{"id":23961,"date":"2020-03-17T19:51:45","date_gmt":"2020-03-17T19:51:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/03\/17\/chairmen-hope-virus-wont-derail-defense-policy-bill\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:01:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:01:06","slug":"chairmen-hope-virus-wont-derail-defense-policy-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2020\/03\/17\/chairmen-hope-virus-wont-derail-defense-policy-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"Congressional chairmen hope COVID-19 won\u2019t derail defense policy bill"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 Though Congress is taking steps to protect lawmakers from the new coronavirus<\/a> and promote social distancing, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee plans to hold its markup of the annual defense bill \u2015 usually a hearing with more than 100 people in attendance \u2015 on schedule next month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it is also exploring alternatives as it considers the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, said Monica Matoush, a spokesperson for HASC\u2019s Democratic majority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBarring a material change, the Committee plans to proceed with the previously identified mark up date and deliver the NDAA for a vote on the House floor by mid-May. While we are exploring other options to coordinate member involvement in the mark up process, no decisions have been made at this time,\u201d Matoush said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The HASC markup session<\/a>, meant for considering controversial amendments to the draft NDAA, is a significant event in the U.S. defense community, and it\u2019s usually better attended than any HASC hearing. The committee\u2019s tight hearing room in the Rayburn House Office Building almost always sees full attendance by the panel\u2019s 50-plus members and, despite the markup streaming online, an audience packed with dozens of lobbyists, staffers and reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That would seem to be at odds with widespread efforts to \u201cflatten the curve\u201d of the COVID-19 outbreak by practicing social distancing, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called on members of Congress to do on Sunday. On Monday, President Donald Trump recommended avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people for 15 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Governments around the world have closed borders, and millions of workers and students have been ordered to stay home. On Monday, U.S. officials recommended that older people and those with underlying health conditions \u201cstay home and away from other people.\u201d And the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommend people try to stay at least 6 feet away from each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\t