This bill authorizes Department of Defense (DOD) activities and programs for FY2022 and addresses various other issues.

For example, the bill

• provides multiyear procurement authority for certain helicopters and destroyers;
• imposes various cost and operational limits on the F-35 aircraft program;
• requires DOD to establish a consortium of institutions of higher education to study irregular warfare;
• generally prohibits DOD from disposing of certain waste, including hazardous waste, in open-air burn pits outside of the United States;
• requires DOD to impose a temporary moratorium on burning perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly referred to as PFAS);
• expands Selective Service registration to include women;
• requires the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard to appoint special victim prosecutors;
• requires that a formal complaint alleging sexual harassment committed by a service member against another service member be investigated by an independent investigator;
• authorizes the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy to take actions to provide nonmedical counseling services to military families through the DOD Family Readiness System;
• directs DOD to implement certain recommendations for reducing gender-related inequities in out-of-pocket uniform costs;
• requires DOD to provide a basic needs allowance to low-income service members;
• extends temporary authorities for providing premium pay and benefits to certain DOD civilian employees;
• establishes within the General Services Administration the National Digital Reserve Corps to help address the digital and cybersecurity needs of executive agencies;
• extends authority for DOD to support stabilization activities in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Somalia; and
• imposes sanctions on entities (and certain officers and shareholders of such entities) responsible for operating, constructing, or operating the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

This bill authorizes FY2022 appropriations for military activities and programs of the Department of Defense (e.g., personnel; research, development, test, and evaluation; and procurement of items such as aircraft, missiles, and ammunition). It also prescribes military personnel strengths for FY2022.