[CPEO-MEF] Update on Defense Authorization Bill

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Yesterday we posted the amendments that Rep. Hunter submitted to the 
Rules Committee for consideration on the House floor.  Those proposed 
amendments were not ruled in order and subsequently not offered today.

Additionally, two other amendments were not ruled in order and therefore 
not offered today.  They were:

1.  An amendment to strike DOD exemptions from the Endangered Species 
Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and
2.  An amendment to strike the Utah Test and Training Range provisions 
that would allow DOD to build roads, close public access and deny water 
rights necessary to protect wildlife to a vast tract of Utah wilderness 
land.  

This morning on the house floor the controversy over the Defense 
Authorization Act continued.  Those opposing various provisions in the 
Defense Authorization Act used all the tools of parlimentary procedure 
to try to get a change in the Rule so that additional amendments could 
be offered on the floor.  It was ultimiately unsuccessful by a vote of 
216 - 200.

This almost certainly means that the ESA, MBTA, and Utah Wilderness 
provisions will be included in the House Defense Authorization Act. 
However, the strong opposition to the Rule in the House provides a 
strong base to fight the provisions in the Senate and then again in 
conference committee.
 
Aimee Houghton

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~