Floor Situation

On Thursday, December 1, 2016, the House will begin consideration of the Conference Report to S. 2943, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017, under a rule. The bill was introduced on May 18, 2016 by Senator John McCain (R-AZ), and passed the Senate by a vote of 85-13, on June 14, 2016.  The House considered H.R. 4909, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 on May 18, 2016 by a vote of 277-147. On July 7, 2016, the House moved to go to Conference on S. 2943. The Legislative Digest for H.R. 4909 can be found here.

Bill Summary

The Conference Report to S. 2943 authorizes and prioritizes funding for the Department of Defense (DoD) and other select national security programs within the Department of Energy for Fiscal Year 2017.  The bill authorizes $619 billion, which includes matching the President’s original budget request of $610 billion, a $5.8 billion supplemental request for operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Europe, and a further $3.2 billion for Readiness Stabilization Funding.

To find a summary of the Conference Report provided by the House Committee on Armed Services, please click here. Highlights include:

• $59.5 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO)
• Elevating U.S. Cyber Command to a full Combatant Command, while retaining the general in charge as the Director of the National Security Agency.
• Eliminating 110 general and admiral positions
• Reversing the President’s drawdown of troops and adds 1,000 sailors, 3,000 Marines, 4,000 airmen and 1,000 active-duty Army soldiers, as well as retains an additional 15,000 who were set to be cut. In addition, the legislation adds 8,000 soldiers to the Army National Guard and 4,000 to the Army Reserve.
• Providing a full 2.1% pay raise for troops
• Excluding a provision that would have required women to register for the draft
• Excluding a number of acquisitions including additional Super Hornets, F-35 Fighters, AH-64 Apache helicopters and other major weapons systems
• Retaining restrictions on the closure or transfer of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba
• Fully funding Israel’s missile defense requirements
• Capping National Security Council staff at 200
• Modernizing the Uniform Code of Military Justice
• Building on acquisition reform to get better technology in a faster and more efficient manner

Background

The National Defense Authorization Act has historically been the key mechanism through which Congress fulfills one of its primary responsibilities as mandated in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States, which grants Congress the power to provide for the common defense; to raise and support an Army; to provide and maintain a Navy; and to make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces.

Click here for the previous Legislative Digest for the House-passed version of H.R. 4909.

 

Cost

A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) cost estimate is currently unavailable. However, the Conference Report authorizes $619 billion for defense and defense-related activities.

Additional Information

For questions or further information on the bill, contact Jake Vreeburg with the House Republican Policy Committee by email or at 6-1828.