Author Topic: Major Defense Policy Negotiations off to Positive Start, McCain Says  (Read 322 times)

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Major Defense Policy Negotiations off to Positive Start, McCain Says

By: Joe Gould, September 8, 2016 (Photo Credit: Joe Gould)

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s budget was the obvious top issue as the “Big Four” US House and Senate members hashing out the 2017 defense policy bill met for the first time for 90 minutes and behind closed doors Thursday on Capitol Hill.

As the Senate and House Armed Services Committee leaders reconcile the House and Senate versions of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, the biggest sticking point is the House bill’s use of wartime overseas contingency operations (OCO) funding. "The Big Four," are armed services chairmen Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, as well as the panels' ranking members Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash.

“I don’t discuss the status of negotiations, but obviously money is one of the issues,” McCain said after the meeting.