Levin: Senate Could Take Up Authorization Bill After Thanksgiving

The U.S. Senate could take up the 2013 defense authorization bill the week after Thanksgiving, says Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin.

The Michigan Democrat told reporters Nov. 13 that he expects the Pentagon policy legislation to reach the Senate floor when Congress returns from a week-long Thanksgiving break.

The legislation had been held up for months. Levin said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said that floor debate must be limited to about three days.

The Senate’s slate is packed during the lame duck session. It must pass something to help avoid massive defense cuts and the so-called fiscal cliff, while also doing something to extend a slew of tax cuts.