Some Rays of Hope Emerge from Capitol Hill.

• Author: Hallman, Wesley
• Position: Perspective

* While the news remains rife with the crises and fiscal cliffs facing our federal government, it has not been all bad for those focused on national security.

But first, let's focus on the bad, though unsurprising news. On Oct. 1--for the 12th time in the past 13 years--the new fiscal year started under a continuing resolution. For those not attuned to what a CR is or does, it means we entered the government's new spending year hamstrung with last year's budget and last year's spending authorities. Not only does this mean reduced resources from those planned by the Defense Department and the military services, it also means they--and industry--are unable to start new programs as planned.

As highlighted by experience, this portends spending inefficiencies, extended vulnerability and risk for the defense industrial base, and delayed advanced capabilities for warfighters. This is time and money we will never get back and something neither China nor Russia has to contend with. So, despite the efforts of the National Defense Industrial Association and many others, budget stability remains an elusive goal, but one which remains a foundational priority.

Despite neither a defense appropriation or a passed and signed National Defense Authorization Act, there remain some rays of good news in the ongoing legislative process.

First and foremost, the fact that annual defense legislation remains an exercise in bipartisanship bodes well at a time when we increasingly need a unified voice and purpose addressing the nation's security. Congress put this bipartisanship on display when the respective Armed Services committees defied the White House and added nearly $25 billion to the topline defense budget. Both committees passed their versions of the NDAA by wide bipartisan margins, and, on the House side, also passed on a broad bipartisan floor vote after easily overcoming an amendment seeking a 10 percent spending cut.

But bipartisanship is not the only reason for faith. Congress has taken up several substantive policy issues of real import now and into the future. First among these in the House bill is Section 802, "Special Emergency Reimbursement Authority," also known as the "Just in Case Act." Co-sponsored by Reps. Anthony Brown, D-Md., and Rob Wittman, R-Va., the provision builds on the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, enshrining an emergency authority that "will enable contractors--particularly small innovative businesses--to keep their workforces...