Mark Satter

Congress + national security @rollcall @CQNow | Tips, rumors, wild stories? Find me on Signal: Mark.312

[Valerie Yurk @valerie_yurk]

Breakdown of the exchange between @RepRashida and @RepMaxMiller (via CQ Floor Action Team)

Miller said: “Oh, I’m sorry. Are we getting emotional?”

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

@connorobrienNH @LeoShane 11:02pm on the dot

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks says he "absolutely" expects more Republicans to vote in support of his Russia sanctions/Ukraine aid bill, after six Rs and one Independent helped to move it forward today.

Two additional votes, one on the rule and another on passage, expected tomorrow.

[Vera Bergengruen @VeraMBergen]

Reporter: "How do you define ceasefire?"

Trump: “In that part of the world, ceasefire is when you’re shooting in a more moderate manner”

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

NEWS:

In a rebuke to the Trump administration and GOP leadership in Congress, lawmakers voted, 218-204, to move forward with a Russia sanctions and Ukraine aid bill.

Lawmakers used a discharge petition to circumvent leadership and force a vote on the issue. Six Republicans and one Independent voted in support.

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

NEWS: The House adopted, 215-208, the Meeks, D-N.Y., concurrent resolution (H Con Res 86) that would direct the president to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.

Follows similar successful procedural vote in the Senate.

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

The House is about to vote on an Iran war powers resolution and a Ukraine aid/Russia sanctions bill, both offered by Foreign Affairs Chairman Gregory Meeks.

Both could have the votes to pass.

[Connor O'Brien @connorobrienNH]

NEW: Rep. Ronny Jackson tells me he plans to offer an amendment at tomorrow’s House Armed Services markup of the NDAA that would formally rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War.

Could split Rs, who haven’t made any moves to codify the rebrand.

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

House Appropriations leaders Cole and DeLauro tell me there has not yet been any request from the Pentagon for an Iran war supplemental.

“We do leave here at the end of July,” said Cole.

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

How things are going at the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing:

Rep. Jacobs: "You can't say that the President lost the 2020 election, just like you won't admit President Trump is losing this reckless war of choice, and just like you couldn't admit that the shoes the president bought you were too big."

Rubio: "We're talking about shoes. Are you guys kidding me? Is this the Foreign Affairs Committee, or is this like a circus?"

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

"This has been going on since OJ had Isotoners" says Marco Rubio with a slight grin, talking to lawmakers about Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah.

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

Sen. Tim Kaine says the Senate won't vote on his Iran war powers resolution this week.

Democrats will instead look for a successful vote in the House to build pressure on the Trump administration.

"Donald Trump does not care about Congress, but he knows what it means when Republican members of Congress start to vote against him. What it means is, geez, this must be really unpopular. I normally can get them to do what I want. I can't get him to do what I want here," Kaine said, "starting to lose Republican votes also is an indication to him -- I gotta find an off ramp."

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

Jack Reed says he hopes to have all committee work on the Senate NDAA done by end of next week, and to file the measure by the week of June 15.

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

Himes: "Even by Trump administration standards, Bill Pulte is totally unqualified."

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

Bill Pulte, Trump's new pick for ODNI, facing immediate opposition on the Hill.

Thune: Pulte faces "a long road" to confirmation.

Warner: "Americans have every reason to worry."

Warren: Pulte is a "lackey" with no nat sec experience.

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

Bill Pulte, Trump's new pick for ODNI, facing immediate opposition on the Hill.

Thune: Pulte faces "a long road" to confirmation.

Warner: "Americans have every reason to worry."

Warren: Pulte is a "lackey" with no nat sec experience.

[Scott Nover @ScottNover]

SCOOP: The Pentagon has banned journalists from its press office, designating it a classified space. The change creates a new barrier between journalists and the public affairs officers who have traditionally answered their questions.

https://t.co/DYgLYj99sc

[Connor O'Brien @connorobrienNH]

NEW: SASC will mark up its NDAA the week of June 8.

Full committee plans to kick off its (closed) markup the afternoon of Tuesday, June 9. Will likely go multiple days.

Subcommittees will hold markups on June 8/9.

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

New: In a letter to Defense Secretary Hegseth, GOP Senators Tillis, Cramer and Grassley join Democrats in calling on the Pentagon to release $400 million in stalled fiscal 2026 funding for Ukraine.

Follows pressure from top appropriators to do so, including McConnell.

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

The chairman's mark of the NDAA seemingly makes no mention of Ukraine.

This will likely come up in the amendment process next week.

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

NEW: The just-released House NDAA would extend, and build upon, prohibitions on moving U.S. troops from Europe and Korea.

It would extend for another year
- 76,000 U.S. troop floor in Europe
- Prohibition on removing more than $500k mil tech from Europe
- Prohibition on giving up SACEUR
- 28,500 troop floor in Korea

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

NEW: The just-released House NDAA would extend, and build upon, prohibitions on moving U.S. troops from Europe and Korea.

It would extend for another year
- 76,000 U.S. troop floor in Europe
- Prohibition on removing more than $500k mil tech from Europe
- Prohibition on giving up SACEUR
- 28,500 troop floor in Korea