they hope to pass the defense policy bill this year, despite the delays. However, national protests over racial issues have spawned a new debate about the use of domestic military force that could potentially stall legislative negotiations.
Shaun's deep-rooted interest in military equipment continues in his role as a senior defense analyst with a focus on the United States. He played an integral role in the development of Forecast International's U.S. Defense Budget Forecast, an interactive online product that tracks Pentagon acquisition programs throughout the congressional budget process. As editor of International Military Markets – North America, Shaun has cultivated a deep understanding of the vast defense markets in the United States and Canada. He is a regular contributor to Forecast International's Defense & Security Monitor blog and has co-authored white papers on global defense spending and various military programs.