Defense Bills Move Forward in House, Senate

Last Friday on a vote of 315-108, the U.S. House of Representatives completed the amendment process and passed H. R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014. The day before, the Rules Committee had reviewed the 299 amendments proposed to the bill and reported a structured rule allowing 172 of them to be offered, reports the Arlington, Va.-based Aerospace Industries Association.

 

An amendment proposed by Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) significantly changes the Armed Services Committee’s recommendation on contractor compensation. This amendment was not made in order by the Rules Committee. To expedite matters, many noncontroversial amendments were offered and passed en bloc by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.).

 

The companion bill in the Senate moved out of committee last week, with the Senate Armed Services Committee reporting its version of the NDAA on Thursday June 13 by a vote of 23-3.

 

Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) told reporters that approximately 100 amendments were adopted in the markup sessions, most of which were closed for national security reasons.

 

The bill authorizes US$625 billion for DOD’s base budget, overseas contingency operations, and national security nuclear programs of the Department of Energy. According to Chairman Levin, the bill authorizes a 1% pay raise for active duty personnel, provides $1.8 billion more for military readiness programs, and reduces allowable costs for contractor compensation to $487,000.

 

The bill also prohibits consideration of another round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), stopping a proposal made in the President’s budget request.

 

The Obama administration threatened to veto the House-reported version of the bill in a Statement of Administration Policy issued before House consideration.