[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 88 (Wednesday, June 3, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S3689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1490. Mr. VITTER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to 
prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle A of title IV, add the following:

     SEC. 403. MINIMUM NUMBER OF ARMY BRIGADE COMBAT TEAMS.

       (a) In General.--Section 3062 of title 10, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(e)(1) Effective October 1, 2015, the Secretary of the 
     Army shall maintain a total number of brigade combat teams 
     for the regular and reserve components of the Army of not 
     fewer than 32 brigade combat teams.
       ``(2) In this subsection, the term ` brigade combat team' 
     means any unit that consists of--
       ``(A) an arms branch maneuver brigade;
       ``(B) its assigned support units; and
       ``(C) its assigned fire teams''.
       (b) Limitation on Elimination of Army Brigade Combat 
     Teams.--
       (1) Limitation.--The Secretary of the Army may not proceed 
     with any decision to reduce the number of brigade combat 
     teams for the regular Army to fewer than 32 brigade combat 
     teams.
       (2) Additional limitation on retirement.--The Secretary may 
     not eliminate any brigade combat team from the brigade combat 
     teams of the regular Army as of the date of the enactment of 
     this Act until the later of the following:
       (A) The date that is 30 days after the date on which the 
     Secretary submits the report required under paragraph (3).
       (B) The date that is 30 days after the date on which the 
     Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees 
     that--
       (i) the elimination of Army brigade combat teams will not 
     increase the operational risk of meeting the National Defense 
     Strategy; and
       (ii) the reduction of such combat teams does not reduce the 
     total number of brigade combat teams of the Army to fewer 
     than 32 brigade combat teams.
       (3) Report on elimination of brigade combat teams.--The 
     Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense 
     committees a report setting forth the following:
       (A) The rationale for any proposed reduction of the total 
     strength of the Army, including the National Guard and 
     Reserves, below the strength provided in subsection (e) of 
     section 3062 of title 10, United States Code (as amended by 
     subsection (a) of this section), and an operational analysis 
     of the total strength of the Army that demonstrates 
     performance of the designated mission at an equal or greater 
     level of effectiveness as the personnel of the Army so 
     reduced.
       (B) An assessment of the implications for the Army, the 
     Army National Guard of the United States, and the Army 
     Reserve of the force mix ratio of Army troop strengths and 
     combat units after such reduction.
       (C) Such other matters relating to the reduction of the 
     total strength of the Army as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       (c) Additional Reports.--
       (1) In general.--At least 90 days before the date on which 
     the total strength of the Army, including the National Guard 
     and Reserves, is reduced below the strength provided in 
     subsection (e) of section 3062 of title 10, United States 
     Code (as amended by subsection (a) of this section), the 
     Secretary of the Army, in consultation with (where 
     applicable) the Director of the Army National Guard or Chief 
     of the Army Reserve, shall submit to the congressional 
     defense committees a report on the reduction.
       (2) Elements.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
     shall include the following:
       (A) A list of each major combat unit of the Army that will 
     remain after the reduction, organized by division and 
     enumerated down to the brigade combat team-level or its 
     equivalent, including for each such brigade combat team--
       (i) the mission it is assigned to; and
       (ii) the assigned unit and military installation where it 
     is based.
       (B) A list of each brigade combat team proposed for 
     disestablishment, including for each such unit--
       (i) the mission it is assigned to; and
       (ii) the assigned unit and military installation where it 
     is based.
       (C) A list of each unit affected by a proposed 
     disestablishment listed under subparagraph (B) and a 
     description of how such unit is affected.
       (D) For each military installation and unit listed under 
     subparagraph (B)(ii), a description of changes, if any, to 
     the designed operational capability (DOC) statement of the 
     unit as a result of a proposed disestablishment.
       (E) A description of any anticipated changes in manpower 
     authorizations as a result of a proposed disestablishment 
     listed under subparagraph (B).
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