Ivan Enriquez's MyC-SPAN

The House Armed Services Committee reviewed subcommittee reports and debated amendments to the Defense Authorization Act of 2017. During this portion of the markup, committee members debated amendments involving the F-35 program, Defense Department energy policy, the housing of unaccompanied immigrant children at military installations, military base realignment and closures and littoral combat ship reductions. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) chaired this committee with Representative Adam Smith (D-WA) serving as the ranking member.

Part 2 of this program may be found here: https://www.c-span.org/video/?408645-2/fiscal-year-2017-defense-authorization-markup-part-2

Part 3 of this program may be found here (final portion): https://www.c-span.org/video/?408645-3/fiscal-year-2017-defense-authorization-markup-part-3

The House Armed Services Committee continued its markup of H.R. 4909, the National Defense Authorization Act, authorizing Defense Department programs and policies for fiscal year 2017.

Part 1 of this program may be found here: https://www.c-span.org/video/?408645-1/defense-authorization-markup

Part 3 of this program may be found here (final portion): https://www.c-span.org/video/?408645-3/fiscal-year-2017-defense-authorization-markup-part-3

Former intelligence and diplomatic officials offered policy recommendations at a hearing on combating ISIS* in Iraq and Syria. Former acting CIA Director Michael Morell told committee members, “ISIS poses a significant strategic and lethal threat to the United States of America.” He outlined the the dual-threat of ISIS in carrying out directed attacks and lone wolf attacks on the homeland. Other witnesses included former Defense Undersecretary for Intelligence Michael Vickers and former U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford.

* The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), or DAISH/DAESH in Arabic is a militant group that has called itself the Islamic State.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair General Joseph Dunford testified on U.S. military strategy to combat ISIS* militants in Iraq and Syria. Secretary Carter announced that the U.S. is expanding its special operations force in Iraq and Syria. The specialized expeditionary targeting force will be sent to Iraq to assist Iraqi and Kurdish forces and will also be positioned to conduct unilateral missions in Syria. Secretary Carter stated that this special force will be able to conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence, and capture ISIS leaders. He also said the U.S. is expanding strikes on ISIS infrastructure and sources of revenue from oil.

After the hearing adjourned, Committee Chair Mac Thornberry (R-TX) answered reporters' questions.

* The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), or DAISH/DAESH in Arabic is a militant group that has called itself the Islamic State.

House and Senate conferees made opening statements in a meeting to negotiate a long-term highway and mass transit funding bill. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Bill Shuster (R-PA) said the conference committee planed to finalize its report by November 30, 2015.