
Leaders of a House-Senate conference committee expressed hope Oct. 25 that they will quickly wrap up negotiations on a final version of the fiscal year 2018 defense authorization bill.Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), said that he is confident lawmakers can finish the compromise bill “within the next few days.” Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), said he is optimistic that lawmakers will complete the conference report “in…