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The adjustments
to the $600 billion measure affect more than 100 programs, the
committee's Republican and Democratic leaders said in a
statement.
But there is no change to language related to the controversial
military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, where the United
States detains terrorism suspects from around the world. The
bill contains strict limits on transfers from the detention
center that could prevent President Barack Obama from keeping
his promise to close it.
Obama vetoed the NDAA last month because of the way it used war
funds to let the Department of Defense avoid mandatory spending
cuts, and because of the Guantanamo restrictions.
The spending concerns were addressed in the two-year budget deal
Obama signed into law on Monday, which also lifted the threat of
a default on government debt through the end of his presidency.
But the White House has not yet said whether Obama would veto
the new version of the defense policy bill because of the
Guantanamo language, if it is passed in Congress. Lawmakers had
been expected to sustain Obama's veto of the earlier version of
the bill but it is not clear whether they would back a veto
mainly over Guantanamo.
A senior administration official said on Tuesday: "We are
reviewing the new language and hope to work with Congress to
make the NDAA something the president can sign."
The official said keeping the Guantanamo Bay facility open
"weakens our national security by draining resources, damaging
our relationships with key allies and partners, and emboldening
violent extremists."
The House's Republican leaders placed the bill on the suspension
calendar, which means it will need a two-thirds majority to
pass. They did that to show they have enough votes to override
another potential veto.
The House is expected to vote on the bill by Thursday.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by Jeff
Mason; Editing Mohammad Zargham and)
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