The Senate this week passed a bill to fund the defense department in fiscal year 2008.
Just before the Senate agreed to the bill, the leaders of the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee agreed to consider in conference the need to provide additional Stryker Brigade Combat Teams for the National Guard.
Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) spoke on the Senate floor appealing for additional Stryker vehicles for the Guard.
The House included more than $1 billion for the purchase of one Stryker brigade, though it did not specify that that brigade would be provided to the National Guard.
Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), the subcommittee chairman, noted the House mark and said it would be considered in conference, according to a floor statement.
As of press time, the committee did not know when the conference between the House and Senate would begin.
During a meeting with reporters yesterday, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that when the Senate returns from its Columbus Day recess, he will begin sending appropriations bills to the president for his signature. Reid said he expects to begin with the transportation bill, one to fund the commerce, justice and state departments, followed by one of the defense spending bills.
The conference on the defense authorization bill has begun at the staff level.