Procedural action in the House and Senate on November 3 has cleared the path for final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  On October 22, the President vetoed the previously adopted NDAA, H.R. 1735 stating, “While there are provisions in this bill that I support, including the codification of key interrogation-related reforms from Executive Order 13491 and positive changes to the military retirement system, the bill would, among other things, constrain the ability of the Department of Defense to conduct multi-year defense planning and align military capabilities and force structure with our national defense strategy, impede the closure of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, and prevent the implementation of essential defense reforms.“

A “new” NDAA will be offered as an amendment to S. 1356, an unrelated measure that clarifies certain provisions of the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2014. The “new” NDAA is simply the previously adopted bill (H.R. 1735) with the new budget numbers that conform to H.R. 1314, the budget agreement and debt limit increase signed into law on Monday, November 2.

Also on Monday the House Rules Committee adopted a measure that would serve as a legislative vehicle for a separate NDAA to come to the floor on Thursday under suspension of the rules. Under suspension, the bill is expedited but requires a two-thirds majority for passage. No amendments are allowed.

Once the House passes the “new” NDAA the Senate must take up the measure.

Tidbit: Of interest, the required two-thirds majority vote to pass the NDAA in the US House under suspension of the rule is the same number required to override a presidential veto.

At Cansler Consulting we understand that in Washington, D.C. change is the only constant. Advocacy in Washington is also changing and we are at the forefront using new technologies and data to help us focus on strategies that improve our client's return on investment. Our core lobbying strategies are driven by the value at stake from federal legislative & regulatory actions. Leading studies indicate that today's business value impacted by government and regulatory action, or inaction can reach as high as 30 percent of earnings for most companies. With as much as one-third of earnings at stake, it is imperative that companies, industries and organizations engage in government relations. If you need effective representation from a bipartisan, entrepreneurial government relations firm contact Cansler Consulting. We are certified by the National Institute of Lobbying and Ethics and have decades of experience assisting clients in issue areas including Agriculture, Budget & Appropriations, Food Safety, Transportation & Infrastructure, International Trade and Energy. Through our relationships established in Washington, D.C. and throughout the U.S. for over two decades we can help you the legislative and regulatory processes on Capitol Hill and inside federal agencies. You can contact us at

• Author
• Recent Posts

Tim Cansler

Chief Strategist at Cansler Consulting, LLC

Tim has over 30 years of extensive experience in federal legislative and regulatory matters. His trusted advise helps clients navigate federal government processes to successful policy outcomes. He is a member of the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics in Washington, D.C.

Latest posts by Tim Cansler (see all)

• Is Your Government Relations Team #SmartWorking? - April 14, 2020
• President Trump Challenges to Use Better Infrastructure Techniques - April 6, 2020
• COVID-19: U.S. Stimulus Package #3 - April 1, 2020