In total, the bill provides $593 billion, an increase of $19.9 billion over the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $16.3 billion more than the Obama Administration’s request. This includes:
-- $516.1 billion in base discretionary funding – an increase of $2 billion above current levels; and
-- $76.6 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO)/Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) funding. This amount includes $14.8 billion in new funding requested by the Trump Administration.
When combined with the $5.8 billion in supplemental funding enacted in the Continuing Resolution that passed in December, the total Defense funding for fiscal year 2017 is $598.5 billion, an increase of $25.7 billion over fiscal year 2016 and $22.1 billion more than President Obama’s original request.
BILL HIGHLIGHTS:
Military Personnel and Pay – The agreement includes $132.3 billion – $128.7 billion for base requirements and $3.6 billion for OCO/GWOT requirements – to provide for 1,305,900 active-duty troops and 813,200 Guard and Reserve troops. The agreement includes $1.6 billion above the request for increased end strength, to include military personnel and operational support costs.
The legislation denies the troop reductions proposed in the previous Administration’s fiscal year 2017 budget request.
The bill also fully funds the authorized 2.1 percent pay raise for the military, instead of 1.6 percent as requested by the previous Administration.
Operation and Maintenance – Included in the legislation is $223 billion – $167.6 billion for base requirements and $55.4 billion for OCO/GWOT requirements – for operation and maintenance. In total, this is $9.4 billion above fiscal year 2016. This funding supports key readiness programs to prepare our troops for combat and peacetime missions, including flight time and training, equipment and facility maintenance, and base operations.
Within this amount, the bill includes an additional $7.3 billion above the previous Administration’s request to fill readiness shortfalls, invest in facility sustainment, restoration, and modernization programs, provide for additional depot maintenance, and support increased end strength. This funding will help rebuild our forces to ensure our troops have the training and equipment they need to sustain our military superiority.
This legislation also fully funds the European Reassurance Initiative, which supports increased U.S. military presence in Europe and additional exercises with our regional partners and allies.
Research and Development – The bill contains $73.7 billion – $72.3 billion for base requirements and $1.4 billion for OCO/GWOT requirements – for research, development, testing, and evaluation of new defense technologies. Total funding is $3.7 billion above the fiscal year 2016 level and $1.9 billion more than the previous Administration’s request, and will help to advance the safety and success of current and future military operations and prepare our nation to meet a broad range of future security threats.
Specifically, this funding will support research and development of: the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter; the GPS III operational control and space segments; the new Air Force bomber program; a next-generation JSTARS aircraft; the RQ-4 Triton Unmanned Aerial Vehicle; the Ohio-class submarine replacement; and other important research and development activities.
Equipment Procurement – The legislation provides a total of $123.3 billion – $108.4 billion for base requirements and $14.9 billion for OCO/GWOT requirements – for equipment and upgrades. Funding for base and GWOT requirements is $12.3 billion above the previous Administration’s request and $4.7 billion above the fiscal year 2016 level. These funds support our nation’s military readiness by providing the necessary platforms, weapons, and other equipment our military needs to train, maintain the force, and conduct successful operations.
For example, the bill includes:
-- $21.2 billion to procure 13 Navy ships, including three DDG-51 guided missile destroyers,
-- Three Littoral Combat Ships,
-- One LPD-17, and advance procurement for the polar icebreaker recapitalization project;
-- $8.2 billion for 74 F-35 aircraft;
-- $1.1 billion for 14 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft;
-- $1.2 billion for 62 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters;
-- $774 million for 52 remanufactured AH-64 Apache helicopters, $262 million for 7 new Apaches, and $72 million to support advanced procurement needs for an additional 10 aircraft;
-- $702 million for 145 Patriot MSE missiles;
-- $275 million for 20 MQ-1 Gray Eagle unmanned aerial vehicles;
-- $187 million for 28 Lakota light utility helicopters;
-- $1.8 billion for 11 P-8A Poseidon aircraft;
-- $2.6 billion for 15 KC-46 tanker aircraft;
-- $1.3 billion for 17 C/HC/KC/MC-130J aircraft; and
-- $210 million for HMMWV modernization for the active Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve.
The bill also includes $750 million for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment account.
In total, $600.7 million is provided for Israel Cooperative Programs. This includes $332 million for equipment procurement and $269 million in research and development – $455 million above the previous Administration’s request. An additional $43 million is also included for Israeli anti-tunneling efforts.
Defense Health and Military Family Programs – The bill contains $34.1 billion for base and GWOT requirements – $1.5 billion above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $314 million above the previous Administration’s request – for the Defense Health Program to provide care for our troops, military families, and retirees. The agreement provides $312 million for cancer research, $125 million for traumatic brain injury and psychological health research, and $296 million for sexual assault prevention and response programs. All of these funding levels represent increases above the budget request for these programs.
Force Structure – The bill rejects the Obama Administration’s proposed troop reductions. Instead, the bill provides increases above fiscal year 2016, including funds for an additional 1,000 active-duty Army soldiers, 1,000 Army National Guard soldiers, 1,000 Army Reserve soldiers, and 1,000 active-duty Marines.
Additionally, to maintain four Apache battalions in the Army National Guard, the bill fully funds the modernization of existing Apaches, provides $262 million for seven new Apaches and supports the annual operating costs of the four battalions. The bill also provides funds to maintain a Combat Aviation Brigade in Korea.
-ends-
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