The Senate Armed Services Committee chairman earlier this week filed a stripped-down defense authorization bill that he said contained the U.S. military’s must-pass provisions — a backup plan in case House and Senate conferees cannot agree on a full authorization measure in the next few weeks.

But the so-called skinny bill is missing one essential element: a detailed list of authorized military construction projects.

[As defense talks drag on, Inhofe prepares pared-down bill]

“A skinny bill is simple,” Chairman James M. Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican, said in an Oct. 29 floor speech introducing the measure. “It extends necessary authorities for military operations, takes care of the servicemembers and their families, and authorizes essential military construction and acquisition programs. That’s it.”

Absent a full conference report negotiated by both chambers of Congress, Inhofe’s draft bill would be needed to accomplish the bare minimum things that only defense authorization bills can do, notably including keeping alive military pay and benefits programs that expire at the end of the calendar year.