Defense authorization vote likely to slip into next week

As House and Senate Armed Services leaders struggled Wednesday to find common ground on lingering issues in their versions of the fiscal 2007 defense authorization bill, House Republicans said it appeared lawmakers would push a final vote on the measure into next week.

Delaying the defense authorization vote, which was expected in the House Thursday, leaves Congress with a full schedule of national security issues to consider in the dwindling number of days before lawmakers leave town for the mid-term congressional elections.

Other business on tap next week includes the fiscal 2007 Defense appropriations conference report, legislation authorizing military tribunals, and the warrantless surveillance bill.

By Wednesday evening, House Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., and Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner, R-Va., remained in negotiations over language in the House-passed defense authorization bill that would allow military chaplains to pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

The issue pits members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus and other House conservatives against Warner, who opposes enacting legislation governing military chaplains until both chambers have had an opportunity to discuss the matter. The Senate's defense authorization bill did not include similar language.

House Republicans offered Warner compromise language late Tuesday that would overturn new Air Force and Navy regulations stipulating that chaplains must only use non-sectarian prayers at public events. Instead, they intend to reinstate older, less-stringent guidelines.

The original House language states that chaplains can pray "according to the dictates of the chaplain's own conscience, except as limited by military necessity, with any such limitation being imposed in the least restrictive manner feasible."

The Pentagon has voiced strong opposition to the provision, stating that it would "operate against" the military's "insistence on inclusive prayer" at interfaith events.

"I think this is a good, reasonable approach that both sides should be able to live with," said Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., a House Armed Services member who was involved in writing the House compromise language.

However, Warner said in a floor speech Tuesday -- before he reviewed the compromise -- that he wants to hold hearings on the issue when Congress reconvenes in January. But Warner's chairmanship of the Armed Services panel is up at the end of this year, a fact that has not escaped Forbes. Indeed, Forbes told reporters Wednesday he would not vote for the defense authorization conference report if it does not include the compromise language, and suggested that other members may follow suit.

The chaplains issue remained the biggest roadblock to completing the conference, although House Armed Services ranking member Ike Skelton, D-Mo., stressed that other issues remained unresolved.

Christian Bourge contributed to this report.