Quick Hits

*** House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters on an Dec. 16 conference call that lawmakers were getting close on a COVID-19 relief bill and an overall appropriation to fund the federal government after the current continuing resolution expires on Dec. 18. Hoyer said that lawmakers could be voting on bills as soon as Thursday. He also didn't rule out the possibility of another very short-term funding bill to extend the deadline to allow for Congress to consider funding legislation.

"And if we need three or four more days, we're gonna take such time as is necessary to fund the government…and as well to give relief to those….who have been savaged by COVID-19," Hoyer said. "So I'm not for shutting down the government and we'll do what it takes not to do that."

*** The U.S. Army awarded its $2.5 billion, five-year Spectrum Forward Other Transaction Agreement to the National Spectrum Council. The award sets the stage for the Defense Department to benefit from research and development into communications infrastructure and spectrum utilization.