Defense authorization bill back on track

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., bowed Thursday to Republican leaders' requests that amendments to the defense authorization bill be relevant, clearing the path for the stalled legislation to return to the Senate floor.

Reid's decision will make it nearly impossible for Democrats to introduce language establishing an independent commission to evaluate the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina. However, Democrats do not plan to abandon their push for the commission, and will try to find another vehicle for it.

With the clock ticking on the session, it appeared more and more likely that Senate leaders would not strike a compromise to make room on its hectic legislative calendar for the authorization bill, which was shelved in late July. The chamber has passed the legislation annually for more than four decades.

In a letter sent Thursday to Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., Reid wrote that he has been "deeply troubled by the manner in which you have handled this year's defense bill."

"Like you, I believe it would be unconscionable and unprecedented for the Senate not to act on this critical legislation," Reid wrote. "The protracted delay has not been helpful to our troops or their families."

During a floor speech earlier this month, Frist offered to bring the bill up under a unanimous consent agreement that would limit debate to 12 relevant amendments for each party.

Reid promptly rejected the offer, saying the rules proposed by Frist would not allow Democrats to offer the Katrina commission amendment, which would be deemed non-germane to the defense bill.

In his letter Thursday, Reid criticized Frist's refusal to allow the amendments that do not fall directly under the Senate Armed Services Committee's jurisdiction.

"The Bush administration objects to the establishment of an independent commission ... and, unfortunately, you are prepared to bring down the entire defense bill in order to protect the administration from scrutiny for its missteps on this matter," Reid wrote.

Reid's letter was in response to communication from Frist Monday, in which the Tennessee Republican implored Reid to accept his unanimous consent agreement.

Frist added that it would be "regrettable" to abandon the bill "over matters unrelated to [the military's] mission, duties and responsibilities."

Reid said he was willing to revise his previous unanimous consent request -- which would have allowed one Hurricane Katrina-related amendment per side -- so that all amendments fall under the Armed Services Committee's jurisdiction.

"I hope you will now proceed immediately to consideration of the Department of Defense authorization bill," Reid wrote. "Further delay is not in the interest of our troops or our nation."

A spokesman for Armed Services Chairman John Warner, R-Va., declined to comment. Warner has met routinely with Frist over the last three months to schedule floor debate on the bill.

John Stanton of CongressDaily contributed to this article.