[House Report 118-557]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
118th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2nd Session } { 118-557
======================================================================
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2025
----------
R E P O R T
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
together with
MINORITY VIEWS
[TO ACCOMPANY H.R. 8774]
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
June 17, 2024.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
118th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2nd Session } { 118-557
======================================================================
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2025
__________
R E P O R T
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
together with
MINORITY VIEWS
[TO ACCOMPANY H.R. 8774]
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
June 17, 2024.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
__________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
55-993 PDF WASHINGTON : 2024
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C O N T E N T S
Pages
Bill Totals...................................................... 1
Committee Budget Review Process.................................. 3
Introduction..................................................... 3
Definition of Program, Project, and Activity..................... 5
Reprogramming Guidance........................................... 5
Funding Increases................................................ 6
Congressional Special Interest Items............................. 6
Classified Annex................................................. 6
Committee Recommendations by Major Category...................... 6
Active, Reserve, and National Guard Military Personnel......... 6
Operation and Maintenance...................................... 6
Procurement.................................................... 6
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation..................... 7
Defense Health Program......................................... 8
Pay Raise for Military Personnel................................. 8
Innovation....................................................... 8
Defense Innovation Unit.......................................... 9
Navy Littoral Combat Ships....................................... 10
Prohibition on Air Force Divestments............................. 10
Air Force Reoptimization for Great Power Competition............. 11
Civilian Workforce Optimization.................................. 11
Civilian Pay and Contract Personnel Budget Justification
Materials...................................................... 12
Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution Reform........... 12
Space Force Overhead Costs....................................... 13
Space Force Mission Area Budget Report........................... 13
Pacific Deterrence Initiative Budgeting.......................... 14
ISR Requirements................................................. 14
Climate Change................................................... 14
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility.................. 14
Replicator....................................................... 15
Defense Industrial Base Health and Privity of Contract........... 15
Alternative Parts for Commercial Derivative Military Aircraft.... 16
Financial Audit.................................................. 16
Cybersecurity Risks from Commercial Information Technology....... 17
TITLE I. MILITARY PERSONNEL...................................... 18
Military Personnel Overview.................................... 20
Summary of End Strength........................................ 20
Overall Active End Strength.................................... 20
Overall Selected Reserve End Strength.......................... 20
Summary of Military End Strength............................... 20
Reprogramming Guidance for Military Personnel Accounts......... 21
Military Personnel Special Interest Items...................... 21
End Strength and Recruiting.................................... 21
Military Personnel, Army....................................... 21
Military Personnel, Navy....................................... 24
Military Personnel, Marine Corps............................... 27
Military Personnel, Air Force.................................. 30
Military Personnel, Space Force................................ 33
Reserve Personnel, Army........................................ 36
Reserve Personnel, Navy........................................ 38
Reserve Personnel, Marine Corps................................ 40
Reserve Personnel, Air Force................................... 42
National Guard Personnel, Army................................. 44
National Guard Personnel, Air Force............................ 46
TITLE II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.............................. 48
Reprogramming Guidance for Operation and Maintenance Accounts.. 50
Reprogramming Guidance for Special Operations Command.......... 51
Operation and Maintenance Special Interest Items............... 51
Operation and Maintenance Budget Execution Data................ 51
Quarterly Operation and Maintenance Updates.................... 52
Depot and Industrial Facility Modernization.................... 52
Strategic Seaport Program...................................... 52
Electronic Device Detection in Sensitive Compartmented
Information Facilities and Special Access Program Facilities. 53
Private Sector Employment Verification......................... 53
Advertising.................................................... 53
Military Criminal Investigative Organizations.................. 54
Community Partnerships to Reduce Food Insecurity............... 54
Pueblo of Isleta............................................... 54
Vieques and Culebra............................................ 54
Photovoltaic Modules........................................... 55
Partnership with Tribal Nations................................ 55
Meals Ready-to-Eat War Reserve................................. 55
Women, Peace, and Security..................................... 56
Operation and Maintenance, Army................................ 56
Credentialing Assistance Program............................. 60
Ultra-Lightweight Camouflage Net Systems..................... 60
Operation and Maintenance, Navy................................ 60
Ship Maintenance............................................. 64
Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program................. 64
Kennebec River Federal Navigation Channel.................... 64
Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps........................ 64
Operation and Maintenance, Air Force........................... 66
Pilot Shortfall.............................................. 70
Operation and Maintenance, Space Force......................... 70
Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide........................ 72
Expeditionary Fuel Systems for Contested Logistics........... 77
All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office......................... 77
Incentive for Nontraditional Contract Expertise.............. 77
Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative............ 77
Emergencies and Extraordinary Expenses....................... 77
Quarterly Reports on Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility....... 78
Quarterly Briefings on Deployments of United States Armed
Forces..................................................... 78
Foreign Bases................................................ 78
Notification of Pausing Assistance........................... 78
Defense Security Cooperation Agency Programs................. 78
Taiwan Defense Articles Report............................... 81
Ukraine...................................................... 81
Drawdown Reporting Requirement............................... 81
Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund.............................. 81
Operation and Maintenance, Army Reserve........................ 82
Operation and Maintenance, Navy Reserve........................ 84
Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps Reserve................ 86
Operation and Maintenance, Air Force Reserve................... 88
Logistics and Staging for Indo-Pacific Operations............ 90
Operation and Maintenance, Army National Guard................. 90
Operation and Maintenance, Air National Guard.................. 93
United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces............ 95
Environmental Restoration, Army................................ 95
Environmental Restoration, Navy................................ 95
Environmental Restoration, Air Force........................... 95
Environmental Restoration, Defense-Wide........................ 95
Environmental Restoration, Formerly Used Defense Sites......... 95
Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid................. 95
Cooperative Threat Reduction Account........................... 96
Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Account.. 96
TITLE III. PROCUREMENT........................................... 97
Reprogramming Guidance for Acquisition Accounts................ 99
Funding Increases.............................................. 99
Procurement Special Interest Items............................. 99
Aircraft Procurement, Army..................................... 99
MQ-lC Gray Eagle 25M Aircraft for the Army National Guard.... 102
Missile Procurement, Army...................................... 102
Procurement of Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles, Army....... 105
Procurement of Ammunition, Army................................ 108
Smokeless Gunpowder.......................................... 111
Other Procurement, Army........................................ 111
Common Tactical Truck Analysis of Alternatives............... 117
Aircraft Procurement, Navy..................................... 117
Navy Adversary Aircraft for Training Purposes................ 121
E-2D Advanced Hawkeye........................................ 121
Weapons Procurement, Navy...................................... 121
Procurement of Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps............... 125
Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy.............................. 128
45-Day Shipbuilding Review................................... 131
Submarine Construction....................................... 131
Frigate Construction......................................... 132
Medium Landing Ship.......................................... 132
Other Procurement, Navy........................................ 132
Procurement, Marine Corps...................................... 139
Aircraft Procurement, Air Force................................ 143
Missile Procurement, Air Force................................. 148
Procurement of Ammunition, Air Force........................... 151
Other Procurement, Air Force................................... 153
Procurement, Space Force....................................... 157
National Security Space Launch............................... 159
Procurement, Defense-Wide...................................... 159
Defense Supply Chain Packaging............................... 163
Ground Mobility Tactical Vehicles for Special Operations
Forces..................................................... 163
Defense Production Act Purchases............................... 163
Purchase Commitments......................................... 163
Strategic and Critical Rare Earths........................... 164
Chemical Supply Chain and Environmental Protection Agency
Engagement................................................. 164
National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account................. 165
TITLE IV. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION............. 166
Reprogramming Guidance for Acquisition Accounts................ 168
Funding Increases.............................................. 168
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Special Interest
Items........................................................ 168
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Army............... 168
Counter-Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance and
Information Advantage...................................... 182
Nitrocellulose Production.................................... 182
Heavy Vehicle Simulator...................................... 182
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy............... 182
Secure Testbed for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles........... 195
Rapid Analysis of Threat Exposure............................ 195
Coastal Environmental Research............................... 195
Adaptive Future Force........................................ 196
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force.......... 196
Fighter Aircraft Engine Development.......................... 210
Sentinel..................................................... 210
Collaborative Combat Aircraft................................ 211
Business and Enterprise Systems Product Innovation........... 211
Long Range Persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and
Reconnaissance............................................. 212
Ultra-Wideband Antenna Systems............................... 212
Semiconductor Authentication................................. 212
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Space Force........ 212
Protected Tactical SATCOM-Global............................. 217
Operational Commercial Space Domain Awareness................ 217
Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Tracking.......... 217
Resilient Global Positioning System.......................... 218
Extended Launch Vehicle Capabilities......................... 219
Space Test Program........................................... 219
Quarterly Reports............................................ 219
Cislunar Space............................................... 220
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide....... 220
Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing.... 236
Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer Activities. 236
National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity..... 237
Armstrong Test Facility...................................... 237
Light Detection and Ranging.................................. 237
Loitering Munitions.......................................... 238
Semiconductor Supply Chain Security.......................... 238
Digital Supply Chain Management.............................. 238
Combatant Craft Heavy........................................ 239
Operational Test and Evaluation, Defense....................... 239
TITLE V. REVOLVING AND MANAGEMENT FUNDS.......................... 240
Defense Working Capital Funds.................................. 240
National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund.................... 240
TITLE VI. OTHER DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAMS................... 241
Defense Health Program......................................... 241
Reprogramming Guidance for the Defense Health Program........ 244
Carryover.................................................... 244
Stabilizing and Improving the Military Health System......... 245
Military Medical Manpower.................................... 245
Electronic Health Records.................................... 246
Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program........................ 246
Metastatic Cancer Research..................................... 247
Peer-Reviewed ALS Research Program............................. 248
Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program...................... 248
Combat Readiness Medical Research Program...................... 248
Peer-Reviewed Toxic Exposures Research Program................. 249
Peer-Reviewed Arthritis Research............................... 249
Medical Research............................................... 250
Medical Health Professionals and Training...................... 250
Service Dogs................................................... 250
Arthroscopic Surgical Training for Military Orthopedic Surgeons 251
Oral Rehydration Solutions..................................... 251
Incidence of Cancer Among Active Duty Aviation Pilots.......... 251
Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction, Defense............. 252
Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense......... 252
Office of the Inspector General................................ 253
TITLE VII. RELATED AGENCIES...................................... 254
National and Military Intelligence Programs.................... 254
Classified Annex............................................... 254
Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System
Fund......................................................... 254
Intelligence Community Management Account...................... 254
TITLE VIII. GENERAL, PROVISIONS.................................. 255
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.................. 264
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives.......... 264
Program Duplication............................................ 264
Transfer of Funds.............................................. 264
Rescissions.................................................... 266
Disclosure of Earmarks and Congressionally Directed Spending
Items........................................................ 266
Changes in the Application of Existing Law..................... 266
Appropriations Not Authorized by Law........................... 278
Comparison with the Budget Resolution.......................... 279
Five-Year Outlay Projections................................... 279
Financial Assistance to State and Local Governments............ 279
Committee Hearings............................................. 279
Full Committee Votes........................................... 281
Minority Views................................................. 301
118th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2nd Session } { 118-557
======================================================================
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2025
_______
June 17, 2024.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Calvert of California, from the Committee on
Appropriations, submitted the following
R E P O R T
together with
MINORITY VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 8774]
The Committee on Appropriations submits the following
report in explanation of the accompanying bill making
appropriations for the Department of Defense, and for other
purposes, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025.
BILL TOTALS
Appropriations for most military functions of the
Department of Defense are provided for in the accompanying bill
for fiscal year 2025. This bill does not provide appropriations
for military construction, military family housing, civil
defense, and military nuclear warheads, for which requirements
are considered in connection with other appropriations Acts.
The fiscal year 2025 President's budget request for
activities funded in the Department of Defense Appropriations
Act totals $833,053,000,000 in new budget obligational
authority.
COMMITTEE BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS
During its review of the fiscal year 2025 President's
budget request and execution of appropriations from prior
fiscal years, the Subcommittee on Defense held five hearings
and ten classified sessions during the period of March 2024 to
June 2024. Hearings were held in open session, except when the
security classification of the material to be discussed
presented no alternative but to conduct those hearings in
executive or closed session.
INTRODUCTION
The Committee recommendation for fiscal year 2025
Department of Defense discretionary funding is
$833,053,000,000, which exceeds the President's budget request
by $151,879,000.
The Committee recommendation adheres to the overall defense
discretionary spending limit imposed by the Fiscal
Responsibility Act of 2023 (Public Law 118-5), which allowed
for one percent growth over fiscal year 2024 discretionary
spending levels.
The prescribed defense topline, which fails to keep pace
with inflation, along with a deteriorating global security
environment and delays and cost overruns in several key weapon
system acquisitions, posed a challenge for the Committee in
balancing funding for the Nation's near-term and future defense
needs.
In the past year, the United States' adversaries have acted
with impunity, pursuing their objectives without fear of
consequences or concern for the Administration's strategy of
integrated deterrence. The People's Republic of China (PRC) is
brazenly advancing towards an invasion of Taiwan by 2027, while
rapidly producing destabilizing military capabilities. Russia
has intensified its brutal war of aggression in Ukraine with no
signs of relenting. Iran has directly attacked our close ally
Israel with a massive missile barrage. Meanwhile, on the
southern border of the United States, Chinese fentanyl
components distributed by Mexican drug cartels have killed over
100,000 Americans in the past year alone.
As the world celebrates the 80th anniversary of the D-Day
operation along the beaches of Normandy that marked the
beginning of the end of the Nazis' authoritarian vision, the
Committee notes with grave concern the emboldened and
aggressive actions of today's malign actors. The resulting
instability is likely to persist, and the Committee takes
seriously its task to provide the resources necessary for the
United States military to create a credible deterrent, and if
necessary, to decisively fight and win in war.
Maintaining the Department's deterrence posture is further
complicated by a troubling number of critical weapon systems
experiencing delays and cost overruns. For instance, in the
past year, modernization of two legs of the Nation's nuclear
triad were delayed by at least a year. The cause of these
mounting delays is challenging to pinpoint but stem from a mix
of technical complexity, a shrinking industrial base, and
bureaucratic inertia within the Department.
To address these challenges, the Committee's top priorities
for fiscal year 2025 include strengthening the United States
military's position against any threat presented by the PRC,
continuing to create an innovative and modern force by rapidly
fielding capabilities using both traditional and nontraditional
companies, optimizing the Department's workforce and business
operations, enhancing the military's role in countering the
flow of illicit fentanyl and synthetic opioids, and taking care
of servicemembers and their families.
Given the constraints of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the
Committee's recommendation offers the best path to achieving
these objectives.
The Committee recommendation builds on the investments in
the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024, to increase
America's military superiority to counter China. The bill
increases funding for International Security Cooperation
Programs for Taiwan to $200,000,000; provides a $400,000,000
increase to accelerate the delivery of the E-7 airborne early
warning aircraft; prohibits the decommissioning of three ships;
and prohibits the divestiture of the U-2 high altitude
reconnaissance aircraft and certain F-15 fighter aircraft. The
bill adds aircraft like the F-35, C-130J, Combat Rescue
Helicopter, Blackhawk Helicopter, and MQ-1C Gray Eagle for the
National Guard.
To build on the foundational innovation measures created in
the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024, the
Committee recommendation continues to prioritize fostering a
culture of innovation within the Department. The Committee
prioritizes equipping our servicemembers with the best, most
effective weapons and systems; ensuring these weapons and
systems get to the warfighter as quickly as possible and avoid
a ``Valley of Death''; and increasing competition by enabling
nontraditional companies, including small and medium sized
businesses to compete.
To enhance the Department's counterdrug role, the Committee
recommendation builds on last year's historic investment in the
drug interdiction and counter-drug activities account by
providing $1,143,269,000. This includes funding provided above
the President's budget request for counter-narcotics support,
demand reduction, the National Guard Counter-Drug Program, and
National Guard Counter-Drug Schools. The Committee
recommendation also moves Mexico into the United States
Southern Command area of responsibility, where it will get the
attention it requires.
To optimize the Department's workforce and business
operations, the Committee recommendation cuts over $916,000,000
from the budget request for the civilian workforce, while
exempting employees engaged in shipyard, depot, mental health,
and sexual assault and response duties. The recommendation
provides additional guidance on the Department's reassessment
of manpower to ensure they are taking a hard look at how to use
technology to reduce administrative tasks.
Finally, to take care of servicemembers and their families,
the Committee recommendation funds a 4.5 percent pay raise for
all military personnel and includes $2,500,000,000 in support
of an additional 15 percent pay raise for junior enlisted
servicemembers.
The Committee appreciates the input from the Department of
Defense, the Intelligence Community, Members of Congress,
industry, think tanks, and outside stakeholders as it worked to
draft its recommendation for fiscal year 2025.
DEFINITION OF PROGRAM, PROJECT, AND ACTIVITY
For the purposes of the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-177), as amended by
the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Reaffirmation
Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-119), and by the Budget Enforcement
Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-508), the terms ``program, project,
and activity'' for appropriations contained in this Act shall
be defined as the most specific level of budget items
identified in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act,
2025, the related classified annexes and Committee reports, and
the P-1 and R-1 budget justification documents as subsequently
modified by congressional action.
The following exception to the above definition shall
apply: the military personnel and the operation and maintenance
accounts, for which the term ``program, project, and activity''
is defined as the appropriations accounts contained in the
Department of Defense Appropriations Act.
At the time the President submits the budget request for
fiscal year 2026, the Secretary of Defense is directed to
transmit to the congressional defense committees budget
justification documents to be known as the M-1 and O-1, which
shall identify, at the budget activity, activity group, and
sub-activity group level, the amounts requested by the
President to be appropriated to the Department of Defense for
military personnel and operation and maintenance in any budget
request, or amended budget request, for fiscal year 2026.
REPROGRAMMING GUIDANCE
The Secretary of Defense is directed to continue to follow
the reprogramming guidance for acquisition accounts as
specified in the report accompanying the House version of the
Department of Defense Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2008
(House Report 110-279). The dollar threshold for reprogramming
funds shall be $15,000,000 for military personnel, operation
and maintenance, procurement, and research, development, test
and evaluation.
Additionally, the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
is directed to continue to provide the congressional defense
committees annual DD Form 1416 reports for titles I and II and
quarterly, spreadsheet-based DD Form 1416 reports for Service
and defense-wide accounts in titles III and IV of this Act.
Reports for titles III and IV shall comply with guidance
specified in the explanatory statement accompanying the
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006. The Department
shall continue to follow the limitation that prior approval
reprogramming actions are set at either the specified dollar
threshold or 20 percent of the procurement or research,
development, test and evaluation line, whichever is less. These
thresholds are cumulative from the base for reprogramming value
as modified by any adjustments. Therefore, if the combined
value of transfers into or out of a military personnel (M-1);
an operation and maintenance (O-1); a procurement (P-1); or a
research, development, test and evaluation (R-1) line exceeds
the identified threshold, the Secretary of Defense must submit
a prior approval reprogramming to the congressional defense
committees. In addition, guidelines on the application of prior
approval reprogramming procedures for congressional special
interest items are established elsewhere in this statement.
FUNDING INCREASES
The funding increases outlined in the tables for each
appropriation account shall be provided only for the specific
purposes indicated in the tables.
CONGRESSIONAL SPECIAL INTEREST ITEMS
Items for which additional funds have been provided or
items for which funding is specifically reduced as shown in the
project level tables or in paragraphs using the phrase ``only
for'' or ``only to'' in this report are congressional special
interest items for the purpose of the Base for Reprogramming
(DD Form 1414). Each of these items must be carried on the DD
Form 1414 at the stated amount, as specifically addressed in
the Committee report.
CLASSIFIED ANNEX
Adjustments to the classified programs are addressed in the
classified annex accompanying this report.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS BY MAJOR CATEGORY
ACTIVE, RESERVE, AND NATIONAL GUARD MILITARY PERSONNEL
In title I of the Act, the Committee recommends a total of
$183,701,827,000 for active, reserve, and National Guard
military personnel, an increase of $1,821,288,000 above the
budget request. The Committee recommendation provides full
funding necessary to increase basic pay for all military
personnel by 4.5 percent, effective January 1, 2025. The
Committee recommendation also includes $2,500,000,000 for an
additional 15 percent pay increase for junior enlisted
personnel.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
In title II of the Act, the Committee recommends a total of
$294,188,304,000 for operation and maintenance support to the
military Services and other Department of Defense entities, a
decrease of $2,146,200,000 below the budget request. The
recommended levels will fund operational training, readiness,
and facilities needs in fiscal year 2025.
PROCUREMENT
In title III of the Act, the Committee recommends a total
of $165,335,237,000 for procurement, a decrease of
$1,435,524,000 below the budget request.
Major initiatives and modifications include:
$240,000,000 for MQ-1C Gray Eagle 25M aircraft for the Army
National Guard;
$50,000,000 for additional modernized Army National Guard
HMMWVs;
$1,956,668,000 for the procurement of the B-21 Raider;
$9,183,731,000 for 76 F-35 aircraft, which is an increase
of $964,550,000 for two additional F-35As for the Air Force for
a total of 44 F-35As; 13 short take-off and vertical landing
variants for the Marine Corps, and six additional F-35Cs for a
total of 19 carrier variants for the Navy and Marine Corps;
$2,695,728,000 for the procurement of 15 KC-46A tanker
aircraft;
$1,808,472,000 for the procurement of 18 F-15EX aircraft;
$294,095,000 for the procurement of eight MH-139 aircraft;
$261,000,000 for the procurement of two C-130Js aircraft
for the Air National Guard;
$120,000,000 for the procurement of two Combat Rescue
Helicopters;
$400,000,000 for the acceleration of the delivery of the E-
7 aircraft;
$261,000,000 for the procurement of two KC-130Js aircraft
for the Navy Reserve;
$2,149,910,000 for the procurement of 20 CH-53K
helicopters, an increase of one aircraft and $125,000,000 above
the President's budget request;
$501,000,000 for the procurement of three MQ-25 aircraft;
$31,617,413,000 for the procurement of four Navy battle
force ships, including two DDG-51 guided missile destroyers,
one Virginia-class fast attack submarine, and one San Antonio-
class Amphibious Transport Dock ship;
$2,141,614,000 for the procurement of 11 National Security
Space Launches; and
$200,000,000 for the Israeli Cooperative Programs under the
Missile Defense Agency.
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION
In title IV of the Act, the Committee recommends a total of
$146,022,915,000 for research, development, test and
evaluation, an increase of $2,866,325,000 above the budget
request.
Major initiatives and modifications include:
$1,253,637,000 to support Army Future Vertical Lift,
including design, prototyping, and risk reduction for the
Future Long Range Assault Aircraft;
$538,017,000 for continued development and fielding of the
Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon;
$2,071,152,000 for the F-35 Continuous Capability
Development and Delivery program;
$1,546,875,000 for the continued development of the Air
Force's Survivable Airborne Operations Center;
$2,654,073,000 for the continued development of the B-21
bomber;
$3,275,435,000 for the continued development of the Air
Force's Next Generation Air Dominance program;
$623,491,000 for the continued development of the Air
Force's Long Range Standoff Weapon;
$3,397,024,000 for the continued development of the Air
Force's Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program;
$903,927,000 for the continued development of the Navy's
conventional prompt strike program;
$775,316,000 for Navy's TACAMO (Take Charge and Move Out)
mission providing survivable communications links to strategic
forces;
$91,008,000 for the continued development of the Marine
Corps ground-based anti-ship missile and long-range fires
programs;
$1,692,869,000 for Next Generation Interceptor Development;
$2,071,248,000 for the continued development of the Next
Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared program;
$2,426,900,000 for the continued development of the
Resilient Missile Warning-Missile Tracking program; and
$300,000,000 for the Israeli Cooperative Programs under the
Missile Defense Agency.
DEFENSE HEALTH PROGRAM
The Committee recommends a total of $41,159,039,000 for the
Defense Health Program to support worldwide medical and dental
services for active forces and other eligible beneficiaries.
PAY RAISE FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL
The House fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill included
funding above the budget request in support of an average 30
percent pay increase for junior enlisted servicemembers. This
increase was designed to mitigate the ongoing military
recruiting crisis and to improve the quality of life for our
most vulnerable military personnel and their families.
Unfortunately, the Biden Administration strongly opposed this
pay raise for our servicemembers and it was not included in the
final conference agreement.
For fiscal year 2025, the Committee once again supports a
significant increase in pay for our junior enlisted
servicemembers. The recommendation fully funds the 4.5 percent
pay increase for all military personnel requested in the fiscal
year 2025 President's budget request, but also provides
$2,500,000,000 in funding above the President's budget request
in support of an additional 15 percent pay increase for junior
enlisted servicemembers.
A preliminary assessment of this junior enlisted pay raise
by the Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation commission
indicates that it will provide a much-needed boost to
recruitment, while also significantly improving retention. Both
are critical to reversing a declining end strength that
threatens the ability of our military to successfully execute
the National Defense Strategy.
As such, the Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to
implement this pay raise, effective January 1, 2025, consistent
with the table for `Enlisted Members' included under the header
`Reform of Rates of Monthly Basic Pay' in the Servicemember
Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2025, as reported by the House Committee on
Armed Services.
INNOVATION
The Committee's prioritization of innovation aims to
deliver acquisition solutions faster to rapidly field
capabilities to the warfighter. Through increasing competition,
as proven throughout history, technological advancement will
accelerate and costs will decrease. The Committee recognizes
the Department of Defense's efforts to comprehensively advance
innovation. As evidenced by the Committee's recommendations for
fiscal year 2025, the Committee largely supports Rapid Defense
Experimentation Reserve (RDER), Office of Strategic Capital
(OSC), Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative
Technologies (APFIT), Rapid Integrated Scalable Enterprise
(RISE), as well as process improvement and scaling efforts such
as Competitive Advantage Pathfinders (CAP) and Replicator.
Further, the Committee notes that defense acquisition
efforts at any level are subject to multiple valleys of death.
Valleys of death mostly, but not exclusively, negatively impact
new technologies through delays and/or stoppage and the
Committee recognizes that valleys of death are most acutely
complicating for small businesses and nontraditional defense
contractors. The Committee expects the Department to remain
alert of a valley of death often overlooked, relating to
doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership,
personnel, facilities, and policy (DOTMLPF-P), which remains
critical to successful employment of newly fielded
capabilities.
The Committee encourages the Department to continue to
strengthen innovation initiatives that reduce risk across
requirements and acquisition value streams. Further, the
Committee understands the dynamism inextricably linked to
innovation initiatives and urges the Department to
appropriately harness energy to allow for productive end-user
outcomes. While innovation can come from anyone or anywhere, it
is essential to emphasize and clarify the role of the Defense
Innovation Unit (DIU) and collaborative Service, Principal
Staff Assistant, and Joint Staff innovation hubs. As the
Defense Innovation Community of Entities (DICE) organizes, the
Committee expects DIU, supported by the Secretary of Defense,
to promote DICE synergy, apply strategic focus, and promote
best practices in leveraging commercial technology.
DEFENSE INNOVATION UNIT
The Committee is encouraged that the Department of Defense
is accelerating the provision of manpower for the Defense
Innovation Unit (DIU) to ensure execution of increased funding
levels. The Committee notes the Commission on Planning,
Programming, Budgeting, and Execution Reform recommends the
Department more frequently share relevant information with
Congress and pursue enhanced, institutionalized transparency.
The Committee appreciates DIU's efforts to improve transparency
and regular access to information across the Department and
with Congress. By proving and scaling transparency efforts, the
Committee expects to gain oversight through insight rather than
requiring reports to Congress.
Additionally, the Committee understands the strain and
stress that commonly accompanies innovation efforts and
appreciates the compounding challenges presented by significant
investment growth over short periods of time. To smooth
volatility associated with significant growth, extend
additional flexibility based on DIU's willingness to advance
transparency, and encourage Service demand signals for
technologies of interest on the near horizon, although not yet
programmed in the budget year, the Committee includes
$240,000,000 for transition of projects with Service commitment
to programming not later than the second outyear.
Finally, the Committee notes the Defense Technical
Information Center (DTIC) maintains an innovators information
repository specific to the small business innovation research
program and small business technology transfer program pursuant
to section 220 of Public Law 115-232. The Committee is
concerned the Department, and subordinate organizations, are
not able to identify investment or technology trends through
the acquisition life cycle, nor does the Department have a
comprehensive repository to query general technology offerings.
Therefore, the Committee includes $10,000,000 for innovation
information repository expansion to include investments related
to DIU and encourages DIU and DTIC to collaborate with the
Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office on the
expansion. Once expansion is tested and validated, the
Committee urges the Department to program funds for
comprehensive expansion.
NAVY LITTORAL COMBAT SHIPS
The Committee is incensed that, despite repeated rejections
by Congress, the Navy is once again proposing to decommission
several Independence Class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) well
before the end of their expected service lives. The Committee
strongly believes that these ships, though not aligned with the
Navy's original plan, can provide operational value to the
fleet in support of combatant commander requirements. Further,
the Committee views the Navy's response to the Committee's
concerns as inadequate. The Committee believes it is premature
to divest these ships before the completion of a thorough
assessment of the potential uses for these ships. Therefore,
the Committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to submit a
report to the congressional defense committees, not later than
30 days after the enactment of this Act, on the proposed
alternative uses for the Independence Class LCS.
PROHIBITION ON AIR FORCE DIVESTMENTS
The Committee notes with concern that the Air Force
requested to divest 124 more aircraft than will be delivered in
fiscal year 2025. This trend is projected to continue through
fiscal year 2028 and would result in a fleet that, while more
modern and capable, does not have the capacity to
simultaneously defend the Homeland, meet combatant commander
requirements, and execute combat operations against a near-peer
adversary.
Specifically, the Committee believes that plans to divest
the U-2 are premature given the range of airborne
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)
requirements, the timeline to field comparable space-based ISR
capabilities, and the need for multi-domain collection
platforms to complicate the adversary's calculus and support
the joint force across the range of military operations.
The Committee is also deeply concerned that the Air Force's
current plan to replace F-15C/D model aircraft with F-15EX
models will create a gap in capability at several Air National
Guard units that, among other readiness impacts, will result in
a lapse in pilot qualification.
In future budget requests, the Committee expects the
Secretary of the Air Force to better balance near-term
readiness with modernization for the future.
AIR FORCE REOPTIMIZATION FOR GREAT POWER COMPETITION
The Committee appreciates the engagement with senior Air
Force officials on both the driving forces behind and the
intended goals of the reoptimization announced by the Secretary
of the Air Force in February 2024. The Committee shares the Air
Force's assessment that the status quo will not provide the
airpower necessary for future high-end conflicts, though the
Committee is skeptical of how the Air Force is pursuing a
modern force. To this end, the Committee is particularly
focused on the realization of the concepts for the Integrated
Capability Command, Integrated Development Office, and
Integrated Capabilities Office, and looks forward to future
updates on all key decisions announced as part of the
reoptimization.
To continue requisite oversight of this key Air Force
endeavor, any fiscal year 2025 funding that is utilized for
this reorganization is designated a congressional special
interest item for the purpose of the Base for Reprogramming (DD
Form 1414). The Secretary of the Air Force is directed to
provide to the congressional defense committees, 30 days prior
to executing any organizational changes related to this
reorganization, a notification describing how the current
organizational construct differs from the proposed construct; a
proposed phasing of this reorganization along with cost
estimates to implement each phase; a proposed laydown of new
offices, commands, or centers and whether the strategic basing
process is required for their establishment; a description of
impacts to military and civilians positions by location; and
the programmatic impacts of such decisions. Additionally, the
Committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide an
update not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, and
quarterly updates thereafter, to the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees on all reoptimization efforts.
CIVILIAN WORKFORCE OPTIMIZATION
The Committee notes that the Department of Defense is
drafting a civilian workforce optimization assessment as
directed in House Report 118-121. The assessment will provide
an important measure for whether the total force manpower is
properly sized for the Department's core missions, tasks, and
functions. Equally important will be the Department's goals and
success criteria for adoption of emerging technologies and
business process improvements. Use of such technologies,
including but not limited to artificial intelligence and
robotic process automation, can significantly reduce the
manually intensive administrative workload that plagues the
Department's business operations and frustrates its workforce.
The efficiencies gained may be applied toward increasing
manning in critical fields such as data science and systems
engineering or applied towards key readiness priorities. To
ensure a robust set of goals and metrics for technology
adoption in its forthcoming civilian workforce optimization
report, the Committee expects participation in the drafting of
the report by the Department's experts in these technologies
and modern business practices, including but not limited to the
Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, Task Force
Lima, the Chief Talent Management Officer, and the Performance
Improvement Officer.
Further, the Committee notes that the Department made a
concerted effort in the fiscal year 2025 President's budget
request to restrain growth in civilian pay and right-size its
civilian workforce. As the Committee works with the Department
on this effort, it will continue to closely scrutinize the
President's budget request for civilian pay. For fiscal year
2025 the Committee continues to direct the Secretary of Defense
to exclude civilian positions supporting shipyard, depot,
health care, and sexual assault and response duties from any
reductions.
CIVILIAN PAY AND CONTRACT PERSONNEL BUDGET JUSTIFICATION MATERIALS
The Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to consult
with the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, not later
than October 1, 2024, to develop comprehensive budget exhibits
for funds requested by the Department for civilian pay and
contract personnel working on behalf of the Department. These
exhibits shall be provided with submission of the fiscal year
2026 President's budget request.
PLANNING, PROGRAMMING, BUDGETING, AND EXECUTION REFORM
The Committee commends the efforts of the Commission on
Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) Reform.
The PPBE Commission offered several recommendations aimed to
improve the fielding of capabilities to the warfighter,
increase insight to all parties involved in the PPBE process,
and better align budget and strategy. The Committee takes
seriously its responsibility to appropriate resources to the
Department of Defense and Intelligence Community to credibly
deter conflict, and when necessary, to decisively fight and
win. To this end, and in part informed by the PPBE Commission's
final report, the Committee recommends several actions.
To increase flexibility within appropriations, the
Committee recommends sustaining the increased prior approval
reprogramming thresholds enacted in fiscal year 2024. The
Committee also maintains the redefined prior approval
reprogramming procedures for Service operation and maintenance
accounts.
The Committee recommendation also supports changes
requested to the environmental restoration accounts to allow
the collection and use of funds recovered by the Department
through successful litigation. This will allow millions of
dollars collected to be utilized toward cleanup of
perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances that plague many
military installations and their communities.
Additionally, the Committee continues its longstanding
practice of appropriately addressing emerging program and
budget requirements that occur after the President's budget
request is submitted to Congress. For example, the Committee
recommendation includes several transfers within Space Force
accounts to realign funding from the Protected Tactical
Satellite Communications-Global program to address requirements
within the Global Positioning System program.
Finally, the Committee continues to partner with the
Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to create and maintain a secure
dashboard to provide the Committee with a real-time status of
DIU funds execution, program progression, and transition
partners. This builds upon the PPBE Commission's recommendation
to establish communication enclaves between the Department and
Congress. The Committee recommendation includes $5,000,000
towards this effort. By proving and scaling this effort, the
Committee expects to gain oversight through insight while
potentially reducing the number of reports to Congress.
The Committee will continue to monitor the Department's use
of its increased flexibility and looks forward to discussing
the Department's views on the PPBE Commission's final report.
Until such a time, the Committee directs that, unless specified
elsewhere in this report, no changes shall be made to the
appropriations structure of future President's budget requests
without prior consultation of the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees.
SPACE FORCE OVERHEAD COSTS
The Committee notes that the Space Force funds a
significant portion of its overhead expenses through taxes on
programs in the procurement and the research, development, test
and evaluation accounts. This practice distorts the budgets for
the programs in these accounts and obscures the true overhead
cost of the Space Force. Therefore, the Committee directs the
Secretary of the Air Force to provide a report that includes a
definition of overhead cost and a detailed breakout of the
fiscal year 2025 President's budget request which identifies
the amount and purpose of the overhead taxes in each program
element within these accounts.
Further, the report shall also address any policy,
programming, and budgeting changes necessary to transition to a
structure where such overhead costs are budgeted in a more
clear and consistent manner in future budget submissions. The
report shall be submitted to the congressional defense
committees not later than 180 days after the enactment of this
Act.
SPACE FORCE MISSION AREA BUDGET REPORT
The Committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to
continue to submit a report for Space Force programs that
organizes and aligns all budget lines for programs, projects,
and activities into mission areas, such as missile warning,
satellite communications, and position, navigation, and timing.
The report shall also include separate mission areas for
enterprise management, enterprise information technology, and
facilities and logistics. Overhead costs for the Space Force
shall be clearly accounted for in the appropriate mission areas
without taxes being levied on programs. Each mission area shall
include a clear statement of the mission goals and plans, a
detailed and compelling justification for the requested budget,
number of military and civilian personnel required to carry out
each mission area, and an alignment of all the relevant
individual budget line items without further consolidation from
the traditional budget exhibits and activity groups of the
various appropriations. The Secretary of the Air Force is
directed to submit a fully completed report with the submission
of the fiscal year 2026 President's budget request.
PACIFIC DETERRENCE INITIATIVE BUDGETING
The Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to, not
later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, submit a
report to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees
detailing the criteria utilized to designate a budget activity
as Pacific Deterrence Initiative, how the effectiveness of this
initiative is assessed and incorporated into future budget
submissions, and recommendations to better identify and budget
for Department of Defense investments in the Indo-Pacific that
are solely focused on the region.
ISR REQUIREMENTS
The Committee is concerned that increased military activity
by the People's Republic of China is stressing the capacity of
the Department of Defense's organic intelligence, surveillance,
and reconnaissance (ISR) assets leaving unmet requirements for
the United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM). The
Committee recognizes that commercial assets can fulfill some of
these collection capacity shortfalls. The Committee directs the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in coordination with the
Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command, to provide a
briefing to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, not
later than 30 days after enactment of this Act, on the status
of ISR support for INDOPACOM. The briefing shall describe
current INDOPACOM ISR requirements; any shortfalls; an analysis
of current organic and commercial capabilities to address such
shortfalls; and a cost analysis of commercial options versus
government-owned approaches to satisfy INDOPACOM ISR
requirements.
CLIMATE CHANGE
The Committee recommendation includes a reduction of
$621,205,000 for unjustified requests that seek to mitigate
climate risk but do not improve combat capability or capacity
for the Department of Defense. The Committee notes with
frustration that the Department did not produce a Department-
wide budget exhibit to consolidate and further justify its
climate-related requests and did not respond in a timely manner
to the Committee's requests for information on the climate-
related components of the President's budget request.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESSIBILITY
The Committee continues to be concerned that Department of
Defense programs operating under the auspices of diversity,
equity, inclusion, and accessibility serve to divide the
military along racial, ethnic, or gender lines rather than
unite servicemembers to provide for the common defense.
Further, grouping equal employment opportunity and
accessibility with these divisive concepts may negatively
impact minorities and people with disabilities, including
disabled military veterans, and undermine fair competition for
opportunities within the Department. Therefore, the Committee
recommendation eliminates all funds requested for diversity and
inclusion activities.
REPLICATOR
The support for Replicator efforts is evidenced by the
inclusion of funds in both the Department of Defense
Appropriations Act, 2024, and the Committee recommendation. The
Committee reminds the Department that appropriated funds in
this Act for Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Prototyping,
Fielding, or congressional increases shall not be used for
Replicator tranche 1 requirements and may only be used for
tranche 2 requirements with a submission of a detailed plan on
all tranche 2 planned investments to the House and Senate
Defense Appropriations Subcommittees not later than 30 days
prior to first award.
DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE HEALTH AND PRIVITY OF CONTRACT
The Committee recognizes that small businesses and
nontraditional defense contractors are critical to the defense
industrial base, providing goods and services as both prime and
subcontractors. Congress established agency contracting goals
to ensure that the government leverages the capabilities and
innovative solutions that small businesses and nontraditional
defense contractors have to offer through fair and open
opportunities to compete for government contracts. The
Committee is concerned that despite an increase in defense
obligations there has been a consistent decline in the number
of such businesses contracting directly with the Department of
Defense over the last 15 years. The Committee believes it is
imperative to understand reasons for this decline to better
inform policy and ensure that the federal government is
effectively pursuing strategies that provide fair opportunity
to small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors.
Therefore, the Committee directs the Comptroller General of
the United States to review the health of the defense
industrial base, with regards to small businesses and
nontraditional defense contractors contracting activity,
agreements, and consortia with the Department. The review
should incorporate inputs from a range of stakeholders
including, but not limited to, academia, various agency small
business advocates, such as the Department's Office of Small
Business Programs, program managers, contracting officials,
industry associations and representatives of small,
nontraditional, and large companies. The analysis should
address the following elements: (1) how the Office of the
Secretary of Defense (OSD) and the Military Departments are
coordinating with small businesses and nontraditional defense
contractors to communicate business opportunities and address
challenges affecting vendors' willingness to work with the
Department on a continuing basis; (2) how OSD and the Military
Departments define the goals of small business subcontracting
strategies, what metrics are used to measure success--including
contract awards, contract costs, schedules, performance, and
competition metrics--and what metrics could provide greater
insight regarding the participation of small businesses and
nontraditional defense contractors in the defense industrial
base; and (3) how OSD and the Military Departments determine
which contract opportunities shall be set aside for small
businesses.
The report should include assessments of data reflecting:
(a) the total number of prime and subcontracts awarded by North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS); (b) the number
of unique vendors participating in prime and subcontracts; (c)
the percentage of overall defense contracts awarded to small
businesses and nontraditional defense contractors, and the
dollar value of prime and subcontracts awarded; and (d) the
impact of small business and/or nontraditional defense
contractors prime contracting obligations on the number of
incumbent small business and nontraditional defense
subcontractors. The report should identify actions the
Department is taking to address data quality issues affecting
assessments of small business and nontraditional defense
contractor participation in the defense industrial base,
including through the Department's use of other transaction
authority. The report should also include observations
regarding the Department's ability to contract with small
businesses and nontraditional defense contractors in relation
to the Department's ability to contract with the large prime
contractors. The Comptroller General of the United States shall
submit a report to the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees not later than 270 days after the enactment of this
Act.
Additionally, the Committee directs the Comptroller General
of the United States to review what legal and regulatory
requirements govern privity of contract in defense acquisition,
including to what extent privity of contract is: (a) commonly
used in teaming arrangements; (b) a barrier to contract
performance; (c) a barrier to understanding the health of the
defense industrial base; (d) a benefit to the Department, prime
contractors, and subcontractors; (e) an impairment to the
Department's ability to manage programs; and (f) how, if at
all, privity of contract limits the Department's ability to
access subcontractor data or requirements through contract
clauses. The Comptroller General of the United States shall
submit a report to the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees not later than 270 days after the enactment of this
Act.
ALTERNATIVE PARTS FOR COMMERCIAL DERIVATIVE MILITARY AIRCRAFT
The Committee believes that the Department of Defense may
underutilize Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved
alternative parts to repair and maintain commercial derivative
military aircraft. The Committee notes that such parts are
cost-effective and certified by the FAA for commercial aviation
use. The Committee encourages the Department to leverage pre-
existing FAA approvals and increase usage of these parts.
FINANCIAL AUDIT
As the Committee awaits a briefing from the Secretary of
Defense on implementation of the recommendations in the
Government Accountability Office report entitled, ``DoD Needs
to Improve System Oversight'' (GAO-23-104539), as directed in
House Report 118-121, the Committee applauds the Marine Corps
on becoming the first Military Service to achieve an unmodified
audit opinion. The Committee encourages the remaining Services
and Defense entities to benchmark the leadership focus and
processes of the Marine Corps and achieve their own unmodified
audit opinions with all due haste.
CYBERSECURITY RISKS FROM COMMERCIAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
As the Committee awaits the report directed by House Report
118-121 under this heading, the Committee encourages the
Department of Defense to fully implement all recommendations
outlined in the Government Accountability Office report GAO-23-
105612 and take swift action to expand reviews on components
used in end-use commercial information technology and hardware-
encrypted data storage products.
TITLE I
MILITARY PERSONNEL
The fiscal year 2025 Department of Defense military
personnel budget request and the Committee recommendation are
summarized in the table below:
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
MILITARY PERSONNEL OVERVIEW
The Committee recommendation provides $183,701,827,000 for
the military personnel accounts, which fund military pay and
allowances, recruitment and retention initiatives, and overall
quality of life programs for active duty, National Guard, and
reserve personnel. The recommendation provides a 4.5 percent
increase in basic pay for all military personnel, effective
January 1, 2025, and $2,500,000,000 in funding above the
President's budget request in support of an additional 15
percent increase in pay for junior enlisted personnel. The
Committee continues to encourage constructive evaluations of
recruitment and retention programs, bonus and special pay
incentives, and personnel benefit programs for fiscal year
2025. The Committee remains supportive of programs intended to
enhance the morale and quality of life of military personnel
and their families.
SUMMARY OF END STRENGTH
The fiscal year 2025 President's budget request includes a
decrease of 7,800 in total end strength for the active forces
and an increase of 2,100 in total end strength for the Selected
Reserve as compared to the fiscal year 2024 authorized levels.
The following tables summarize the Committee recommendations
for end strength levels, both in the aggregate and for each
active and Selected Reserve component.
OVERALL ACTIVE END STRENGTH
Fiscal year 2024 authorized........................... 1,284,500
Fiscal year 2025 budget request....................... 1,276,700
Fiscal year 2025 recommendation....................... 1,276,700
Compared with fiscal year 2024.................... -7,800
Compared with fiscal year 2025 budget request..... - - -
OVERALL SELECTED RESERVE END STRENGTH
Fiscal year 2024 authorized........................... 763,600
Fiscal year 2025 budget request....................... 765,700
Fiscal year 2025 recommendation....................... 765,700
Compared with fiscal year 2024.................... 2,100
Compared with fiscal year 2025 budget request..... - - -
SUMMARY OF MILITARY PERSONNEL END STRENGTH
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2025
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year Change from
2024 Budget Committee Change from fiscal year
authorized Request Recommendation request 2024
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active Forces (End Strength)
Army.................................. 445,000 442,300 442,300 - - - -2,700
Navy.................................. 337,800 332,300 332,300 - - - -5,500
Marine Corps.......................... 172,300 172,300 172,300 - - - - - -
Air Force............................. 320,000 320,000 320,000 - - - - - -
Space Force........................... 9,400 9,800 9,800 - - - 400
Total, Active Forces.............. 1,284,500 1,276,700 1,276,700 - - - -7,800
Guard and Reserve Forces (End Strength)
Army Reserve.......................... 174,800 175,800 175,800 - - - 1,000
Navy Reserve.......................... 57,200 57,700 57,700 - - - 500
Marine Corps Reserve.................. 32,000 32,500 32,500 - - - 500
Air Force Reserve..................... 69,600 67,000 67,000 - - - -2,600
Army National Guard................... 325,000 325,000 325,000 - - - - - -
Air National Guard.................... 105,000 107,700 107,700 - - - 2,700
Total, Selected Reserve........... 763,600 765,700 765,700 - - - 2,100
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Military Personnel................. 2,048,100 2,042,400 2,042,400 - - - -5,700
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REPROGRAMMING GUIDANCE FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL ACCOUNTS
The Secretary of Defense is directed to submit the Base for
Reprogramming (DD Form 1414) for each of the fiscal year 2025
appropriations accounts not later than 60 days after the
enactment of this Act. The Secretary of Defense is prohibited
from executing any reprogramming or transfer of funds for any
purpose other than originally appropriated until the
aforementioned report is submitted to the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees.
The Secretary of Defense is directed to use the normal
prior approval reprogramming procedures to transfer funds in
the Services' military personnel accounts between budget
activities in excess of $15,000,000.
MILITARY PERSONNEL SPECIAL INTEREST ITEMS
Items for which additional funds have been provided or have
been specifically reduced as shown in the project level tables
or in paragraphs using the phrase ``only for'' or ``only to''
in this report are congressional special interest items for the
purpose of the Base for Reprogramming (DD Form 1414). Each of
these items must be carried on the DD Form 1414 at the stated
amount as specifically addressed in the Committee report. Below
threshold reprogrammings may not be used to either restore or
reduce funding from congressional special interest items as
identified on the DD Form 1414.
END STRENGTH AND RECRUITING
The Committee remains very concerned about the inability of
the Services to recruit sufficient personnel to meet end
strength requirements and awaits the results from the
independent survey that was directed in House Report 118-121.
The Committee is doing its part to boost recruitment and end
strength by providing $2,500,000,000 in funding above the
President's budget request in support of a 15 percent junior
enlisted pay raise.
MILITARY PERSONNEL, ARMY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Military Personnel, Army:
MILITARY PERSONNEL, NAVY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Military Personnel, Navy:
MILITARY PERSONNEL, MARINE CORPS
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Military Personnel, Marine Corps:
MILITARY PERSONNEL, AIR FORCE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Military Personnel, Air Force:
MILITARY PERSONNEL, SPACE FORCE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Military Personnel, Space Force:
RESERVE PERSONNEL, ARMY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Reserve Personnel, Army:
RESERVE PERSONNEL, NAVY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Reserve Personnel, Navy:
RESERVE PERSONNEL, MARINE CORPS
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Reserve Personnel, Marine Corps:
RESERVE PERSONNEL, AIR FORCE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Reserve Personnel, Air Force:
NATIONAL GUARD PERSONNEL, ARMY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
National Guard Personnel, Army:
NATIONAL GUARD PERSONNEL, AIR FORCE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
National Guard Personnel, Air Force:
TITLE II
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
The fiscal year 2025 Department of Defense operation and
maintenance budget request and the Committee recommendation are
summarized in the table below:
REPROGRAMMING GUIDANCE FOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ACCOUNTS
The Secretary of Defense is directed to submit the Base for
Reprogramming (DD Form 1414) for each of the fiscal year 2025
appropriations accounts not later than 60 days after the
enactment of this Act. The Secretary of Defense is prohibited
from executing any reprogramming or transfer of funds for any
purpose other than originally appropriated until the
aforementioned report is submitted to the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees.
The Secretary of Defense is directed to use the normal
prior approval reprogramming procedures to transfer funds in
the Services' operation and maintenance accounts between O-l
budget activities, or between subactivity groups in the case of
Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide, in excess of
$15,000,000. ln addition, the Secretary of Defense shall follow
prior approval reprogramming procedures for transfers in excess
of $15,000,000 out of the following readiness activity groups
or subactivity groups listed below:
Army:
Activity Group 11 Land Forces
Activity Group 12 Land Forces Readiness
Activity Group 13 Land Forces Readiness Support
Activity Group 32 Basic Skill and Advanced Training
Navy:
Activity Group 1A Air Operations
Activity Group 1B Ship Operations
Activity Group 1C Combat Operations/Support
Activity Group BS Base Support
Marine Corps:
Activity Group 1A Expeditionary Forces
Activity Group BS Base Support
Air Force:
Activity Group ``Air Operations'', which includes
subactivity groups 011A Primary Combat Force and 011C Combat
Enhancement Forces
Activity Group ``Weapons Systems Sustainment'', which
includes subactivity groups 011M Depot Purchase Equipment
Maintenance, 011V Cyberspace Sustainment, and 011W Contractor
Logistics Support and System Support
Activity Group ``Installations'', which includes
subactivity groups 011R Facilities Sustainment, Restoration,
and Modernization, and 011Z Base Support
Activity Group ``Flying Hours'', which is only subactivity
group 011Y Flying Hour Program
Space Force:
Subactivity Group 012A Global C3I & Early Warning
Subactivity Group 013C Space Operations
Subactivity Group 013W Contractor Logistics Support and
System Support
Subactivity Group 042A Administration
Air Force Reserve:
Subactivity Group 011A Primary Combat Forces
Air National Guard:
Subactivity Group 011F Aircraft Operations
Additionally, the Secretary of Defense is directed to use
normal prior approval reprogramming procedures when
implementing transfers in excess of $15,000,000 into the
following budget subactivity groups:
Army National Guard:
Subactivity Group 131 Base Operations Support
Subactivity Group 132 Facilities Sustainment, Restoration,
and Modernization
Subactivity Group 133 Management and Operational
Headquarters
Air National Guard:
Subactivity Group 011W Contractor Logistics Support and
System Support
REPROGRAMMING GUIDANCE FOR SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND
The Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a
baseline report that shows the Special Operations Command's
operation and maintenance funding by subactivity group for the
fiscal year 2025 appropriation not later than 60 days after the
enactment of this Act. The Secretary of Defense is further
directed to submit quarterly execution reports to the
congressional defense committees not later than 45 days after
the end of each fiscal quarter that addresses the rationale for
the realignment of any funds within and between budget
subactivities. Finally, the Secretary of Defense is directed to
notify the congressional defense committees 30 days prior to
the realignment of funds in excess of $15,000,000 between sub-
activity groups.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE SPECIAL INTEREST ITEMS
Items for which additional funds have been provided or have
been specifically reduced as shown in the project level tables
or in paragraphs using the phrase ``only for'' or ``only to''
in this report are congressional special interest items for the
purpose of the Base for Reprogramming (DD Form 1414). Each of
these items must be carried on the DD Form 1414 at the stated
amount as specifically addressed in the explanatory statement.
Below threshold reprogrammings may not be used to either
restore or reduce funding from congressional special interest
items as identified on the DD Form 1414.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET EXECUTION DATA
The Secretary of Defense and Service Secretaries are
directed to provide the congressional defense committees with
quarterly budget execution data. Such data should be provided
not later than 45 days after the close of each quarter of the
fiscal year and should be provided for each O-1 budget
activity, activity group, and subactivity group for each of the
active, defense-wide, reserve, and National Guard components.
For each O-1 budget activity, activity group, and subactivity
group, these reports should include the budget request and
actual obligations amount, the distribution of unallocated
congressional adjustments to the budget request, all
adjustments made by the Department in establishing the Base for
Reprogramming (DD Form 1414) report, all adjustments resulting
from below threshold reprogrammings, and all adjustments
resulting from prior approval reprogramming requests.
QUARTERLY OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE UPDATES
The Committee directs the Director of each of the Services'
Operations Divisions (Financial Management and Budget) to
continue to provide quarterly briefings to the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees on their respective operation and
maintenance execution data in fiscal year 2025. These meetings
shall take place the third full week of the month following the
end of each fiscal quarter to the greatest extent possible.
During these updates, the Committee directs Services to
continue to provide the following information: (1) civilian
personnel funding and United States Direct Hire Full Time
Equivalent (USDH FTE) actual data by month; and (2) amounts and
descriptions of below threshold transfers between subactivity
groups. Additionally, the Under Secretary of Defense
(Comptroller) shall provide civilian personnel funding and USDH
FTE actual data by defense agency, by month, to the House and
Senate Appropriations Committees within 30 days of the end of
the fiscal quarter.
DEPOT AND INDUSTRIAL FACILITY MODERNIZATION
The Committee notes the importance of Department of Defense
depots and industrial facilities to military readiness. Like
much of the infrastructure across the Department, these
facilities require regular sustainment and modernization. To
ensure sufficient resources are requested to maintain this
capability, the Committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in
coordination with the Service Secretaries, to submit a 5-year
Department depot and industrial facility investment plan to the
congressional defense committees not later than 90 days after
enactment of this Act. The plan shall provide the 3-year
rolling average of maintenance, repair, and overhaul workload
funded at all covered depots of each respective military
service; information on future technological demands, labor
needs, and threats to facility security; and a minimum annual
investment recommended to maintain depot and industrial
facility capability and capacity.
STRATEGIC SEAPORT PROGRAM
The Committee notes that strategic seaports designated
under the Strategic Seaport Program (SSP) are critical
transportation hubs necessary for United States military
readiness and cargo handling capacity. The Committee directs
the Comptroller General of the United States to provide a
report to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, not
later than 270 days after the enactment of this Act, on the
programs and efforts of the Department of Defense related to
the readiness of the ports as affected by dredging capacity to
complete harbor and channel dredging. This shall include
identification of dredging work, by seaport, required to ensure
deep water access; review of domestic dredging industrial
capacity to complete the identified dredging; assessment of
time required to complete outstanding dredging work in SSP
ports; and what federal policies, including contracting
policies, can be implemented to support domestic manufacturers
of critical components used in the manufacture of domestic
dredger vessels. The report shall be completed in consultation
with the National Port Readiness Network, the domestic dredging
industry, and domestic critical component manufacturers. For
purposes of this paragraph critical components shall include
cranes, spring couplings, torque limiters, diesel engine
clutches, clutch couplings, wet brakes, and combination
gearbox, and such other items as determined by the agency.
ELECTRONIC DEVICE DETECTION IN SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION
FACILITIES AND SPECIAL ACCESS PROGRAM FACILITIES
The Committee notes that the Department of Defense has not
programmed for appropriate electronic device detection systems
and mitigating measures for all Department sensitive
compartmented information facilities and special access program
facilities, as required in the June 30, 2023, memorandum signed
by the Secretary of Defense. The Committee encourages the
Department to designate a lead office to implement this
internal directive and ensure sufficient funding is provided to
effectively carry out the Secretary's mandate.
PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION
The joint explanatory statement accompanying the Department
of Defense Appropriations Act, 2022, directed the Directors of
the Defense Manpower Data Center and the Defense Civilian
Personnel Advisory Service to utilize private sector technology
solutions to provide verifications of the employment status and
income of civilian and military personnel and retirees as
permitted under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
The Committee notes that, while the Department of Defense
has taken steps to explore the use of private sector technology
solutions, the Department has not fully implemented this
directive. Therefore, the Committee directs the Directors of
the Defense Manpower Data Center and the Defense Civilian
Personnel Advisory Service to provide a briefing to the House
and Senate Appropriations Committees within 90 days of the
enactment of this Act, and quarterly thereafter until complete,
on the Department's plan and timeline for implementation of
such private sector employment verification technology.
ADVERTISING
The Committee understands the federal government, as the
largest advertiser in the United States, should work to ensure
fair access to its advertising contracts for small,
disadvantaged businesses and businesses owned by service-
disabled veterans, minorities, and women. The Committee directs
each agency under jurisdiction of this Act to include the
following information in its fiscal year 2026 budget
justification: expenditures for fiscal year 2025 and expected
expenditures for fiscal year 2026 for all contracts for
advertising services; contracts for the advertising services of
socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses
concerns (as defined in section 8(a)(4) of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(4)), and contracts for the advertising
services of service-disabled veteran-, women-, and minority-
owned businesses.
MILITARY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
The Committee directs the Service Secretaries to provide a
briefing to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on
the ongoing efforts to improve their military criminal
investigative organizations not later than 60 days after the
enactment of this Act. The briefing should include the
correlation between caseloads and the budget request, storage
requirements for evidence, cold case units, staffing of hard to
fill posts, and other budgetary considerations.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY
The Committee continues to be concerned by food security
issues that affect some servicemembers and their families. As
noted elsewhere in this report, the Committee recommendation
supports a historic pay increase for junior enlisted
servicemembers and supports the President's budget request for
the basic needs allowance. These funds will build upon
appropriations made during fiscal year 2024 to create a pilot
program to address food insecurity through collaboration with
community partners to improve access to quality food. The
Committee encourages the continuation of this pilot program
alongside organic unit efforts, like the food pantry created by
the 62nd Medical Brigade at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
PUEBLO OF ISLETA
The Committee is concerned with the pace and scope of
munitions and unexploded ordnance (UXO) removal on the Pueblo
of Isleta, as well as the veracity of communications with the
public on the types and amounts of debris and ordnance that
might threaten public health. Therefore, the Committee directs
the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy,
Installations, and Environment and the Assistant Secretary of
the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment to submit a
report to the congressional defense committees, not later than
90 days after the enactment of this Act, detailing all
munitions and UXO removal and decontamination authorities and
plans for Pueblo of Isleta; current and prospective tribal
consultation and public communications in the survey and
removal of munitions and UXO; and resources required from the
Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program and the
Defense Environmental Restoration Program to achieve a thorough
restoration of the site.
VIEQUES AND CULEBRA
The Committee remains concerned by the pace and scope of
environmental restoration on the island municipalities of
Vieques and Culebra in Puerto Rico. The Committee encourages
the Secretaries of the Army and the Navy to work closely with
the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, and the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality
Board to maximize public participation and transparency in the
decontamination process in order to achieve a thorough
decontamination result on both islands.
The Committee is also concerned about public safety on the
northwest peninsula of Culebra due to unexploded ordnance
identified there by the Army. The Committee encourages the
Secretary of the Army to exercise available authorities,
including the authority clarified through the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, to decontaminate the
northwest peninsula. Additionally, the Committee directs the
Secretaries of the Army and Navy each to submit a report to the
congressional defense committees, not later than 90 days after
the enactment of this Act, detailing all respective
decontamination authorities and plans applicable to Vieques and
Culebra, to include particular emphasis on the decontamination
of the northwest peninsula of Culebra.
The Committee also notes there are information gaps about
the types and amounts of ordnance used on Vieques and Culebra,
as well as about potential links between the ordnance used and
present threats to public health. The Committee directs the
Secretaries of the Army and the Navy to submit a report to the
congressional defense committees, not later than 60 days after
the enactment of this Act, on previously released information
related to the ordnance on the two islands. The Committee also
urges the Secretaries to publish the relevant documents on the
internet in a single location and in a user-friendly format.
PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES
The Committee is concerned that the Department of Defense
is procuring and installing photovoltaic modules on military
installations with components and rare earth minerals produced
and refined by foreign entities rather than domestic sources.
The Committee encourages the Department to maximize the use of
domestically sourced materials for photovoltaic modules, to
include energy supplied through Power Purchase Agreements, and
to strengthen its process for assessing exemption requests to
purchase such modules from foreign sources.
PARTNERSHIP WITH TRIBAL NATIONS
The Committee commends the Department of Defense's
partnership with Tribal Nations to coordinate proving grounds
and testing ranges for active duty and National Guard troops in
the Northern Rocky Mountains and Plains States. This
cooperation provides increased opportunities to sustain
military readiness while providing tangible benefit to the
associated Tribal Nations. The Committee encourages the
Department to identify and expand such agreements where
practicable.
MEALS READY-TO-EAT WAR RESERVE
The Committee recommendation supports the fiscal year 2025
President's budget request for meals ready-to-eat and reaffirms
its support for the Defense Logistics Agency War Reserve stock
objective of 5,000,000 cases.
WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY
The Committee supports the implementation of the Women,
Peace, and Security Act (P.L. 115-68) by the Department of
Defense and the Services and recognizes the importance of
advancing women's meaningful participation in the U.S. military
and incorporation of its principles into engagements with
partner nations around the world.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, ARMY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Operation and Maintenance, Army:
CREDENTIALING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Committee is concerned by proposed changes to the
Army's credentialing assistance program. While the Committee
supports the involvement of commanders in the approval process,
a decrease in funding, coupled with other changes to the
program, will significantly reduce and restrict the use of this
educational benefit by soldiers. The Committee finds it
confusing that the Army will on one hand encourage the
development of skills outside of a soldier's specialty at
organizations such as the Army Software Factory, yet will on
the other hand limit benefits for soldiers to pursue similar
educational objectives through a professional credential. The
Committee strongly encourages the Secretary of the Army to
reconsider this proposed policy change.
ULTRA-LIGHTWEIGHT CAMOUFLAGE NET SYSTEMS
The Committee is disappointed that the Secretary of the
Army has failed, despite repeated urging by this Committee, to
divest of legacy Ultra-Lightweight Camouflage Net Systems
(ULCANS). As the Committee awaits the ULCANS replacement plan
directed in the joint explanatory statement accompanying the
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024, the Committee
encourages the Secretary of the Army to take swift action to
recapitalize this capability.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, NAVY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Operation and Maintenance, Navy:
SHIP MAINTENANCE
The Committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to continue
to submit quarterly reports to the congressional defense
committees, beginning not later than 30 days after the
enactment of this Act, regarding private contracted ship
maintenance as directed in House Report 116-453 and to submit
the annual report on ship maintenance required by section 1016
of Public Law 117-81 to the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees in conjunction with its submission to the House and
Senate Armed Services Committees.
SHIPYARD INFRASTRUCTURE OPTIMIZATION PROGRAM
The Committee recognizes the critical role the four public
shipyards play in readiness of the United States Navy and the
security of the nation. To address chronically unmet
infrastructure needs at the shipyards, in 2018 Congress
directed the Department of Defense to create and implement a
Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP). Since its
inception, the Committee has strongly supported SIOP efforts to
modernize and improve facilities at the Navy's public
shipyards. Continued investments in shipyard infrastructure are
critical if the Navy is to maximize the execution of
maintenance availabilities within the funds requested, as
directed in the joint explanatory statement accompanying the
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024. For fiscal year
2025, the Committee recommendation fully funds the Navy's SIOP
request and encourages the Navy to continue to invest in these
strategic naval assets.
KENNEBEC RIVER FEDERAL NAVIGATION CHANNEL
The Committee supports the Memorandum of Agreement signed
in January 2020 denoting the responsibilities of the Department
of the Army and the Department of the Navy for the regular
maintenance of the Kennebec River Federal Navigation Channel.
The Committee is concerned that the channel is not currently
being maintained to the required depth on an annual basis,
affecting the movement of Navy surface combatants, and
encourages the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the
Navy to respond with the appropriate resources and planning to
ensure that the channel is passable annually, per the
Memorandum of Agreement, to ensure the navigability of the
Kennebec River for the test, trial and delivery of newly
constructed Navy surface combatants to the Atlantic Ocean.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, MARINE CORPS
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps:
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, AIR FORCE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Operation and Maintenance, Air Force:
PILOT SHORTFALL
While the Air Force continues to fall short of its annual
pilot training goal, the Committee notes, with cautious
optimism, several positive actions that, when taken in concert,
could increase capacity in the pilot training pipeline. The Air
Force is reviewing the rated manpower ecosystem, increasing
simulator instructor capacity through a mix of incentives and
procurement of additional simulator training equipment, closely
managing J-85 engine repairs, and accelerating transition to a
more suitable T-6 maintenance contract. The Committee expects
the Air Force to remain acutely focused on increasing pilot
production to meet its stated goal of 1,500 pilots per year. To
ensure continued oversight of this critical issue, the
Committee directs the Commander of Air Education and Training
Command and the Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations at Air
Force Headquarters to provide quarterly updates to the House
and Senate Appropriations Committees, beginning not later than
45 days after the enactment of this Act, on the Air Force's
efforts to address the pilot shortfall.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, SPACE FORCE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Operation and Maintenance, Space Force:
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, DEFENSE-WIDE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide:
EXPEDITIONARY FUEL SYSTEMS FOR CONTESTED LOGISTICS
The Committee notes the release of the Department of
Defense Operational Energy Strategy, which underscores the
challenges of providing and sustaining power for United States
operations under contested, degraded, or denied environments.
As part of the employment of this strategy, the Committee
encourages the Department to test a deployable expeditionary
fuel system, as part of a future United States Indo-Pacific
Command exercise, that assesses the Department's ability to
provide reliable operational energy in contested environments.
ALL-DOMAIN ANOMALY RESOLUTION OFFICE
The Committee recognizes the importance of the All-domain
Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) in providing Congress and the
public with transparency and improved understanding of
unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). AARO works to minimize
technical and intelligence surprises by synchronizing
scientific, intelligence, and operational detection
identification, attribution, and mitigation of unidentified
anomalous phenomena in the vicinity of national security areas.
The Committee continues to support AARO and its mission to
improve national security and public understanding of UAP data.
INCENTIVE FOR NONTRADITIONAL CONTRACT EXPERTISE
The Committee recognizes the important role that Department
of Defense acquisition professionals, including contracting
officers and financial managers, play in building and executing
strategies to assess and acquire unique capabilities offered by
nontraditional defense contractors. To better promote the
hiring and retention of this needed expertise, the Committee
recommendation includes $5,000,000 to create monetary
incentives for Department personnel with expertise and
experience in nontraditional acquisition.
READINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION INITIATIVE
To preserve Department of Defense installations and range
capabilities that ensure realistic training and testing for the
current and future force, the Committee supports the fiscal
year 2025 President's budget request for the Readiness and
Environmental Protection Initiative.
EMERGENCIES AND EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSES
The Committee is concerned that the Department of Defense
is using funds provided for emergencies and extraordinary
expenses for expenses that are neither emergencies nor
extraordinary. Recent examples include the use of these funds
for catering as well as the purchase of dress uniforms,
including bush hats and berets, for a foreign military for a
ceremony two years hence. Accordingly, the Committee recommends
enhanced oversight of these funds and directs that any
notification made pursuant to section 127 of title 10, United
States Code include: (1) an explanation of the nature of the
emergency and extraordinary expense; (2) a justification of why
other funding available to the Department or other federal
agencies, as appropriate, could not be used for such expense;
and (3) a justification for why the expense could not have been
paid for in future fiscal years using amounts requested and
appropriated for that purpose. In no case should funds be used
for any purpose for which funds have been requested and denied
by the Congress.
QUARTERLY REPORTS ON GUANTANAMO BAY DETENTION FACILITY
The Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to submit
quarterly reports to the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees on the current number of detainees at the Guantanamo
Bay detention facility; their legal status; a description of
all Department of Defense costs associated with the facility
during the last two fiscal years by program, account, and
activity; and the status of funds for the current fiscal year.
QUARTERLY BRIEFINGS ON DEPLOYMENTS OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES
The Committee appreciates the Department of Defense's
quarterly briefings to the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees on the deployment of United States Armed Forces by
geographic combatant command, which is important for
congressional oversight, and directs that these briefings
continue.
FOREIGN BASES
The Act continues the requirement for the Secretary of
Defense to notify the congressional defense committees of the
opening or closing of foreign bases and directs the Secretary
of Defense to keep the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees apprised of any ongoing discussions with foreign
governments that may lead to the opening or closing of a
foreign base.
NOTIFICATION OF PAUSING ASSISTANCE
The Committee is concerned with the Department of Defense
pausing assistance appropriated by prior acts without
consultation or notice to the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees. Over the past year, this has included several
international security cooperation programs and humanitarian
projects in multiple countries around the world. Accordingly,
the Committee recommendation includes language requiring the
Secretary of Defense to notify the Committees not less than 15
days prior to taking any action to pause, suspend, or eliminate
assistance to a country made available by this Act.
DEFENSE SECURITY COOPERATION AGENCY PROGRAMS
The Secretary of Defense shall, not later than 30 days
after the enactment of this Act, submit to the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees a detailed spend plan for amounts
made available for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The
plan shall include amounts planned for each program listed in
the budget justification documents and, for International
Security Cooperation Programs, amounts provided in the prior
two fiscal years and planned for fiscal year 2025 by combatant
command, country, and authority. The plan shall only reflect
amounts requested in the fiscal year 2025 budget justification
materials as modified by fiscal year 2025 appropriations, and
the Secretary of Defense shall notify such Subcommittees in
writing not less than 15 days prior to obligating funds in a
manner that would deviate from the plan. A similar document
with requested amounts shall be provided to such Committees
concurrent with the submission of the fiscal year 2026
President's budget request.
The Committee recommendation includes $1,423,630,000 for
International Security Cooperation Programs and directs that
congressional notifications for these funds specify the fiscal
year, whether funds support ongoing or new programs, and the
duration and expected cost over the life of each program. The
Committee recommendation includes $200,000,000 for Taiwan,
which is $92,000,000 above the fiscal year 2024 level. Such
funds are provided for urgent and high priority defense
articles and defense services that strengthen United States
national security and increase Taiwan's defense, readiness, and
deterrence. The Committee expects these programs to be
integrated with other security assistance programs in a manner
that complements rather than duplicates efforts and directs the
Secretary of Defense to submit a spend plan to the House and
Senate Appropriations Committees not later than 60 days after
the enactment of this Act.
The Committee recommendation includes $12,220,000 above the
budget request for Mexico for programs to counter illicit
fentanyl and synthetic opioids and the transnational criminal
organizations, particularly the Sinaloa and Jalisco drug
cartels, that have perpetrated the fentanyl crisis. The
Committee recommendation also includes language that transfers
Mexico from United States Northern Command to United States
Southern Command to enable better coordination and
prioritization and to address the shared security challenges in
Mexico and its Central and South American neighbors. The
Committee recommendation supports programs to increase the
proficiency of partner nations in the Southern Command area of
responsibility in maintaining United States-provided defense
articles.
The Committee recommendation supports international
security cooperation programs for Jordan, including measures to
strengthen Jordan's integrated air and missile defense,
including command, control, and communications as well as
counter-unmanned aircraft systems. The Committee recommendation
also supports programs that enhance Philippine maritime
security. The Committee notes with concern the recent dangerous
actions taken by China against lawful Philippine maritime
operations in the South China Sea. Funding provided above the
request is for programs that support Philippines resupply
operations within its exclusive economic zone.
The Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to consult
with the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on amounts
provided above the President's budget request for International
Security Cooperation Programs not later than 30 days after the
enactment of this Act.
The Committee notes that international security cooperation
programs funded under this heading are subject to 10 U.S.C.
362, which prohibits assistance for a unit of a foreign
security force if the Secretary of Defense has credible
information that the unit has committed a gross violation of
human rights. The Committee also expects the Secretary of
Defense to withhold assistance for a unit of a foreign security
force if the Secretary has credible information that the unit
has used United States military assistance against United
States personnel and directs the Secretary of Defense to inform
the congressional defense committees of any such misuse.
Further, the Committee is concerned about end-use monitoring of
assistance provided under this heading and expects the
Department of Defense to implement any outstanding Government
Accountability Office recommendations related to end-use
monitoring.
The Committee remains interested in evaluations of security
cooperation programs with Northern Triangle countries and
expects the Secretary of Defense to keep the Committee apprised
of any such evaluations. The Committee is also interested in
Army Security Force Assistance Brigade deployments, and any
congressional notification made pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 321 or 10
U.S.C. 333 should include a description of the number of
individuals deployed and their training; the amount, type, and
purpose of the training and equipment to be provided to the
recipient country's security forces; the timeline and source of
funds; and how the proposed program would promote the overall
security cooperation goals of the brigade or country.
The Committee expects the Secretary of Defense to focus
institutional capacity building on fewer programs, on deeper
and more sustainable results, and on countries that have
complementary training and equipment programs.
The Committee directs that any notification submitted to
the House and Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittees, for
support authorized by subparagraphs (A) through (E) of section
1226(a)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2016, indicate the costs for reimbursement, by category,
and the dates on which such costs were incurred by the partner
country and submitted to the United States government. The
Committee also directs that any notification for transfer of
excess defense articles identify any related security
cooperation programs and explain how the proposed transfer
would promote the overall security cooperation goals of the
country.
The Committee is concerned about the disposition of
aircraft removed from Afghanistan and taken to Tajikistan. The
Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to brief the House
and Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittees not later than
60 days after the enactment of this Act on the disposition of
these aircraft and the costs of various courses of action
associated with their preservation, removal, repurposing, or
transfer to other partner countries for use towards shared
security objectives.
The Committee is concerned by proposals to extend the
availability of funds outside of the appropriations process.
These proposals obfuscate existing agency execution issues and
may exacerbate the situation.The Committee notes the
significant unobligated balances from prior year
appropriations, including $1,234,840,000 in fiscal year 2023
appropriations as of as of April 30, 2024. Accordingly, the
Committee recommendation includes a rescission of funds. The
Committee directs that such funds not be derived from
congressional priorities, including programs increased by
fiscal year 2024 appropriations. The Secretary of Defense is
directed to consult with the House and Senate Defense
Appropriations Committees with respect to this rescission and
agency execution issues not later than 30 days after the
enactment of this Act.
TAIWAN DEFENSE ARTICLES REPORT
The Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to, not
later than 45 days after the enactment of this Act, submit a
report to the congressional defense committees describing
urgent and high priority defense articles and defense services
for fiscal year 2025 and fiscal year 2026 and steps taken or
planned by the Department of Defense to expedite the delivery
of such articles and services. The report shall also contain a
description of defense articles and services delivered in
fiscal year 2024.
UKRAINE
The Committee supports Ukraine's efforts to defend its
sovereign territory from Russian aggression. The Committee
recommendation does not include funding requested for the
Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Funding for this
initiative was provided for in the Ukraine Security
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024. The Committee is
concerned, however, with the level of detail provided in
congressional notifications for this initiative, which is
essential for oversight of funds. The Committee directs the
Secretary of Defense to consult with the House and Senate
Defense Appropriations Subcommittees not later than 30 days
after the enactment of this Act on the Department's contracting
and notification procedures to ensure it is meeting
congressional intent.
Not later than 60 days after the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of
State, shall submit a report to the congressional defense
committees on commitments and contributions of defense articles
and defense services made by foreign governments to Ukraine
since the February 24, 2022, Russian invasion of Ukraine. The
report shall include a brief description of each commitment and
contribution, including the approximate value, by country and
date; efforts to coordinate international commitments and
contributions with United States security assistance; steps
taken or planned by the Administration to increase
international commitments and contributions; and any use of the
contribution authority provided in prior appropriations acts.
The report shall be submitted in unclassified form but may be
accompanied by a classified annex.
DRAWDOWN REPORTING REQUIREMENT
The Committee notes the significant increase in drawdown
authority and related spending in recent years and the bill
includes a general provision that requires certain information
be submitted to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees
when drawdown authority is exercised.
COUNTER-ISIS TRAIN AND EQUIP FUND
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
the Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund:
EXPLANATION OF PROJECT LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Committee Change from
Request Recommended Request
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iraq Train and Equip............................................... 380,758 380,758 0
Syria Train and Equip.............................................. 147,941 147,941 0
--------------------------------------------
TOTAL, COUNTER-ISIS TRAIN AND EQUIP FUND....................... 528,699 528,699 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommendation continues support for the
Iraqi Security Forces, Kurdish Peshmerga, and the Syrian
Democratic Forces to participate in activities to counter the
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The Committee directs that
congressional notifications for funds provided under this
heading include a description of the amount, type, and purpose
of assistance to be funded, and the recipient of the
assistance; the budget and implementation timeline, with
anticipated delivery schedule for assistance; and a description
of any material misuse of assistance since the last
notification was submitted, along with a description of any
remedies taken.
The Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to consult
with the House and Senate Appropriations Committees prior to
submitting any notification that includes construction for
detention facilities or internally displaced persons camps.
Such notifications shall include detailed information on the
scope of proposed projects and any contributions from foreign
governments. The Committee further directs the Secretary of
Defense to brief the House and Senate Appropriations Committees
on progress made under the Al-Hol Action Plan not later than 60
days after the enactment of this Act, including an update on
the milestones associated with the plan.
The Committee notes the significant unobligated balances
from prior year appropriations and the recommendation includes
a rescission of funds. The Committee directs that such
rescission not be derived from support planned for the Kurdish
Peshmerga. The Secretary of Defense is directed to consult with
the House and Senate Appropriations Committees with respect to
the rescission not later than 30 days after the enactment of
this Act.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, ARMY RESERVE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Operation and Maintenance, Army Reserve:
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, NAVY RESERVE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Operation and Maintenance, Navy Reserve:
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, MARINE CORPS RESERVE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps Reserve:
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, AIR FORCE RESERVE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Operation and Maintenance, Air Force Reserve:
LOGISTICS AND STAGING FOR INDO-PACIFIC OPERATIONS
The Committee notes that as exercises and operations in the
Indo-Pacific increase there must be a commensurate investment
in logistical nodes in and around the Pacific. For instance,
the use of March Air Reserve Base as an intermediate staging
base has grown significantly over the last three years due to
its proximity to both United States-based forces and the Indo-
Pacific. Ensuring that such Air Force Reserve logistics nodes
are properly staffed, maintained, and equipped to support the
flow of forces into the Indo-Pacific is instrumental to swiftly
projecting United States military power into this critical
theater of operations. Therefore, the Committee directs the
Chief of the Air Force Reserve to provide a report to the House
and Senate Appropriations Committees, not later than 90 days
after the enactment of this Act, that assesses the manpower,
equipment, and resource requirements necessary to enhance Air
Force Reserve installations in the Western United States to
capably provide logistics and intermediate staging in support
of future operations in the Indo-Pacific region.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Operation and Maintenance, Army National Guard:
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, AIR NATIONAL GUARD
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Operation and Maintenance, Air National Guard:
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ARMED FORCES
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $21,035,000
for the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION, ARMY
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $268,069,000
for Environmental Restoration, Army.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION, NAVY
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $343,591,000
for Environmental Restoration, Navy.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION, AIR FORCE
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $320,256,000
for Environmental Restoration, Air Force.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION, DEFENSE-WIDE
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $8,800,000 for
Environmental Restoration, Defense-Wide.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION, FORMERLY USED DEFENSE SITES
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $234,475,000
for Environmental Restoration, Formerly Used Defense Sites. The
Committee expects the Secretary of Defense and the Service
Secretaries to execute the Military Munitions Response Program
in a manner consistent with the budget request.
OVERSEAS HUMANITARIAN, DISASTER, AND CIVIC AID
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid:
EXPLANATION OF PROJECT LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Committee Change from
Request Recommended Request
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOREIGN DISASTER RELIEF............................................ 20,000 20,000 0
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE............................................ 80,335 80,335 0
HUMANITARIAN MINE ACTION PROGRAM................................... 15,000 15,000 0
--------------------------------------------
TOTAL, OVERSEAS HUMANITARIAN, DISASTER, AND CIVIC AID.......... 115,335 115,335 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to include
in its budget justification materials for Humanitarian
Assistance and the Humanitarian Mine Action amounts planned for
each combatant command, country, and program area, as well as a
comparison to funding provided in the previous two fiscal
years. The Committee also directs the Secretary of Defense to
inform the House and Senate Appropriations Defense
Subcommittees of any planned foreign disaster relief not later
than 72 hours following a disaster declaration that involves a
request for Department of Defense support.
The Committee is concerned with the manner by which the
Department of Defense redirected funds appropriated for
humanitarian projects in multiple countries around the world in
order to construct a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the
Gaza coast. No funds were requested or appropriated for the
pier project in fiscal year 2024 and the Committee was not made
aware of the redirection of funds for weeks. These actions deny
the Committee its oversight responsibilities and negatively
impact the comity between the branches of government. The
Committee notes that no funds were requested for the pier in
fiscal year 2025 and none are provided by this Act.
COOPERATIVE THREAT REDUCTION ACCOUNT
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
the Cooperative Threat Reduction Account:
EXPLANATION OF PROJECT LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Committee Change from
Request Recommended Request
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Biological Threat Reduction Program................................ 209,858 111,202 -98,656
Program decrease--Gabon........................................ ........... -98,656
Chemical Security & Elimination.................................... 20,717 20,717 0
Delivery System Threat Reduction................................... 7,036 7,036 0
Proliferation Prevention Program................................... 45,610 41,026 -4,584
Early to need--Bulgaria........................................ ........... -4,584
Global Nuclear Security............................................ 33,665 33,665 0
Other Assessments/Administrative costs............................. 33,230 33,230 0
--------------------------------------------
TOTAL, COOPERATIVE THREAT REDUCTION ACCOUNT.................... 350,116 246,876 -103,240
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee notes that on October 23, 2023, the State
Department concluded that a military coup d'etat had taken
place in Gabon.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ACQUISITION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $56,176,000
for the Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Development
Account.
TITLE III
PROCUREMENT
The fiscal year 2025 Department of Defense procurement
budget request and the Committee recommendation are summarized
in the table below:
REPROGRAMMING GUIDANCE FOR ACQUISITION ACCOUNTS
The Secretary of Defense is directed to continue to follow
the reprogramming guidance as specified in the report
accompanying the House version of the Department of Defense
Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2008 (House Report 110-
279). Specifically, the dollar threshold for reprogramming
funds shall be $15,000,000 for procurement and research,
development, test and evaluation.
Also, the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) is
directed to continue to provide the congressional defense
committees quarterly, spreadsheet-based DD Form 1416 reports
for Service and defense-wide accounts in titles III and IV of
this Act. Reports for titles III and IV shall comply with the
guidance specified in the explanatory statement accompanying
the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006. The
Department shall continue to follow the limitation that prior
approval reprogramming actions are set at either the specified
dollar threshold or 20 percent of the procurement or research,
development, test and evaluation line, whichever is less. These
thresholds are cumulative from the base for reprogramming value
as modified by any adjustments. Therefore, if the combined
value of transfers into or out of a procurement (P-1) or
research, development, test and evaluation (R-1) line exceeds
the identified threshold, the Secretary of Defense must submit
a prior approval reprogramming to the congressional defense
committees. In addition, guidelines on the application of prior
approval reprogramming procedures for congressional special
interest items are established elsewhere in this report.
FUNDING INCREASES
The funding increases outlined in these tables shall be
provided only for the specific purposes indicated in the
tables.
PROCUREMENT SPECIAL INTEREST ITEMS
Items for which additional funds have been recommended or
items for which funding is specifically reduced as shown in the
project level tables detailing recommended adjustments or in
paragraphs using the phrase ``only for'' or ``only to'' in this
report are congressional special interest items for the purpose
of the Base for Reprogramming (DD Form 1414). Each of these
items must be carried on the DD Form 1414 at the stated amount,
as specifically addressed elsewhere in this report.
AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT, ARMY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Aircraft Procurement, Army:
MQ-1C GRAY EAGLE 25M AIRCRAFT FOR THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
The MQ-1C Gray Eagle 25M unmanned aircraft system is
essential for multi-domain operations (MDO) and a critical
capability for the Army National Guard as the primary combat
reserve of the Army. The National Defense Strategy calls for
more than 16 MDO capable divisions. To meet this mandate, Army
Guard Divisions must field MQ-1C 25M Gray Eagles to maintain
training standards and to preserve the ability to deploy combat
divisions.
The Committee is aware of a pending decision by the Army
regarding the number of aircraft necessary to equip a full Army
National Guard Gray Eagle company. While that decision is being
finalized, the recommendation includes an increase of
$240,000,000 above the fiscal year 2025 President's budget
request to procure eight MQ-1C Gray Eagle 25M aircraft only for
the Army National Guard.
MISSILE PROCUREMENT, ARMY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Missile Procurement, Army:
PROCUREMENT OF WEAPONS AND TRACKED COMBAT VEHICLES, ARMY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Procurement of Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles, Army:
PROCUREMENT OF AMMUNITION, ARMY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Procurement of Ammunition, Army:
SMOKELESS GUNPOWDER
The Committee directs the Secretary of the Army to submit a
report to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, not
later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act, on the
United States supply chain for smokeless gunpowder, including
nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, and acid production, essential
to ammunition manufacturing. The Secretary of the Army will
identify not less than three potential locations to improve the
sourcing of smokeless gunpowder.
OTHER PROCUREMENT, ARMY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Other Procurement, Army:
COMMON TACTICAL TRUCK ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES
The Committee supports efforts to maximize commonality and
leverage commercial practices in Tactical Wheeled Vehicle
procurements. However, the Committee is concerned by the Army's
acquisition strategy for the Common Tactical Truck (CTT),
including the decision to combine vehicles with different
mission requirements into one configuration. The Committee
believes this acquisition approach could unintentionally reduce
competition and increase costs. Therefore, the Committee
directs the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition,
Logistics and Technology), to conduct a formal Analysis of
Alternatives for the CTT program, to include an option for
modernizing the Family of Heavy Tactical Wheeled Vehicles via
recapitalization, and submit a written report to the
congressional defense committees not later than 120 days after
the enactment of this Act.
AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT, NAVY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Aircraft Procurement, Navy:
NAVY ADVERSARY AIRCRAFT FOR TRAINING PURPOSES
The Committee notes the growing requirement for near-peer
representative air-to-air training using aggressor aircraft
with capabilities similar to that of advanced adversaries. The
Committee remains supportive of ongoing efforts to increase
capabilities of aircraft assigned to aggressor squadrons;
however, the Committee remains concerned about the overuse of
some legacy aircraft to carry out this mission in the long-
term. To maintain strategic Navy Reserve air strike fighter and
air aggressor capability, the Committee encourages the
Secretary of the Navy to transition deployable F/A-18E/F
aircraft considered for divestment, as available, from the
Active Component to Navy Reserve aviation squadrons.
E-2D ADVANCED HAWKEYE
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft is an essential command
and control element of the Carrier Strike Group's advanced
capability to provide force protection and enable power
projection for the United States and its allies. In 2019, the
Navy approved an increase of 11 aircraft to the program of
record, bringing the total warfighter requirement from 75 to 86
aircraft. However, the fiscal year 2025 President's budget does
not request any aircraft resulting in a shortfall of four
aircraft. The E-2D is in high demand from the combatant
commanders and has been integral to recent real-world
operations around the globe. The Committee believes that
fulfilling the authorized warfighter requirement will increase
readiness, aircraft availability, and reduce operational risk.
Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to
submit a report to the congressional defense committees not
later than 60 days after the enactment of this Act providing a
plan to fund the remaining aircraft to meet its authorized
warfighter requirement.
WEAPONS PROCUREMENT, NAVY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Weapons Procurement, Navy:
PROCUREMENT OF AMMUNITION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Procurement of Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps:
SHIPBUILDING AND CONVERSION, NAVY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy:
45-DAY SHIPBUILDING REVIEW
The Committee notes the findings of the Navy's 45-day
Shipbuilding Review found significant delays to several
critical shipbuilding programs. Notably, the review's findings
revealed 12-16 months delay in lead boat construction of the
Columbia-class submarine, 24-36 months delay in Virginia-class
submarine construction, 18-26 months delay in delivering the
third Ford-class carrier, and at least 3 years delay in the
lead Constellation-class frigate. Recognizing the importance of
fleet capacity in power projection and the Chief of Naval
Operations' new force-level goal of 381 ships, the Committee is
increasingly concerned by the long-term impacts of these
delays. The Committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to
submit a report to the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees not later than 90 days after the enactment of this
Act, on the Navy's recommended actions following the 45-day
Shipbuilding Review and the Navy's follow-on Shipbuilding
Review, outlining plans and funding requirements for
implementation.
SUBMARINE CONSTRUCTION
The Committee is dismayed by delays in construction of the
lead Columbia-class submarine. The program is the Navy's top
priority and fundamental to the nuclear triad. The Committee
recognizes the strategic importance of the Columbia-class
program and has fully funded every shipbuilding construction
request to ensure on time delivery of the lead boat and overall
success of the program. The Committee is troubled that the Navy
lacked the appropriate oversight of a program of such
significance that it only learned of the year delay to the
program in recent months.
Further, the Committee notes the delays in the Columbia-
class program will undoubtably impact Virginia-class submarine
construction. Virginia-class construction remains challenged
with production hovering at a 1.2 submarine per year cadence
versus the necessary cadence of two per year. The Committee
believes that given the findings of the 45-day Shipbuilding
Review showing a delay of upwards of 3 years in Virginia-class
submarine construction, that the Committee recommendation of
one Virginia-class submarine, coupled with robust investment in
the submarine industrial base, appropriately reflects the
current capacity for submarine construction and deliberately
targets funding to the industrial base to achieve long-term
sustainable production.
The Committee believes that providing significant and
strategic investment in the Submarine Industrial Base (SIB) is
necessary to achieving the ``1+2'' production rate for the
Columbia and Viriginia-class programs. Therefore, the Committee
recommendation includes $4,004,400,000 for the SIB, including
$2,134,000,000 in the Shipbuilding and Conversion account. This
funding is in addition to the $3,013,400,000 included in the
Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 and
the $1,188,000,000 provided in the Department of Defense
Appropriations Act, 2024. The Committee believes investment in
supplier capacity and capability, strategic domestic
outsourcing, workforce development, and technology and
infrastructure is key to achieving and sustaining the required
submarine production cadence in the long-term and maintaining
international commitments under the trilateral Australia,
United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) security partnership.
FRIGATE CONSTRUCTION
The Committee notes that despite findings in the 45-day
Shipbuilding Review that show the Constellation-class frigate
is at least three years behind schedule, the Navy continues to
request funding to construct frigates at a rate that the
program has demonstrated it is unable to meet. In addition to
the delays found with lead-ship construction, the Committee
notes the delivery dates for the three follow-on frigates
currently under contract are unknown. The Committee is
concerned by persisting design instability for the lead ship
that may further impact construction. Therefore, the Committee
recommendation provides no funding for the procurement of a
frigate in fiscal year 2025.
MEDIUM LANDING SHIP
The Committee remains supportive of the Marine Corps
implementation of the Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations
concept to support military operations in a contested maritime
environment. However, the Committee is concerned that the
Medium Landing Ship program faces risk in both requirements and
design stability. The Committee notes the negative impacts to
shipbuilding programs in cases where the Navy has
underestimated the requirements and stability of design for
lead ship construction, resulting in significant cost
increases, schedule delays, and instability in the shipbuilding
industrial base. Therefore, the Committee recommendation
includes $29,668,000 for the Medium Landing Ship to allow for
the program to focus on achieving design stability and solidify
requirements before making contractual commitment that funds
construction of the lead ship.
OTHER PROCUREMENT, NAVY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Other Procurement, Navy:
PROCUREMENT, MARINE CORPS
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Procurement, Marine Corps:
AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT, AIR FORCE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Aircraft Procurement, Air Force:
MISSILE PROCUREMENT, AIR FORCE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Missile Procurement, Air Force:
PROCUREMENT OF AMMUNITION, AIR FORCE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Procurement of Ammunition, Air Force:
OTHER PROCUREMENT, AIR FORCE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Other Procurement, Air Force:
PROCUREMENT, SPACE FORCE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Procurement, Space Force:
NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH
The Committee supports the Space Force's acquisition
approach for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program
phase III launch service procurements. The dual-lane approach
provides flexibility in Lane 1 for more risk-tolerant missions
and provides an on-ramp for new providers when they are ready.
Lane 2 provides assured access for the most critical national
security payloads with full mission assurance via three
certified providers, as proposed in the acquisition strategy.
The Committee directs the Department of Defense and the
Intelligence Community to utilize the NSSL program to the
maximum extent possible for launch service procurements, unless
the Secretary of the Air Force or the Director of the National
Reconnaissance Office provides a written justification with
supporting data to the congressional defense and intelligence
committees that a commercial launch or delivery-in-orbit
procurement for a designated mission is in the national
security interest of the government or significantly less
expensive than an NSSL procured launch.
PROCUREMENT, DEFENSE-WIDE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Procurement, Defense-Wide:
DEFENSE SUPPLY CHAIN PACKAGING
The Committee recognizes the critical importance of
protective packaging to ensure the safe transport and storage
of military equipment and goods. Packaging materials and
solutions are specifically tailored based on detailed
calculations for each requirement across the Department's
logistics and supply chain. The Committee urges the Secretary
of Defense, prior to proposing limitations or prohibitions on
packaging materials, to evaluate adverse financial,
performance, public safety impact, or unintended consequence
from proposed alternative(s) or substitute packaging materials.
The Committee further expects the Secretary to provide a
combined list of packaging modernization focus areas for fiscal
year 2026 to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees
along with the submission of the President's budget request for
fiscal year 2026.
GROUND MOBILITY TACTICAL VEHICLES FOR SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES
Ground mobility is an essential element for the success of
U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF). The Family of Special
Operations Vehicles offers differing capabilities depending on
the mission and area of operations. The Committee is concerned
with an apparent capability gap for ground combat vehicles,
specifically the Ground Mobility Vehicle (GMV) 1.1. To date,
procurement of the GMV 1.1 has fallen well short of the defined
requirement. The Committee encourages U.S. Special Operations
Command to review its acquisition strategy to determine if
additional vehicles are necessary to deliver this critical
capability to operators across the SOF enterprise.
DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT PURCHASES
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
the Defense Production Act Purchases:
EXPLANATION OF PROJECT LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Committee Change from
Request Recommended Request
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT PURCHASES 393,377 446,377 53,000
Program increase--commercial market analysis on domestic 1,000
alternative investments to a foreign entity...................
Program increase--domestic black powder advanced manufacturing. 17,000
Program increase--domestic boron processing and production..... 5,000
Program increase--expanding domestic solid rocket motors at 15,000
scale.........................................................
Program increase--titanium sponge production................... 15,000
--------------------------------------------
TOTAL, DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT PURCHASES.................... 393,377 446,377 53,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURCHASE COMMITMENTS
The Committee notes the Department of Defense fiscal year
2025 legislative proposals to expand contracting throughput
levels and increase the end of year fund balance from
$750,000,000 to $1,000,000,000. Although the Committee is
amenable to such legislative proposals, such proposals have not
yet been supported by a committee of jurisdiction. The
Committee remains concerned that continued restrictions on
Defense Production Act Title III funds will impair efforts to
support and expand the defense industrial base. Further, the
Committee notes the Department's interest in expanding the
defense industrial base in several critical areas, informed by
the National Defense Industrial Strategy. Therefore, the
Committee is not including a period of availability restriction
allowing the Department to issue purchase commitments, creating
guaranteed demand for industrial capacity, reducing risk to
industry investments, and strengthening the defense industrial
base.
STRATEGIC AND CRITICAL RARE EARTHS
The Committee notes the Department is working to strengthen
mining and processing capabilities integral to the defense
enterprise that includes, but is not limited to, cobalt,
lithium, graphite, and platinum, as well as rare earth elements
(REEs), rare earth oxides (REOs), such as Neodymium-
Praseodymium (NdPr) oxide, and rare earth minerals. The
Committee notes strategic and critical rare earths are
essential to permanent magnets, jet engines, missile guidance
systems, satellites, communication systems, and batteries. The
Committee is concerned about the lack of a coherent plan to
domestically source critical and rare earth elements, oxides,
and minerals to meet defense production needs. Additionally,
the Committee is concerned about fostering continued dependence
on adversarial producers, such as China.
Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of Defense
to include a comprehensive plan to increase domestic sources of
critical and rare earth elements, oxides, and minerals for
defense production needs to the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees during fiscal year 2026 budget reviews. The plan
shall identify statutes, policies, regulations, and/or
instructions that hinder development of robust domestic sources
of critical REEs, REOs, and rare earth minerals for defense
production. The plan shall also identify market trends in REEs,
REOs, and rare earth minerals that are necessary for defense
but also have civil and commercial application, which will have
investment implications for the Department. While this plan may
include options in ally or partner nations for near-term REE,
REO, and rare earth minerals to facilitate a rapid move from
adversarial producers, the recommendations and conclusions of
this plan must exclusively address the needs for a domestic
source for defense production.
CHEMICAL SUPPLY CHAIN AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ENGAGEMENT
The Committee recognizes the role chemicals play in
supporting America's defense industrial base and is aware of
the risk to America's national security with offshore
production of these substances and materials. The Committee
notes the current Defense Production Act Title III priority is
to onshore the top ten mission critical chemicals currently
produced overseas as well as modernize the chemical
manufacturing defense industrial base. For chemical substances
undergoing risk evaluation by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) under the Toxic Substances Control Act, the
Committee urges the Secretary of Defense to detail the
necessity for, and uses of, such chemicals during fiscal year
2026 budget reviews and implications to the Department and
defense industrial base stemming from the EPA's risk
evaluation.
NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE EQUIPMENT ACCOUNT
Fiscal year 2025 budget request....................... - - -
Committee recommendation.............................. $800,000,000
Change from budget request............................ +800,000,000
The Committee recommends $800,000,000 for the National
Guard and Reserve Equipment Account. Of that amount,
$248,000,000 is for the Army National Guard; $240,000,000 is
for the Air National Guard; $124,000,000 is for the Army
Reserve; $45,600,000 is for the Navy Reserve; $18,400,000 is
for the Marine Corps Reserve; and $124,000,000 is for the Air
Force Reserve to meet urgent equipment needs in the coming
fiscal year. This funding will allow the National Guard and
reserve components to procure high priority equipment used by
these components for both their military missions and missions
in support of State governors. The funding within this account
is not to be used to procure equipment designated as high-
density critical equipment, major weapon systems, aircraft, and
other equipment central to a unit's ability to perform its
doctrinal mission. The funding within this account is not to be
used to procure equipment purchased by the senior Service, to
expand or accelerate current Service procurement plans, to
purchase expendable items, or to purchase facilities or
equipment for any requirement able to be satisfied elsewhere.
The Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to ensure
that the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account is
executed by the Chiefs of the National Guard and reserve
components with priority consideration given to the following
items: acoustic hailing devices; aircraft survivability
equipment and weapons training aids; aviation status
dashboards; cloud defense solutions; crash-survivable UH-60
helicopter gunner seats; degraded visual environment systems;
improved thermal acoustic blanket; emergency response refuel
equipment kits for C-130/135 aircraft; internal auxiliary
crashworthy, ballistically tolerant auxiliary fuel systems for
UH-60 helicopters; KC-135 aircrew ground cooling units; land
surveying systems; lightweight, rapidly deployable, computer-
based artillery call for fire training and simulation; litter
stabilization systems; modular small arms ranges and small arms
training simulators and tools; secure enterprise, emergency,
and social communication; software defined radios; UH-72 Lakota
mission equipment modernization; and upgraded commercial-off-
the-shelf ground mapping for C-130 aircraft.
TITLE IV
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION
The fiscal year 2025 Department of Defense research,
development, test and evaluation budget request and the
Committee recommendation are summarized in the table below:
REPROGRAMMING GUIDANCE FOR ACQUISITION ACCOUNTS
The Secretary of Defense is directed to continue to follow
the reprogramming guidance as specified in the report
accompanying the House version of the Department of Defense
Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2008 (House Report 110-
279). Specifically, the dollar threshold for reprogramming
funds shall be $15,000,000 for procurement and research,
development, test and evaluation.
Also, the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) is
directed to continue to provide the congressional defense
committees quarterly, spreadsheet-based DD Form 1416 reports
for Service and defense-wide accounts in titles III and IV of
this Act. Reports for titles III and IV shall comply with the
guidance specified in the explanatory statement accompanying
the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006. The
Department shall continue to follow the limitation that prior
approval reprogramming actions are set at either the specified
dollar threshold or 20 percent of the procurement or research,
development, test and evaluation line, whichever is less. These
thresholds are cumulative from the base for reprogramming value
as modified by any adjustments. Therefore, if the combined
value of transfers into or out of a procurement (P-1) or
research, development, test and evaluation (R-1) line exceeds
the identified threshold, the Secretary of Defense must submit
a prior approval reprogramming to the congressional defense
committees. In addition, guidelines on the application of prior
approval reprogramming procedures for congressional special
interest items are established elsewhere in this report.
FUNDING INCREASES
The funding increases outlined in these tables shall be
provided only for the specific purposes indicated in the
tables.
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION SPECIAL INTEREST ITEMS
Items for which additional funds have been recommended or
items for which funding is specifically reduced as shown in the
project level tables detailing recommended adjustments or in
paragraphs using the phrase ``only for'' or ``only to'' in this
report are congressional special interest items for the purpose
of the Base for Reprogramming (DD Form 1414). Each of these
items must be carried on the DD Form 1414 at the stated amount,
as specifically addressed elsewhere in this report.
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION, ARMY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Army:
COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AND INFORMATION
ADVANTAGE
Counter-Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance and
Information Advantage (C-ISR/IA) capabilities deliver
intelligence, informational, and decision-making advantages in
multi-domain operations. C-ISR/IA superiority will be critical
to deter and defeat near-peer adversaries. The Committee
directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a combined,
classified budget display for manpower, operations and
maintenance, research, development, test and evaluation, and
procurement in the fiscal year 2026 President's budget request
focused on C-ISR/IA. This budget display is not intended to
shift resources from their current budget lines but is intended
to clearly present the Army's total investment in C-ISR/IA
capability.
NITROCELLULOSE PRODUCTION
The Committee is concerned about the domestic supply and
production of nitrocellulose. Any failure or supply shortage
could restrict ammunition manufacturing for large and small
calibers, harming the commercial marketplace and placing
servicemembers at risk. The Committee encourages the Secretary
of the Army to explore options for increasing production of
domestic nitrocellulose to meet demand.
HEAVY VEHICLE SIMULATOR
The Committee is aware of the need to upgrade the existing
Heavy Vehicle Simulator Mark IV-A at the Engineer Research and
Development Center. Military infrastructure requires rapidly
deployable solutions to enable effective maneuver of assets
from U.S. bases to theaters of operation. This platform
provides key research for evaluating airfield, rail, and
pavement solutions for Department of Defense applications
within both new and existing infrastructure. The Committee
urges the Secretary of the Army to prioritize this upgrade to
help address critical infrastructure requirements.
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION, NAVY
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy:
SECURE TESTBED FOR AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLES
The Committee recognizes the importance of testing
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) in a secure maritime
environment and notes that the current limited access to test
ranges inhibits innovation and the pace of development of AUV
technology. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of
the Navy to evaluate inland bodies of water for a viable and
secure location for an AUV and maritime sensor testing range.
The Secretary should consider secure bodies of water with
depths of 400 meters, significant oceangoing maritime traffic,
and climate conditions that can approximate a diverse continuum
of environments including the Indo-Pacific, North Atlantic, and
Arctic Oceans. The Secretary should also consider how the range
would be utilized by the Department, industrial partners,
academia, and allied nations. The Secretary shall provide a
written report on the findings to the House and Senate Defense
Appropriations Subcommittees not later than 180 days after the
enactment of this Act.
RAPID ANALYSIS OF THREAT EXPOSURE
The Committee commends the Navy for their leadership in
developing and testing real-time, artificial intelligence-
powered infection risk prediction scores using the Rapid
Analysis of Threat Exposure, a machine-learning algorithm. The
Committee recognizes the work of the Department of Defense, on
a clinical trial to monitor vital biomarkers in 9,381
Department personnel, including heart rate, inter-beat
interval, respiration rate, pulse oxygenation, skin temperature
and accelerometer data, collecting 201 million hours of data.
The findings proved the ability to predict infection, on
average, 48 hours before the onset of symptoms. The Committee
recognizes that identifying changes in physiology early in the
infection can be critical to containing the spread and
maintaining military readiness. An early warning solution could
potentially prevent outbreaks of contagious infections from
spreading out of control on ships and submarines where options
are more limited. The Committee urges further testing and
possible expansion of the use of this innovative technology and
directs the Secretary of the Navy to submit a report to the
congressional defense committees, not later than 90 days after
enactment of this Act, that details the effectiveness and value
of a larger deployment of the Rapid Analysis of Threat Exposure
technology to additional servicemembers or specific units.
COASTAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
The Committee understands the importance of the littoral
region to Navy operations worldwide and believes that testing
and training must take place at secured research, development,
test, and evaluation facilities and replicate the operational
and threat environments that Navy assets are likely to
encounter. Research is needed to study seabed phenomenology and
develop technologies for continuous monitoring and detection of
encroachment threats to reduce seabed vulnerabilities at or
near Navy critical ocean test and evaluation facilities. The
Committee believes that additional research on the underwater
signatures and ocean hydrodynamics in the littoral regions and
the development of predictive techniques to ensure stealth
superiority would be beneficial for naval operations. The
Committee encourages the Navy to conduct additional research in
this area.
ADAPTIVE FUTURE FORCE
The Committee notes the importance of ensuring the
warfighter is prepared for emerging technologies in the future
fight. The Office of Naval Research's existing work with the
Adaptive Future Force helps plan for innovative tactics related
to artificial intelligence, human-machine teaming, and autonomy
before the military faces an adversary in these types of
scenarios. The Committee supports the broadening of the
existing capability of human and robot systems to assist with
validating concepts and future technologies and methods that
would support the warfighter, including the development of
training programs, partnerships with academic and commercial
labs and institutions, and procurement of equipment, among
other deliverables.
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION, AIR FORCE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force:
FIGHTER AIRCRAFT ENGINE DEVELOPMENT
The Committee notes an Air Force-requested technical
adjustment to the fiscal year 2025 President's budget request
realigning $562,337,000 from the Advanced Engine Development
(AED) program to the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP)
program. The steady progress toward meeting future Next
Generation Air Dominance engine requirements is underscored by
industrial base competition, which the Committee expects to
last through future NGAP development phases. The Committee is
supportive of NGAP and therefore recommends a realignment of
$532,337,000 to the program.
The Committee also remains supportive of a consistent
pipeline of engine development for fighter aircraft and a
healthy engine industrial base. The Committee directs that the
$30,000,000 remaining in the AED program shall be used to
develop advanced engine technologies for integration into
future engine development programs. This can include
investments in adaptive cycle engine technologies, improved
manufacturing techniques for engine components, development of
novel materials, integration of enhanced digital design
capabilities into the engine development process, supply chain
maturation, and risk reduction.
These funds are not intended to incentivize the Air Force,
or any other Service, to create an alternative engine program
for the F-35, and a general provision is included in this Act
that prohibits the use of funds to integrate an alternative
engine on any F-35 aircraft.
SENTINEL
The Committee notes its longstanding support for the land-
based leg of the nuclear triad, having appropriated more than
$12,500,000,000 since fiscal year 2020 for Ground Based
Strategic Deterrent (GBSD). For fiscal year 2025, the Committee
recommendation includes $3,397,024,000 for GBSD, which is
$324,000,000 less than the President's budget request. This
decrease is the result of insufficient justification and
program uncertainty for execution needs in fiscal year 2025.
While supportive of the capability, the Committee was stunned
to learn about the critical Program Acquisition Unit Cost
breach of at least 37 percent, and an Average Procurement Unit
Cost breach of at least 19 percent that were determined
following a review of the program in December 2023. The
Committee acknowledges the technical challenges and complexity
of an undertaking of this magnitude. However, the Committee is
concerned that the issues driving the critical overruns were
not identified sooner, the level of flawed technical
assumptions, and the management continuity of the program. The
Committee is concerned that lack of continuity in program
management for such a critical program as Sentinel is
contributing to poor program performance, cost overruns, and
schedule slips. Therefore, the Committee directs the
Comptroller General of the United States to assess the impact
of turnover in program managers on the performance of the
Sentinel program and provide a report of this assessment to the
congressional defense committees not later than 180 days after
the enactment of this Act.
Additionally, the Committee expects a full discussion on
all statutorily required aspects of the Nunn-McCurdy review,
specifically alternatives considered, including those
recommended in the ``Congressional Commission on the Strategic
Posture of the United States'' report dated October 2023. The
Committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force, in
coordination with the Secretary of Defense and Commander of
United States Strategic Command, to submit a report to the
House and Senate Appropriations Committees, not later than 180
days after the enactment of this Act, on the most feasible
recommendations highlighted in the Commission's report related
to interim capability to augment a potential capability gap
caused by delays in Sentinel, to include the feasibility of
fielding some portion of the future intercontinental ballistic
missile force in a road mobile configuration. This report shall
include, but is not be limited to, an assessment of technical
attributes, cost, timeline, workforce limitations, and treaty
considerations. The Committee further directs the Secretary of
the Air Force to provide quarterly updates on the land-based
nuclear capability to the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees beginning not later than 90 days after the enactment
of this Act.
COLLABORATIVE COMBAT AIRCRAFT
The Committee recommendation includes $531,417,000 for the
Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program in fiscal year
2025, which is $25,730,000 less than the President's budget
request. The Committee notes that the budget request is
$164,937,000 above the amount appropriated in fiscal year 2024,
and $43,395,000 above previous estimates for fiscal year 2025.
The Committee remains supportive of the effort, and is pleased
that CCA Increment 1 downselected after only two years, having
demonstrated early and successful collaboration between
operators, technologists, acquirers and industry.
The Committee looks forward to continued updates on CCA
operational concept refinement; fielding and training; the plan
for CCA Increment 2, to include anticipated solicitation
timeline; the status of international partnerships; and
continued co-development with the Next Generation Air Dominance
program. The Committee is also interested in the projected
operational utilization of CCA, the assumptions on operator
cognitive load and planned solutions to address operational and
training challenges. Therefore, the Committee directs the
Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House
and Senate Appropriations Committee on these topics not later
than 60 days after enactment of this Act.
BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS PRODUCT INNOVATION
The Committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to
provide a briefing not later than 180 days after enactment of
this Act to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on
the Air Force Business and Enterprise Systems Product
Innovation (BESPIN) program. The briefing shall include how
BESPIN is integrated into the Air Force organizational
structure, projects and activities planned for fiscal year
2025, and the funding profile from fiscal year 2020 through the
fiscal year 2025 request. Further, the Secretary of the Air
Force is directed to coordinate with the Under Secretary of
Defense for Research and Engineering on whether elevating
BESPIN to the Office of Secretary of Defense for Research and
Engineering would better support the Defense-Wide enterprise,
and report back to the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees not later than 120 days after the enactment of this
Act.
LONG RANGE PERSISTENT INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE
The Committee recognizes the importance of long range
persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
capabilities in providing real-time situational awareness to
warfighters. The Committee notes current capabilities are
costly and often limited by endurance and forward positioning.
To meet the rapidly growing and anticipated demand from
combatant commands, the Committee encourages accelerating and
expanding Air Force Research Laboratory efforts to develop and
deliver ultra-long range endurance unmanned reconnaissance
aircraft.
ULTRA-WIDEBAND ANTENNA SYSTEMS
The Committee supports developing research on ultra-
wideband, ultra-wide scan, and reconfigurable antenna systems
with suitable back-ends that will enable wireless systems to
transmit and receive massive data in real-time in support of
the Air Force, Space Force, and Department-wide missions. The
same ultra-wideband systems will enable secure guidance in
denied environments.
SEMICONDUCTOR AUTHENTICATION
The Committee is aware of efforts to validate the
authenticity of semiconductor chips in the defense network
through a supply-chain verification system utilizing a diverse
set of secure authentication hardware, software, and protocols,
and encourages the Secretary of the Air Force to continue these
efforts to mitigate the risk of counterfeit parts or theft of
intellectual property.
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION, SPACE FORCE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Space Force:
PROTECTED TACTICAL SATCOM-GLOBAL
The fiscal year 2025 President's budget request includes
$247,997,000 to initiate a new program, Protect Tactical
SATCOM-Global (PTS-G), to bridge the gap between resilient
purpose-built communications satellite capabilities,
implemented by the PTS-Resilient program, and the more broadly
available capabilities offered by emerging commercial
providers. Pursuing this hybrid architecture was a key
recommendation of the Space Warfighting Analysis Center's study
on satellite communication architectures. The Committee fully
supports this hybrid architecture approach and the proposed
plan to field an initial capability of PTS-G by 2027. The
Committee encourages the Space Force to include commercial,
nontraditional company participation in carrying out the PTS-G
program.
Following submission of the budget request, the Space Force
requested a realignment of funds from PTS-G to address
shortfalls in the Position, Navigation, and Timing portfolio.
The Space Force has indicated that the proposed realignment
would not impact plans for PTS-G and is consistent with the
expected obligations and expenditures for fiscal year 2025
based on the current acquisition strategy. Therefore, the
recommendation realigns $55,000,000 to the Global Positioning
System (GPS)--Operational Control Segment (OCX), and
$15,000,000 to sustain the GPS Architecture Evolution Plan
until the OCX program is delivered. Consequently, the Committee
recommendation provides $177,997,000 for PTS-G and designates
the program as a congressional special interest item.
OPERATIONAL COMMERCIAL SPACE DOMAIN AWARENESS
The Committee notes the importance of space domain
awareness as a foundational data set for security in space.
While the Space Force is making substantial improvements in its
ability to track objects in orbit, space domain awareness
remains a critical gap, particularly the ability to provide
real-time tracking and persistent custody across all orbital
regimes. The Committee views the use of commercial space domain
awareness data as a critical component and complement for an
integrated approach to protecting and defending the space
domain. The Committee notes the significant private investment
in existing operational commercial capabilities and strongly
encourages the Chief of Space Operations to initiate an
operational commercial space domain awareness pathfinder
program.
TACTICAL SURVEILLANCE, RECONNAISSANCE, AND TRACKING
The Committee recognizes the increasing availability and
value of high-quality commercial imagery and other types of
data to support a wide range of national security applications,
including intelligence and military operations.
The Space Force's Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance,
and Tracking (TacSRT) initiative is aimed at rapidly delivering
unclassified, fully releasable commercial sensing and analytic
capabilities to combatant commanders. The Committee notes the
contribution of the TacSRT pilot in supporting United States
Southern Command and United States Africa Command. The
Committee expects the Space Force to continue to coordinate and
collaborate with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
(NGA) on the TacSRT initiative to minimize redundancy and
duplication of efforts. It is noted that Department of Defense
Directive 5105.60 designates the Director, NGA as the principal
advisor to the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, and the Combatant Commands for Geospatial
Intelligence. Therefore, the Director of NGA is directed to
provide a semiannual assessment, including recommendations, of
the TacSRT initiative to the congressional defense committees
beginning on January 15, 2025, and every 6 months thereafter.
Further, the Committee is aware that there are existing
contract vehicles for purchasing commercial remote sensing
data, analytic tools, and services. It is the Committee's
position that centralized purchase of commercial data and
services with government-wide licenses is the most cost-
efficient way of acquiring these capabilities and that ad hoc,
uncoordinated purchases is excessively costly as taxpayers are
underwriting the purchase of the same capability more than
once. Therefore, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for
Space Acquisition and Integration, and any official acting in
an acquisition or contracting capacity within the Space Force,
is directed to use existing contract mechanisms to the maximum
extent possible for the purchase of commercial remote sensing
data and services. The Committee recommendation provides
$10,000,000 for TacSRT under the Commercial Services line for
fiscal year 2025.
RESILIENT GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM
On April 5, 2024, the Committee received a letter from the
Deputy Secretary of Defense approving the Secretary of the Air
Force's determination to exercise newly granted rapid
acquisition authorities under section 229 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, also known as
quick-start authorities, to immediately repurpose $40,000,000
of fiscal year 2023 procurement funds to start a new initiative
called Global Positioning System (GPS)-lite, which has since
been renamed Resilient GPS (R-GPS). More recently, the Space
Force requested a realignment of an additional $77,000,000 in
the fiscal year 2025 President's budget request and is
considering submitting a reprogramming for additional funds in
September 2024. The Space Force estimates the total cost over
the next five years will be $1,000,000,000.
The Committee has several concerns about the R-GPS plan and
the use of this authority for this project. First, the R-GPS
initiative purports to provide greater resilience by
proliferating a constellation of about 20 small satellites
transmitting core GPS signals. While proliferation may provide
some advantages, it is not clear how these additional
satellites increase the resilience against the primary jamming
threat to GPS, compared to alternative concepts for position,
navigation, and timing systems being pursued elsewhere in the
Department of Defense. Second, the initiative focuses solely on
the space segment and does not address longstanding issues with
the lack of M-code GPS user equipment, a critical link to
enabling jam-resistant capabilities. Third, the initiative
could have been considered prior to enactment of the fiscal
year 2024 Defense Appropriations Act or submitted as part of
the fiscal year 2025 budget request. Instead, the Department
chose to bypass its own budget process and dodge the
congressional appropriations process to exercise this new,
extraordinary authority.
Therefore, the Committee recommendation does not include
the requested realignment of $77,000,000 in the fiscal year
2025 budget request. Further, the Committee directs the
Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation in
consultation with the Chairman of the Joint Requirements
Oversight Council to provide a report to the congressional
defense committees not later than 180 days after enactment of
this Act that includes an assessment of whether R-GPS is the
best alternative to improve the resiliency of position,
navigation, and timing services to support national security.
EXTENDED LAUNCH VEHICLE CAPABILITIES
The Committee notes recent initiatives by the Space Force
to enhance resiliency and effectiveness of on-orbit assets by
pursuing capabilities for sustained space maneuver and dynamic
space operations. The Committee supports these initiatives and
strongly encourages the Space Force to broaden its scope to
include greater investment in extended duration launch vehicle
capabilities, such as high-energy upper stage systems. Such
capabilities would enable orbit transfer advantages, unlock
extended duration missions both in earth orbit and cislunar
space, and enable new concepts of operation to protect against
in-space threats, as space transitions from a strategic to a
tactical domain.
Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of the Air
Force to submit a report to the congressional defense
committees, not later than 180 days after the enactment of this
Act, on the mission utility and feasibility of extended
duration launch vehicle capabilities, including an
implementation plan for on-orbit demonstrations of capabilities
enabled by such a system. The plan shall include a detailed
schedule with milestones and estimates of funding required by
fiscal year.
SPACE TEST PROGRAM
For more than 50 years, the Space Test Program (STP) has
provided vital support to the science and technology community
through flight opportunities and mission support to demonstrate
new technologies and carry out important scientific missions in
support of national security. The Committee strongly supports
the STP program and encourages the Commander of Space Systems
Command to include innovative nontraditional commercial
entities and small businesses to the greatest extent possible
in the Space Test Experiments Platform 2.0 program.
QUARTERLY REPORTS
The Committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to
continue to provide quarterly briefings on the status of its
missile warning and missile tracking programs, to include the
Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared programs and the
Resilient Missile Warning-Missile Tracking Medium-Earth Orbit
and Low-Earth Orbit programs.
CISLUNAR SPACE
Developing capabilities and operating within cislunar space
is imperative for the Nation to obtain national security,
science and technology, and economic advantages. The Committee
encourages the Secretary of the Air Force to increase
investments in cislunar propulsion technologies, space domain
awareness, resilient launch and ground capabilities, and other
related activities.
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION, DEFENSE-WIDE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-wide:
UNDEREXPLORED SYSTEMS FOR UTILITY-SCALE QUANTUM COMPUTING
The Committee recognizes the importance of the Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Underexplored
Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing (US2QC) and is
encouraged by the significant progress made in demonstrating
technical feasibility of fault-tolerant utility-scale
operations. The Committee expects the Department will expand
activities to develop, test, and evaluate designs and
prototypes for fault tolerant quantum computer prototypes.
Given the significant level of investment required for fault-
tolerant, utility-scale systems, the Committee urges the
Secretary of Defense to begin infrastructure planning and
directs the Secretary to provide a briefing to the
congressional defense committees on US2QC advancements and
estimated infrastructure requirements not later than 60 days
after the enactment of this Act.
CHIEF DIGITAL AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER ACTIVITIES
The Committee recognizes the efforts underway by the Chief
Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO) and fully
funds activities under CDAO's purview, including ALPHA-1 and
Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control (CJADC2). The
Committee urges the Secretary of Defense to increase resourcing
for CDAO to facilitate advanced lethality and reform throughout
the Department of Defense. Although the Committee appreciates
the demand signal for employing artificial intelligence (AI) to
improve lethality, the Committee urges the Department and
Combatant Commanders to further prioritize AI for
administrative functions and business systems to achieve
measurable reform improvements.
Additionally, the Committee understands the complexity of
working toward a CJADC2 environment and believes Service-
initiated efforts have provided valuable insights essential to
pursuing transformation of this scale. Such insights have
revealed significant gaps likely to impair operational-level
JADC2 efforts such as Joint Fires Network (JFN) as well as
strategic CJADC2 goals. The Committee is encouraged by such
discovery and is interested in the Department's actions to
develop or acquire, maintain, and sustain a centralized
repository of interfaces that allows third-party data consumers
and data producers to access and register data interfaces
without requiring intervention from the repository developer or
maintainer.
Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of Defense,
supported by the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence
Officer, to provide a briefing not later than 60 days after the
enactment of this Act on the Department's strategy and plan to
organically develop or acquire, maintain and sustain a secure
data integration layer in the next two future years defense
programs that provides equal ability for third-party data
producers to register data interfaces and equal data access for
third-party data consumers, without requiring assistance from
the repository developer or maintainer. This briefing shall
include how the Department will prioritize data interfaces for
inclusion and its approach to achieve discoverability of and
access to Service and Intelligence Community data producers and
data consumers. This briefing shall also include considerations
needed for all levels of classification required in a CJADC2
environment.
NATIONAL CENTERS OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN CYBERSECURITY
The Committee's recommendation provides $25,000,000 above
the request for the National Centers of Academic Excellence in
Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program. The Committee intends that
these funds be used, to the greatest extent practicable, to
sustain NCAE-C broad agency announcement grants to centers of
academic excellence to promote cybersecurity workforce
development initiatives, advanced cyber research, and K-12
pipelines. The Committee further encourages the expansion of
the current NCAE-C Challenge and Workforce Assessment Tool to
include the Department of Defense Cyber Workforce Framework for
assessments required by law, as well as expansion of access to
higher education institutions with students from underserved or
underrepresented populations. The Committee directs the
Secretary of Defense to submit a spend plan for these
additional funds, as well as identification of the costs
associated with administration of NCAE-C, to the House and
Senate Appropriations Committees not later than 60 days after
the enactment of this Act.
ARMSTRONG TEST FACILITY
The Committee is closely monitoring the progress of the
Department's programs regarding hypersonic weapons, satellites,
space vehicles, and other national security space developments.
The Committee is aware of the assistance that the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration's Neil Armstrong Test
Facility (ATF) has provided to the Department on research and
development programs in these areas and encourages the
Department to assist NASA in providing the ATF with cyber
security, physical security, and other necessary upgrades that
will allow the Department continued access to ATF's world-class
space, aeronautics, and hypersonic assets.
LIGHT DETECTION AND RANGING
The Committee is concerned with the pace of the People's
Republic of China (PRC) access to the light detection and
ranging (LiDAR) market and technology in the United States,
given the commercial expansion of such technology since 1960.
As noted by Congressional Research Service, the PRC's
aggressive industrial policies are using United States capital
markets to secure financing, enter the United States market,
negotiate partnerships, and acquire United States technology.
Therefore, none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available under this Act may be used to operate, procure, or
enter into a contracting action related to the acquisition or
operation of LiDAR technology manufactured by an entity that
is: (1) included on the Consolidated Screening List maintained
by the International Trade Administration of the Department of
Commerce; (2) included in the Chinese Military-Industrial
Complex list by the Secretary of the Treasury; (3) included in
the 1260H list by the Secretary of Defense; (4) domiciled in
the People's Republic of China; (5) subject to influence or
control by the government of the People's Republic of China, as
defined by the Secretary of Defense; or (6) a subsidiary or
affiliate of an entity described in items (1) through (5), as
defined by the Secretary of Defense.
Furthermore, aforementioned restrictions shall not apply to
an operation, procurement, or contracting action that: (1) is
for researching, evaluating, training on, testing, or analyzing
electronic warfare operations or cybersecurity systems; and (2)
notification is provided in writing not later than 15 days
after making an expenditure to such an operation, procurement,
or contracting action to the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees in a manner that identifies the LiDAR technology and
intended use of such system. Notification may include a
classified annex, as necessary.
LOITERING MUNITIONS
The Committee continues to support Department of Defense
efforts to develop new and innovative concepts for loitering
munitions that counter the proliferation of lethal drones
deployed by near-peer adversaries and non-state actors. The
Committee is encouraged by the efforts of the Combating
Terrorism Technical Support Office, within the Irregular
Warfare Technical Support Directorate, to evaluate and mature
technologies in this space, and remains interested in the
development of the ROC-X VTOL Loitering Munition as it
transitions through the operational test and evaluation phase.
SEMICONDUCTOR SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY
The Committee continues to believe that leading-edge
semiconductors are vital to national security and that many
critical systems use semiconductors that were fabricated solely
in foreign countries. It is imperative that the Department of
Defense gain greater insight into its semiconductor supply
chain and reduce reliance on foreign produced semiconductors.
The Committee believes major defense acquisition programs
(MDAPs) and subsystems should use leading-edge semiconductors
that are manufactured in the United States using secure
manufacturing capabilities. Therefore, not later than one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Defense shall submit a report to the congressional defense
committees assessing the source of semiconductor procurements
carried out in connection with MDAPs and a feasibility
assessment on upgrading MDAPs to leading-edge semiconductors
that are manufactured in the United States using secure
manufacturing capabilities that increase domestic content
percentages of MDAPs pursuant to section 835 of Public Law 118-
31.
DIGITAL SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
The Committee recognizes the Department of Defense's goal
to integrate advanced digital supply chain management
capabilities to utilize secure, durable devices and
technologies designed to continuously operate with limited or
disrupted network connectivity. The Committee believes that
enterprise capabilities are essential to support global
operations and is concerned by the pace of the Department's
implementation of advanced digital supply chain management.
Therefore, the Committee encourages the Secretary of Defense to
develop and implement a strategy to leverage commercial
enterprise resilient logistics technology and business systems,
capable of operating in a contested logistics environment.
COMBATANT CRAFT HEAVY
The Committee remains supportive of United States Special
Operations Command continued procurement of the Combatant Craft
Heavy. The Committee is aware of multiple lines of effort to
improve current and future designs. The Committee fully
supports additional work for hull design and advanced material
studies to inform trade space for increased mission capability,
increased survivability, and increased material readiness for
new craft.
OPERATIONAL TEST AND EVALUATION, DEFENSE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Operational Test and Evaluation, Defense:
EXPLANATION OF PROJECT LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS
[In thousands of dollars]
Budget Committee Change from
Request Recommended Request
OPERATIONAL TEST AND EVALUATION.................................... 136,226 136,226 0
LIVE FIRE TESTING.................................................. 109,561 109,561 0
OPERATIONAL TEST ACTIVITIES AND ANALYSIS........................... 102,922 102,922 0
--------------------------------------------
TOTAL, OPERATIONAL TEST & EVALUATION, DEFENSE.................. 348,709 348,709 0
TITLE V
REVOLVING AND MANAGEMENT FUNDS
DEFENSE WORKING CAPITAL FUNDS
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
the Defense Working Capital Funds accounts:
EXPLANATION OF PROJECT LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Committee Change from
Request Recommended Request
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WORKING CAPITAL FUND, ARMY....... 23,604 23,604 0
WORKING CAPITAL FUND, NAVY....... 30,000 30,000 0
WORKING CAPITAL FUND, AIR FORCE.. 86,874 86,874 0
WORKING CAPITAL FUND, DEFENSE- 2,256 2,256 0
WIDE............................
DEFENSE WORKING CAPITAL FUND, 1,570,187 1,570,187 0
DECA............................
--------------------------------------
TOTAL, DEFENSE WORKING 1,712,921 1,712,921 0
CAPITAL FUNDS...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL DEFENSE STOCKPILE TRANSACTION FUND
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $7,629,000 for
the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund.
TITLE VI
OTHER DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAMS
DEFENSE HEALTH PROGRAM
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
the Defense Health Program:
REPROGRAMMING GUIDANCE FOR THE DEFENSE HEALTH PROGRAM
The Act includes a general provision which caps the funds
available for Private Sector Care under the TRICARE program
subject to prior approval reprogramming procedures. The general
provision and accompanying report language should not be
interpreted as limiting the amount of funds that may be
transferred to the In-House Care budget sub-activity from other
budget sub-activities within the Defense Health Program. In
addition, funding for the In-House Care and Private Sector Care
budget sub-activities are designated as congressional special
interest items. Any transfer of funds in excess of $15,000,000
into or out of these sub-activities requires the Secretary of
Defense to follow prior approval reprogramming procedures for
operation and maintenance funds.
The Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide
written notification to the congressional defense committees of
cumulative transfers in excess of $15,000,000 out of the
Private Sector Care budget sub-activity not later than 15 days
after such a transfer. Furthermore, the Committee directs the
Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the congressional
defense committees, not later than 30 days after the enactment
of this Act, that delineates transfers of funds, and the dates
any transfers occurred, from the Private Sector Care budget
sub-activity to any other budget sub-activity.
Additionally, the Committee remains concerned with funding
for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization
(FSRM) being repurposed throughout the fiscal year. Deferring
FSRM in favor of more immediate needs of the Defense Health
Program may be seem prudent at the time but comes with costly,
severe, and enduring ramifications. For this reason, the
Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide written
notification to the congressional defense committees of
cumulative transfers in excess of $15,000,000 out of the Base
Operations and Communications budget sub-activity not later
than 15 days after such a transfer.
The Committee further directs the Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Health Affairs to provide quarterly briefings to
the congressional defense committees, not later than 30 days
after the end of each fiscal quarter, on budget execution data
for all Defense Health Program budget activities, and to
adequately reflect changes to the budget activities requested
by the Services in future budget submissions. These reports
shall also be provided to the Government Accountability Office.
CARRYOVER
For fiscal year 2025, the Committee recommends one percent
carryover authority for the operation and maintenance account
of the Defense Health Program. The Committee directs the
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs to submit a
detailed spending plan for any fiscal year 2024 designated
carryover funds to the congressional defense committees not
less than 30 days prior to executing the carryover funds.
STABILIZING AND IMPROVING THE MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM
The Committee notes initial efforts beginning in fiscal
year 2025 to attract servicemembers and beneficiaries back to
Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) and Dental Treatment
Facilities (DTFs) as outlined in the Deputy Secretary of
Defense memorandum ``Stabilizing and Improving the Military
Health System'', dated December 6, 2023. The Committee
understands the magnitude of the task ahead as the reforms to
the Military Health System (MHS), mandated by the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, have resulted
in chronically understaffed MTFs and DTFs; an inability to
maintain and sustain clinical skills of military medical
personnel; an increased dependence on private sector care
capacity exacerbated by a challenging healthcare economy; and
an overall lack of quality and timely care via the MHS.
Therefore, the Committee directs the Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Health Affairs, in coordination with the Director
of the Defense Health Agency and Services' Surgeons General, to
provide a report not later than 180 days after the enactment of
this Act to the congressional defense committees that details:
(1) current and future medical and dental requirements that
will inform programming, force design and structure, and risk
tradeoffs to meet MHS demand;
(2) medical and civilian manpower requirements to
reattract, on average, 7 percent of available care from the
private sector back to MTFs and DTFs, including assignments of
uniformed medical and dental personnel by Service, as well as
the identification of MTFs and DTFs at risk of not meeting
established manpower requirements;
(3) career development, education, and training
opportunities for medical and dental personnel, targeted
approaches to reduce civilian employee vacancies and hiring
delays, and utilization of authorities to improve recruitment
and retention of health professionals; and
(4) the timeline to achieve the goals set forth in the
December 6, 2023, memorandum, as well as any funding
requirements across the future years defense program necessary
to achieve such goals.
MILITARY MEDICAL MANPOWER
The Committee remains concerned that the Department's
handling of military medical billet reductions, in response to
the reforms mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2017, has negatively impacted access to quality
healthcare services for servicemembers and their beneficiaries,
particularly in areas deemed high risk and health shortage
areas by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Therefore, in addition to the report directed in House Report
118-121, the Committee directs the Director of the Defense
Health Agency (DHA) to provide a briefing to the congressional
defense committees, not later than 60 days after the enactment
of this Act, on the progress of implementing the report
recommendations, including an identification of any barriers to
implementation.
In addition, the Committee continues to direct the
Services' Surgeons General to submit vacancy rates by
occupational code to the congressional defense committees on a
quarterly basis and further directs the Director of the DHA to
submit vacancy rates among military and civilian medical
personnel by location and specialty to the congressional
defense committees on a quarterly basis.
ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS
The Committee continues to support efforts the Department
of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs have
undertaken with regard to electronic health records and the
health record system. It is the Committee's ongoing expectation
that the Departments' electronic health record systems will be
interoperable with seamless compatibility. The Committee
directs the Director of the Federal Electronic Health Record
Modernization (FEHRM) program office to continue to submit
quarterly reports on the progress of interoperability between
the two Departments to the House and Senate Defense
Appropriations Subcommittees and the House and Senate Military
Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Subcommittees.
The Program Executive Officer of Defense Healthcare
Management Systems (PEO DHMS), in coordination with the
Director of the FEHRM and the Director of the Defense Health
Agency, is directed to submit quarterly reports to the
congressional defense committees on the cost of the program,
including any indirect costs funded outside of the DHMS
Modernization Electronic Health Record program; and the
schedule of the program, to include milestones, knowledge
points, and acquisition timelines, as well as quarterly
obligations. In addition, the Committee directs the PEO DHMS to
continue to brief the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees on a quarterly basis, coinciding with the report
submission.
The Department of Defense's electronic health record
system, MHS GENESIS, completed full deployment and is
transitioning into the Capability Support phase focused on end
user experience. The Committee expects PEO DHMS to remain
committed to providing continuous capability enhancement
incorporating end user needs, increasing system availability,
and conducting repeatable surveys, in coordination with the
Defense Health Agency Health Informatics organization,
measuring end user satisfaction of improvements and system
overall. Therefore, the Committee directs the Comptroller
General of the United States to continue quarterly performance
reviews of MHS GENESIS with a focus on whether the program is
meeting expected cost, schedule, scope, quality, and risk
mitigation expectations, to include system enhancements, and
expects the PEO DHMS will provide the Comptroller General of
the United States regular and in-depth access to the program to
facilitate these reviews.
PEER-REVIEWED CANCER RESEARCH PROGRAM
The Committee recommends $150,000,000 for the peer-reviewed
breast cancer research program, $110,000,000 for the peer-
reviewed prostate cancer research program, $50,000,000 for the
peer-reviewed kidney cancer research program, $45,000,000 for
the peer-reviewed ovarian cancer research program, $40,000,000
for the peer-reviewed melanoma research program, $25,000,000
for the peer-reviewed lung cancer research program, $17,500,000
for the peer-reviewed rare cancers research program,
$15,000,000 for the peer-reviewed pancreatic cancer research
program, $10,000,000 for the peer-reviewed glioblastoma
research program, and $130,000,000 for the peer-reviewed cancer
research program that would research cancers not addressed in
the aforementioned programs currently executed by the
Department of Defense.
The funds provided in the peer-reviewed cancer research
program are directed to be used to conduct research in the
following areas: bladder cancer; blood cancers; brain cancer
(excluding glioblastoma); colorectal cancer; endometrial
cancer; esophageal cancer; germ cell cancers; liver cancer;
lymphoma; metastatic cancers; myeloma; neuroblastoma; pediatric
brain tumors; pediatric, adolescent, and young adult cancers;
sarcoma; stomach cancer; and thyroid cancer. The inclusion of
the individual rare cancers research program shall not prohibit
the peer-reviewed cancer research program from funding the
previously mentioned cancers or cancer subtypes that may be
rare by definition.
The funds provided under the peer-reviewed cancer research
program shall be used only for the purposes listed above. The
Committee directs the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health
Affairs to submit a report, not later than 180 days after the
enactment of this Act, to the congressional defense committees
on the status of the peer-reviewed cancer research program. For
each research area, the report shall include the funding amount
awarded, the progress of the research, and the relevance of the
research to servicemembers and their families.
The Committee commends the Department of Defense for
ensuring that projects funded through the various peer-reviewed
cancer research programs maintain a focus on issues of
significance to military populations and the warfighter. This
includes promoting collaborative research proposals between
Department of Defense researchers and non-military research
institutions. These collaborations leverage the knowledge,
infrastructure, and access to clinical populations that the
partners bring to the research effort. Additionally, promoting
these collaborations provides a valuable recruitment and
retention incentive for military medical and research
personnel. The Committee encourages the Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Health Affairs to continue to emphasize the
importance of these collaborations between military and non-
military researchers throughout the peer-review process.
METASTATIC CANCER RESEARCH
Existing research suggests a genetic basis for
susceptibility to metastatic cancer or resistance to
metastasis. However, the Committee believes more research and
data are required to develop a comprehensive understanding of
this complex process. Clinical trials are an important aspect
of that process, and a diverse representation of patients in
clinical trials is integral to the development of medications
and therapies that effectively treat disease.
The Committee encourages the Director of the
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs to continue
to partner with outside experts and other federal agencies to
implement the recommendation from the April 2018 Task Force
Report to Congress on Metastatic Cancer concerning diverse
enrollment in clinical trials. The Committee also encourages
the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs to
implement the recommendations to inform patients about risk
factors for metastasis, increase cancer patient awareness of
healthcare resources, and create standardized survivorship care
plans for patients with metastatic cancer while validating
whether their use improves outcomes for these patients. The
Committee remains interested in areas where assistance from
other federal agencies is required to fully implement the
recommendations of the Task Force's report.
PEER-REVIEWED ALS RESEARCH PROGRAM
The Committee notes that there is a well-documented
correlation between military service and the development of
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Servicemembers are twice
as likely to develop ALS as the general population, although
the etiology of ALS and its linkage to military service remains
largely unknown. Therefore, the Committee recommendation
includes $40,000,000 for the peer-reviewed ALS research
program, and encourages the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Health Affairs to prioritize research that can bring effective
treatments to people living with ALS as soon as possible.
JOINT WARFIGHTER MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM
The Committee recommendation includes $20,000,000 for the
continuation of the joint warfighter medical research program.
The funding shall be used to augment and accelerate high
priority Department of Defense and Service medical requirements
and to continue prior year initiatives that are close to
achieving their objectives and yielding a benefit to military
medicine. The funding shall not be used for new projects nor
for basic research, and it shall be awarded at the discretion
of the Secretary of Defense following a review of medical
research and development gaps as well as unfinanced medical
requirements of the Services. Further, the Committee directs
the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs to submit
a report, not later than 180 days after the enactment of this
Act, to the congressional defense committees that lists the
projects that receive funding. The report should include the
funding amount awarded to each project, a thorough description
of each project's research, and the benefit the research will
provide to the Department of Defense.
COMBAT READINESS MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM
The Committee recommendation includes $5,000,000 for the
Combat Readiness Medical Research program. The program should
focus on medical needs of the warfighter on the battlefield,
specifically including research to improve care during the
``golden hour'' for servicemembers with life-threatening
injuries, battlefield diagnostics, and medical threats and
treatments for warfighters deployed around the world.
The Committee expects the Assistant Secretary of Defense
for Health Affairs to identify current gaps in medical planning
and resources, consider medical capabilities that may mitigate
fatalities, enhance battlefield diagnostics, and identify
solutions for life threatening complications after battlefield
injury.
The funding in the Combat Readiness Medical Research
program should be used for battlefield wound care technologies,
including therapies and devices; blast sensor technology;
combat medical skills sustainment training; dietary
interventions and non-invasive brain stimulation in support of
post-traumatic stress disorder; eating disorders; freeze dried
plasma and platelets; hemorrhage field care; highly infectious
disease treatment and transport; infectious diseases; medical
simulation technology; Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome; purified exosomal product to treat
battlefield orthopedic injuries; sarcoidosis; sleep disorders;
TBI biomarkers; telemedicine; and Valley Fever.
PEER-REVIEWED TOXIC EXPOSURES RESEARCH PROGRAM
The Committee is concerned by the number of known and
unknown toxins servicemembers are exposed to as part of their
military service. The Committee remains committed to veterans
affected by Gulf War Illness and acknowledges a commonality
between this community and others exposed to substances,
including burn pit exposure, that result in multiple, diverse
symptoms and health abnormalities. Therefore, the Committee
recommends $30,000,000 for the peer-reviewed toxic exposures
research program. The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health
Affairs is directed to select research projects of clear
scientific merit and direct relevance to military exposures to
toxic substances, including toxic industrial chemicals,
materials, metals, and minerals. The inclusion of the toxic
exposures research program shall not prohibit research in any
other congressionally directed research program that may be
associated with conditions or health abnormalities linked to
toxic exposures.
As with other research programs, the Committee expects
projects funded through the peer-reviewed toxic exposures
research program to maintain a focus on issues of significance
to military populations and the warfighter and that the program
shall promote collaborative research proposals between
Department of Defense researchers and non-military research
institutions.
PEER-REVIEWED ARTHRITIS RESEARCH
The Committee remains concerned by the detrimental impact
of arthritis on servicemembers and notes its impact on
retention. Therefore, the Committee recommendation includes
$10,000,000 for the peer-reviewed arthritis research program.
Funding provided in the peer-reviewed arthritis research
program shall be used to conduct research on all forms of
arthritis including osteoarthritis, posttraumatic arthritis,
and rheumatoid arthritis. Further, arthritis research shall not
be provided for in other peer-reviewed research programs, and
the inclusion of the peer-reviewed arthritis research program
shall not prohibit research in any other congressionally
directed research program that may be associated with
conditions or health abnormalities related to arthritis.
MEDICAL RESEARCH
The Committee continues to monitor the transition of
medical research conducted by the United States Army Medical
Research and Materiel Command to the Defense Health Agency
Research and Development organization to ensure that core
medical research funding is responsive to the needs of
servicemembers. Additionally, the Committee recommendation for
fiscal year 2025 includes $1,164,000,000 for the
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) to
fund high-risk, high-reward medical research. The Committee
directs the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
to submit to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees a
request for prior approval for any changes in management
structure; functional alignment; or the two-tiered, peer-
reviewed process proposed for the CDMRP program, not less than
30 days prior to any proposed changes taking place.
Additionally, the Committee continues to support the use of
agile contracting methods, such as other transaction
agreements, that may help mitigate the impacts on medical
readiness through public-private partnerships and encourages
the Department to continue to leverage these mechanisms to
ensure expeditious delivery of medical solutions.
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND TRAINING
The Committee remains concerned about the shortage of
current and prospective mental health care professionals,
including social workers, clinical psychologists, and
psychiatrists, for servicemembers and beneficiaries. To address
the shortage across the Military Health System, the Committee
urges the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs,
the Director of the Defense Health Agency, and the Services'
Surgeons General, to review the tools available to the
Department of Defense to increase the number of mental health
professionals it educates, trains, and hires. This review
should consider how the Health Professions Scholarship Program
and programming through Uniformed Services University of the
Health Sciences could be expanded to increase the number of
mental health-related scholarships granted with the goal of
increasing the pipeline of mental health providers. Further,
the Committee encourages the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Health Affairs to exercise all available authorities to improve
recruitment and retention of mental health providers.
SERVICE DOGS
The Committee notes the vital support service dogs provide
to our wounded warriors. In support of these programs, the
Committee recommendation includes $16,000,000 in fiscal year
2025 to increase the capacity to train and place service dogs
with eligible servicemembers and veterans. Further, the
Committee directs that none of the funds appropriated in this
Act may be obligated or expended to cover overhead expenses
associated with the programs.
ARTHROSCOPIC SURGICAL TRAINING FOR MILITARY ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS
The Committee recognizes the importance of utilizing
partnerships with public, private, and non-profit organizations
and institutions to provide short-term specialized medical
training to advance arthroscopic surgical skills and
capabilities of military medical providers. Delivery of direct
training based on best practices related to orthopedic
procedures not only increases the proficiency of military
orthopedic health professionals to improve quality of care and
address readiness issues related to musculoskeletal injuries,
but also may lead to higher rates of retention among military
medical providers.
To address these gaps, Congress has previously appropriated
resources beginning in fiscal year 2019 to develop military-
civilian partnerships to ensure military orthopedic health
professionals are provided with advanced surgical training in,
and best practices related to, arthroscopic surgery and
techniques. Therefore, the Committee directs the Assistant
Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs to submit a report to
the congressional defense committees, not later than 90 days
after the enactment of this Act, that outlines a set of metrics
to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Further, the
Committee directs the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health
Affairs to submit a report to the congressional defense
committees, not later than 180 days after enactment of this
Act, that includes a list of entities the Department has
established partnerships with under the program, and an
assessment of the effectiveness of the program based on
physical health assessment data including questions related to
the electronic physical health assessment survey, physical
readiness test data, and postoperative survey data collected
after musculoskeletal intervention.
ORAL REHYDRATION SOLUTIONS
The Committee remains concerned about the continued health
risks posed to servicemembers by heat casualties during
training and operational activities. The Committee notes with
interest that Special Operations units have successfully
leveraged the use of Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) to
optimize performance and believes that this practice could
bring measurable benefits in the initial entry training setting
and reduce the risk of heat-related casualties. The Committee
encourages leadership from the Special Operations Command to
share their techniques on the use of ORS with each of the
Services, especially the Army. The Committee also encourages
the Secretary of the Army to implement these techniques and
directs the Secretary to conduct an evaluation of the use of
ORS at the brigade level during the summer months and track
data on the prevention of heat casualties and hyponatremia. The
Secretary of the Army, or her designee, shall provide a
briefing to the congressional defense committees on the results
of this study not later than 120 days after the enactment of
this Act.
INCIDENCE OF CANCER AMONG ACTIVE DUTY AVIATION PILOTS
The Committee is concerned by the increased rate of cancer
among active duty fixed-wing aviators, particularly those
assigned to tactical fighter, bomber, and aircraft carrier-
based aircraft. The Committee is aware that the ``Study on the
Incidence of Cancer Diagnosis and Mortality among Military
Aviators and Aviation Support Personnel'' is ongoing, and
encourages the Director of the Defense Health Agency to conduct
additional research examining the presence of certain
chemicals, compounds, agents, or other phenomena found in
fixed-wing aircraft, such as radiofrequency radiation, that may
be associated with a higher incidence of cancer among this
military population, and work with the Services to limit
exposure to such agents.
CHEMICAL AGENTS AND MUNITIONS DESTRUCTION, DEFENSE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction, Defense:
EXPLANATION OF PROJECT LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Committee Change from
Request Recommended Request
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.......................................... 20,745 20,745 0
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION......................... 754,762 754,762 0
--------------------------------------------
TOTAL, CHEMICAL AGENTS AND MUNITIONS DESTRUCTION, DEFENSE...... 775,507 775,507 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DRUG INTERDICTION AND COUNTER-DRUG ACTIVITIES, DEFENSE
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense:
EXPLANATION OF PROJECT LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Committee Change from
Request Recommended Request
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COUNTER-NARCOTICS SUPPORT.................................................. 653,702 673,702 20,000
Program increase--enterprise-wide intelligence programs................... 10,000
Program increase--Project 5111--NORTHCOM Counternarcotics Mission Support. 6,000
Program increase--Project 3309--Joint Interagency Task Force--West........ 4,000
DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION PROGRAM.............................................. 135,567 139,567 4,000
Program increase--Young Marines........................................... 4,000
NATIONAL GUARD COUNTERDRUG PROGRAM......................................... 106,043 305,000 198,957
Program increase.......................................................... 188,957
Program increase--Standoff narcotics detection technology pilot program... 7,500
Program increase--Illicit drug deactivation and disposal at the border.... 2,500
NATIONAL GUARD COUNTERDRUG SCHOOLS......................................... 6,167 25,000 18,833
Program increase.......................................................... 18,833
------------------------------------
TOTAL, DRUG INTERDICTION AND COUNTER-DRUG ACTIVITIES, DEFENSE.......... 901,479 1,143,269 241,790
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee notes that over one hundred thousand
Americans died from drug overdoses in 2023, including over
seventy thousand deaths from illicit fentanyl and synthetic
opioids. The fentanyl crisis is a national security issue that
demands a whole-of-government approach, and the Department of
Defense has an important role to play. The Committee
recommendation builds upon significant investments made in the
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024, which increased
the Department's capabilities and support of law enforcement to
counter the fentanyl crisis.
The recommendation includes $673,702,000 for Counter-
Narcotics Support, including an additional $20,000,000 for
programs to counter illicit fentanyl and synthetic opioids.
This includes $10,000,000 for Department of Defense's
intelligence programs; $6,000,000 for Joint Task Force-North's
dedicated counter-fentanyl cell established by the fiscal year
2024 Appropriations Act; and $4,000,000 to support Joint
Interagency Task Force-West's activities to counter the
smuggling of chemical precursors from Asia to the Western
Hemisphere. The Secretary of Defense is directed to submit a
spend plan for these additional funds to the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees not later than 60 days after the
enactment of this Act.
The Secretary of Defense is directed to ensure that
international programs requested and supported by this account
do not duplicate programs funded by the Defense Security
Cooperation Agency in the Operation and Maintenance, Defense-
Wide account. Any congressional notification submitted pursuant
to 10 U.S.C. 284 shall identify any resources within the
Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide account that are
allocated for similar or related purposes.
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
The Committee recommends the following appropriations for
the Office of the Inspector General:
EXPLANATION OF PROJECT LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Committee Change from
Request Recommended Request
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.......................................... 544,095 536,533 -7,562
Excess to need................................................. -3,000
Program decrease............................................... -4,562
PROCUREMENT........................................................ 1,336 1,336 0
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION......................... 1,900 1,900 0
--------------------------------------------
TOTAL, OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL..................... 547,331 539,769 -7,562
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE VII
RELATED AGENCIES
NATIONAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE PROGRAMS
The National Intelligence Program and the Military
Intelligence Program budgets funded in this Act consist
primarily of resources for the Director of National
Intelligence, including the Intelligence Community Management
staff, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Defense
Intelligence Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, the
National Security Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence
Agency, the intelligence services of the Departments of the
Army, Navy, and Air Force, and the CIA Retirement and
Disability fund.
CLASSIFIED ANNEX
Adjustments to classified programs are addressed in a
separate, detailed, and comprehensive classified annex. The
Intelligence Community, the Department of Defense, and other
organizations are expected to fully comply with the
recommendations and directions in the classified annex
accompanying the Department of Defense Appropriations Act,
2025.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY RETIREMENT AND DISABILITY SYSTEM FUND
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $514,000,000
for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability
System Fund. This is a mandatory account.
This appropriation provides payments of benefits to
qualified beneficiaries in accordance with the Central
Intelligence Agency Retirement Act of 1964 for Certain
Employees (Public Law 88-643), as amended by Public Law 94-522.
This statute authorized the establishment of the CIA Retirement
and Disability System for certain employees and authorized the
establishment and maintenance of a fund from which benefits
would be paid to those beneficiaries.
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT
Fiscal year 2025 budget request....................... $650,000,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 641,585,000
Change from budget request............................ -8,415,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $641,585,000
for the Intelligence Community Management Account.
TITLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Title VIII of the accompanying bill includes 170 general
provisions. A brief description of each general provision
follows.
Section 8001 prohibits the use of funds for publicity or
propaganda purposes not authorized by Congress.
Section 8002 provides for conditions and limitations on the
payment of compensation to, or employment of, foreign
nationals.
Section 8003 limits the availability of funds.
Section 8004 limits the obligation of funds during the last
two months of the fiscal year.
Section 8005 provides general transfer authority of funds
to other military functions.
Section 8006 provides that the tables titled ``Explanation
of Project Level Adjustments'' shall be carried out in the
manner provided by the tables to the same extent as if the
tables were included in the text of this Act.
Section 8007 provides for the establishment of a baseline
for application of reprogramming and transfer authorities for
the current fiscal year.
Section 8008 provides for limitations on the use of
transfer authority of working capital fund cash balances.
Section 8009 prohibits the use of funds to initiate a
special access program without prior notification to the
congressional defense committees.
Section 8010 provides limitations and conditions on the use
of funds to initiate multiyear procurement contracts.
Section 8011 provides for the use of funds for humanitarian
and civic assistance costs.
Section 8012 directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a
report on excessive contractor payments.
Section 8013 prohibits the use of funds to influence
congressional action on any matters pending before the
Congress.
Section 8014 prohibits the use of funds to reduce the
number of strategic delivery vehicles and launchers.
Section 8015 provides for the transfer of funds for the
Department of Defense Pilot Mentor-Protege Program.
Section 8016 provides for the Department of Defense to
purchase anchor and mooring chains manufactured only in the
United States.
Section 8017 prohibits funds for any non-appropriated
activity of the Department of Defense that procures malt
beverages and wine except under certain conditions.
Section 8018 prohibits the use of funds to demilitarize or
dispose of certain surplus firearms and small arms ammunition
or ammunition components.
Section 8019 provides a limitation on funds being used for
the relocation of any Department of Defense entity into or
within the National Capital Region.
Section 8020 provides for incentive payments authorized by
Section 504 of the Indian Financing Act of 1974 (25 U.S.C.
1544).
Section 8021 provides for the conveyance, without
consideration, of relocatable housing units that are excess to
the needs of the Air Force.
Section 8022 provides funds for the mitigation of
environmental impacts on Indian lands resulting from Department
of Defense activities.
Section 8023 prohibits funds for the Defense Media Activity
from being used for national or international political or
psychological activities.
Section 8024 has been amended and provides funding for the
Civil Air Patrol Corporation.
Section 8025 prohibits funds from being used to establish
new Department of Defense Federally Funded Research and
Development Centers.
Section 8026 defines the congressional defense committees.
Section 8027 defines the congressional intelligence
committees.
Section 8028 provides for competitions between private
firms and Department of Defense depot maintenance activities.
Section 8029 requires the Department of Defense to comply
with the Buy American Act.
Section 8030 provides for the Department of Defense to
procure carbon, alloy, or armor steel plate melted and rolled
only in the United States and Canada.
Section 8031 provides for the revocation of blanket waivers
of the Buy American Act.
Section 8032 prohibits the use of funds for the procurement
of ball and roller bearings other than those produced by a
domestic source and of domestic origin.
Section 8033 prohibits the use of funds to purchase
supercomputers which are not manufactured in the United States.
Section 8034 provides a waiver of Buy American provisions
for certain cooperative programs.
Section 8035 prohibits the use of funds for the purchase or
manufacture of a United States flag unless such flags are
treated as covered items under Section 4862(b) of title 10
United States Code.
Section 8036 provides for the availability of funds
contained in the Department of Defense Overseas Military
Facility Investment Recovery Account.
Section 8037 provides authority to use operation and
maintenance appropriations to purchase items having an
investment item unit cost of not more than $350,000.
Section 8038 has been amended and provides authority to use
operation and maintenance appropriations for the Asia Pacific
Regional Initiative Program.
Section 8039 prohibits the sale of tobacco products in
military resale outlets below the most competitive price in the
local community.
Section 8040 prohibits the use of Working Capital Funds to
purchase specified investment items.
Section 8041 provides limitations on the availability of
funds appropriated for the Central Intelligence Agency.
Section 8042 places limitations on the use of funds made
available in this Act to establish field operating agencies.
Section 8043 places restrictions on converting to
contractor performance an activity or function of the
Department of Defense unless it meets certain guidelines.
Section 8044 provides for the rescission of $1,208,051,000
from the following programs:
2023 Appropriations:
Aircraft Procurement, Navy:
MQ-25 (AP-CY)................................. $49,963,000
Aircraft Procurement, Air Force:
F-22.......................................... $201,420,000
2024 Appropriations:
Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide:
DSCA Security Cooperation..................... $50,000,000
Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund:
Counter-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Train $50,000,000
and Equip....................................
Cooperative Threat Reduction:
Cooperative Threat Reduction Account.......... $91,000,000
Aircraft Procurement, Navy:
CH-53K (AP-CY)................................ $17,468,000
Other Procurement, Navy:
Special Purpose Supply Systems................ $22,872,000
Procurement, Marine Corps:
Radio Systems................................. $71,257,000
Aircraft Procurement, Air Force:
F-15 EPAW..................................... $90,000,000
Other Procurement, Air Force:
Classified adjustment......................... $532,994,000
Procurement, Defense Wide:
DISA Teleport................................. $6,077,000
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy:
Warfighter Sustainment Applied Research....... $25,000,000
Section 8045 prohibits the use of funds to reduce
authorized positions for military technicians (dual status) of
the Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Army Reserve, and
Air Force Reserve unless such reductions are a direct result of
a reduction in military force structure.
Section 8046 prohibits funds for assistance to the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea unless specifically
appropriated for that purpose.
Section 8047 provides for reimbursement to the National
Guard and reserve when members of the National Guard and
reserve provide intelligence or counterintelligence support to
the combatant commands, defense agencies, and joint
intelligence activities.
Section 8048 prohibits the transfer of Department of
Defense and Central Intelligence Agency drug interdiction and
counter-drug activities funds to other agencies except as
specifically provided in an appropriations law.
Section 8049 provides funding for Red Cross and United
Services Organization grants.
Section 8050 provides funds for the Small Business
Innovation Research program and the Small Business Technology
Transfer program.
Section 8051 prohibits funds for contractor bonuses being
paid due to business restructuring.
Section 8052 provides transfer authority for the pay of
military personnel in connection with support and services for
eligible organizations and activities outside the Department of
Defense.
Section 8053 provides conditions for the use of equipment
of the National Guard Distance Learning Project on a space-
available, reimbursable basis.
Section 8054 prohibits funds to retire C-40 aircraft, with
certain exceptions.
Section 8055 prohibits the use of funds to procure end-
items for delivery to military forces for operational training,
operational use or inventory requirements.
Section 8056 prohibits funds for repairs or maintenance to
military family housing units.
Section 8057 provides obligation authority for new starts
for defense innovation acceleration or rapid prototyping
program only after notification to the congressional defense
committees.
Section 8058 requires a classified quarterly report on
certain matters as directed in the classified annex
accompanying this Act.
Section 8059 provides for the use of National Guard
personnel to support ground-based elements of the National
Ballistic Missile Defense System.
Section 8060 prohibits the use of funds to transfer certain
ammunition.
Section 8061 provides for a waiver by the Chief of the
National Guard Bureau or his designee for all or part of
consideration in cases of personal property leases of less than
one year.
Section 8062 provides for the transfer of funds made
available in this Act under Operation and Maintenance, Army to
other activities of the federal government for classified
purposes.
Section 8063 prohibits the use of funds to separate, or to
consolidate from within, the National Intelligence Program
budget from the Department of Defense budget.
Section 8064 provides the authority to transfer funding
from operation and maintenance accounts for the Army, Navy, and
Air Force to the central fund for Fisher Houses and Suites.
Section 8065 provides grant authority for the construction
and furnishing of additional Fisher Houses to meet the needs of
military family members when confronted with the illness or
hospitalization of an eligible military beneficiary.
Section 8066 provides for the authority to transfer funding
made available in this Act under Operation and Maintenance,
Navy to the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service
Development Trust Fund.
Section 8067 prohibits the modification of command and
control relationships to give Fleet Forces Command operational
and administrative control of United States Navy forces
assigned to the Pacific fleet.
Section 8068 requires notification for the rapid
acquisition and deployment of supplies and associated support
services.
Section 8069 provides funding for the Israeli Cooperative
Programs.
Section 8070 provides for the funding of prior year
shipbuilding cost increases.
Section 8071 provides authorization for funds for
intelligence and intelligence related activities until the
enactment of an Intelligence Authorization Act.
Section 8072 prohibits funds to initiate a new start
program without prior written notification.
Section 8073 prohibits the use of funds for the research,
development, test, evaluation, procurement, or deployment of
nuclear armed interceptors of a missile defense system.
Section 8074 has been amended and prohibits funds for the
decommissioning of certain ships.
Section 8075 provides limitations on the Shipbuilding and
Conversion, Navy appropriation.
Section 8076 prohibits the use of funds to reduce or
disestablish the operation of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance
Squadron of the Air Force Reserve.
Section 8077 prohibits funds for the integration of foreign
intelligence information unless the information has been
lawfully collected and processed during conduct of authorized
foreign intelligence activities.
Section 8078 limits the availability of funding provided
for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence beyond
the current fiscal year, except for funds appropriated for
research and technology.
Section 8079 provides for the establishment of a baseline
for application of reprogramming and transfer authorities for
the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the
current fiscal year.
Section 8080 places limitations on the reprogramming of
funds from the Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce
Development Account.
Section 8081 provides for limitations on funding provided
for the National Intelligence Program to be available for
obligation or expenditure through a reprogramming or transfer
of funds in accordance with the National Security Act of 1947.
Section 8082 provides that any agency receiving funds made
available in this Act shall post on a public website any report
required to be submitted to Congress with certain exceptions.
Section 8083 prohibits funds for federal contracts in
excess of $1,000,000 unless the contractor meets certain
conditions.
Section 8084 provides funds for transfer to the Joint
Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Facility Demonstration Fund.
Section 8085 prohibits the use of funds in contravention of
the provisions of Section 130h of title 10, United States Code.
Section 8086 provides for the purchase of heavy and light
armored vehicles for the physical security of personnel or for
force protection purposes up to a limit of $450,000 per
vehicle.
Section 8087 provides the Director of National Intelligence
with general transfer authority, with certain limitations.
Section 8088 authorizes the use of funds in the
Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy account to purchase two used
auxiliary vessels for the National Defense Reserve Fleet.
Section 8089 directs the Secretary of Defense to post grant
awards on a public website in a searchable format.
Section 8090 prohibits the use of funds by the National
Security Agency for targeting United States persons under
authorities granted in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Act.
Section 8091 places restrictions on transfer amounts
available to pay salaries for non-Department of Defense
personnel.
Section 8092 has been amended and provides that operation
and maintenance funds may be used for any purposes related to
the National Defense Reserve Fleet.
Section 8093 prohibits the use of funds to award a new TAO
Fleet Oiler or FFG Frigate program contract for the acquisition
of certain components unless those components are manufactured
in the United States.
Section 8094 prohibits the use of funds for the development
and design of certain future naval ships unless any contract
specifies that all hull, mechanical, and electrical components
are manufactured in the United States.
Section 8095 prohibits certain transfers from the
Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Development
Account.
Section 8096 prohibits the use of funds for gaming or
entertainment that involves topless or nude entertainers.
Section 8097 prohibits the use of funds to maintain or
establish a computer network that is not designed to block
access to pornography websites.
Section 8098 places restrictions on the use of funding for
military parades.
Section 8099 prohibits the use of funds to enter into a
contract or provide a loan to any corporation that has any
unpaid Federal tax liability.
Section 8100 provides budget activity 8 for certain
software pilot programs.
Section 8101 prohibits the transfer of the National
Reconnaissance Office to the Space Force.
Section 8102 prohibits funding for moving National Guard
missions, functions, or personnel to the Space Force in
contravention of current law.
Section 8103 prohibits the use of funds in contravention of
the United Nations Convention Against Torture.
Section 8104 prohibits funds to the Azov Battalion, the
Third Separate Assault Brigade, or any successor organization.
Section 8105 provides for the obligation of funds in
anticipation of receipt of contributions from the Government of
Kuwait.
Section 8106 provides funding for International Security
Cooperation Programs.
Section 8107 provides funding to reimburse key cooperating
nations for logistical, military, and other support.
Section 8108 provides funding for support authorized by
subparagraphs (A) through (E) of Section 1226(a)(1) of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016.
Section 8109 requires notification prior to taking any
action to pause, suspend, or eliminate assistance to a country
made available by this Act.
Section 8110 prohibits the use of funds in contravention of
the War Powers Resolution.
Section 8111 prohibits the use of funds in violation of the
Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008.
Section 8112 prohibits funds for any member of Hamas,
Hezbollah, the Houthis, or the Taliban.
Section 8113 prohibits funds for the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency.
Section 8114 provides that certain support to friendly
foreign countries be made in accordance with Section 8005 of
this Act.
Section 8115 prohibits the use of funds to enter into a
contract with Rosoboronexport.
Section 8116 requires notification of the receipt of
contributions from foreign governments and notification prior
to obligating such funds.
Section 8117 requires the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to
report on any unplanned activity or exercise.
Section 8118 requires a report concurrent with any exercise
of the drawdown authority provided by Section 506 of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
Section 8119 requires notification if a foreign base is
opened or closed.
Section 8120 prohibits funds to establish permanent bases
in Iraq or Afghanistan or United States control over Iraq or
Syria oil resources.
Section 8121 provides security assistance to Jordan.
Section 8122 requires the United States Southern Command to
assume combatant command responsibility for activities related
to Mexico.
Section 8123 limits excessive growth in the procurement of
advisory and assistance programs.
Section 8124 reflects savings attributable to efficiencies
and management improvements in the military departments.
Section 8125 reduces amounts appropriated in title II of
this Act to reflect excess cash balances in Department of
Defense Working Capital Funds.
Section 8126 has been amended and reflects savings due to
favorable foreign exchange rates.
Section 8127 directs the Secretary of Defense to allocate
amounts made available from the Creating Helpful Incentives to
Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Defense Fund.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS: CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT FISCAL
YEAR 2025
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Defense-Wide
Budget Activity 02, Applied Research:
Microelectronics Commons............................ 72,188,000
Budget Activity 03, Advanced Technology
Development:
Microelectronics Commons............................ 265,108,000
Budget Activity 04, Advanced Component
Development and Prototypes:
Microelectronics Commons............................ 62,704,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 8128 provides guidance on the implementation of the
Policy for Assisted Reproductive Services for the Benefit of
Seriously or Severely Ill/Injured Active Duty Service Members.
Section 8129 provides the authority for the Secretary of
Defense to obligate funds to modify up to six F-35 aircraft to
a test configuration.
Section 8130 prohibits the use of funds to integrate an
alternative engine on any F-35 aircraft.
Section 8131 provides up to $650,000,000 for the rapid
acquisition and deployment of supplies and associated support
services.
Section 8132 enables the Office of Strategic Capital to use
appropriated funds for loans and loan guarantees.
Section 8133 provides the authority for Defense Innovation
Unit Fielding funds for expenses related to agile, research,
development, test and evaluation, procurement, production
modification, and operation and maintenance requirements,
including initial acquisition of end-items for operational use.
Section 8134 prohibits the use of funds to support the
Wuhan Institute of Virology, or any laboratory owned or
controlled by the governments of foreign adversaries.
Section 8135 prohibits the use of funds for any work to be
performed by EcoHealth Alliance, Inc.
Section 8136 prohibits the use of funds to transfer,
release, or assist in the transfer or release to or within the
United States of certain detainees.
Section 8137 prohibits the use of funds to transfer any
individual detained at United States Naval Station Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba, to the custody or control of the individual's
country of origin or any other foreign country.
Section 8138 prohibits the use of funds to construct,
acquire, or modify any facility in the United States to house
any individual detained at United States Naval Station
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Section 8139 prohibits the use of funds to carry out the
closure of the United States Naval Station Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba.
Section 8140 prohibits funding to remove a Chinese military
company from the list required by Section 1260H of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.
Section 8141 prohibits funding to enforce any COVID-19 mask
mandates.
Section 8142 prohibits funding to require a member of the
Armed Forces or a civilian employee of the Department of
Defense to receive a vaccination against COVID-19.
Section 8143 prohibits funding for a COVID-19 vaccination
requirement as a prerequisite for students to attend DODEA
schools.
Section 8144 prohibits funding to provide gender transition
procedures, including surgery or medication, referrals for
those procedures, or a change in duty station for these
activities for a child through the Exceptional Family Member
Program.
Section 8145 prohibits funds to take any discriminatory
action against a person, wholly or partially, on the basis that
such person speaks, or acts, in accordance with a sincerely
held religious belief, or moral conviction, that marriage is,
or should be recognized as, a union of one man and one woman.
Section 8146 prohibits the use of funds to grant, renew, or
maintain a security clearance for any individual listed as a
signatory in the statement titled ``Public Statement on the
Hunter Biden Emails'' dated October 19, 2020.
Section 8147 prohibits the use of funds to label
communications by United States persons as misinformation,
disinformation, or malinformation, or to partner with or fund
nonprofits or other organizations that pressure private
companies to censor lawful and constitutionally protected
speech.
Section 8148 prohibits funds to carry out any program,
project, or activity that promotes or advances Critical Race
Theory or any concept associated with Critical Race Theory.
Section 8149 prohibits the use of funds to finalize,
implement, or promulgate the rule proposed by the Department of
Defense on November 14, 2022, titled ``Federal Acquisition
Regulation: Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-
Related Financial Risk.''
Section 8150 prohibits the use of funds for paid leave and
travel or related expenses of a federal employee or their
dependents for the purposes of obtaining an abortion or
abortion-related services.
Section 8151 prohibits the use of funds to recruit, hire,
or promote any person who has been convicted of charges related
to child pornography or other sexual misconduct.
Section 8152 prohibits the use of funds to promote, host,
facilitate, or support a drag queen story hour for children on
United States military installations or for military recruiting
programs that feature drag queens.
Section 8153 prohibits the use of funds to perform surgical
procedures or hormone therapies for the purposes of gender
affirming care.
Section 8154 prohibits funds to carry out Section d 554(a)
and 913 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283).
Section 8155 prohibits funds to implement, administer,
apply, enforce, or carry out measures relating to the
Department of Defense diversity, equity, inclusion, and
accessibility strategy, certain executive orders, and execute
activities that promote or perpetuate divisive concepts related
to race or sex.
Section 8156 prohibits funding to pay for the costs of
teleworking or remote working for any employee or contractor of
the Department of Defense on a regular and recurring base.
Section 8157 prohibits funding to provide assistance to the
Department of Homeland Security to house persons on a military
installation located in the United States.
Section 8158 prohibits funding for any office of diversity,
equity, or inclusion.
Section 8159 prohibits funding to NewsGuard Technologies
Inc.
Section 8160 prohibits funding to implement a series of
climate change executive orders.
Section 8161 prohibits the use of funds in contravention of
Department of Defense Instruction 3216.01.
Section 8162 provides that operation and maintenance funds
may be used for land acquisition cost from the Federated States
of Micronesia for defense sites in Yap.
Section 8163 prohibits funding for the divestiture or
prepared divestiture of U-2 aircraft.
Section 8164 prohibits funding for the divestiture or
prepared divestiture of F-15 aircraft.
Section 8165 provides for special transfer authority for
ship construction programs.
Section 8166 contains several provisions to relating to the
delivery of defense articles from the United States to Israel
and the obligation of funds for assistance for Israel.
Section 8167 prohibits funds for the Joint Logistics Over-
the-Shore capabilities in the vicinity of Gaza; or the
construction, assembly, maintenance, or operation, of any pier,
dock, landing, wharf, or any other structure in the vicinity of
Gaza.
Section 8168 prohibits funds for hiring practices based on
gender, religion, political affiliation, or race.
Section 8169 prohibits funds for use in contravention of
section 1052 of the National Defense Authorization Act of
Fiscal Year 2024.
Section 8170 establishes a spending reduction account.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
The following items are included in accordance with various
requirements of the Rules of the House of Representatives:
STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following is a statement of
general performance goals and objectives for which this measure
authorizes funding:
The Committee on Appropriations considers program
performance, including a program's success in developing and
attaining outcome-related goals and objectives, in developing
funding recommendations.
PROGRAM DUPLICATION
No provision of this bill establishes or reauthorizes a
program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of
another Federal program, a program that was included in any
report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress
pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program
related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance.
TRANSFER OF FUNDS
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following is submitted describing
the transfer of funds provided in the accompanying bill.
Language has been included under ``Operation and
Maintenance, Defense-Wide'' which provides for the transfer of
funds for certain classified activities.
Language has been included under ``Environmental
Restoration, Army'' which provides for the transfer of funds
for environmental restoration, reduction and recycling of
hazardous waste, removal of unsafe buildings and debris, or for
similar purposes.
Language has been included under ``Environmental
Restoration, Navy'' which provides for the transfer of funds
for environmental restoration, reduction and recycling of
hazardous waste, removal of unsafe buildings and debris, or for
similar purposes.
Language has been included under ``Environmental
Restoration, Air Force'' which provides for the transfer of
funds for environmental restoration, reduction and recycling of
hazardous waste, removal of unsafe buildings and debris, or for
similar purposes.
Language has been included under ``Environmental
Restoration, Defense-Wide'' which provides for the transfer of
funds for environmental restoration, reduction and recycling of
hazardous waste, removal of unsafe buildings and debris, or for
similar purposes.
Language has been included under ``Environmental
Restoration, Formerly Used Defense Sites'' which provides for
the transfer of funds for environmental restoration, reduction
and recycling of hazardous waste, removal of unsafe buildings
and debris, or for similar purposes.
Language has been included under ``Drug Interdiction and
Counter-Drug Activities, Defense'' which provides for the
transfer of funds to appropriations available to the Department
of Defense for military personnel of the reserve components;
for operation and maintenance; for procurement; and for
research, development, test and evaluation for drug
interdiction and counter-drug activities of the Department of
Defense.
Language has been included under ``General Provisions, Sec.
8005'' which provides for the transfer of working capital funds
to other appropriations accounts of the Department of Defense
for military functions.
Language has been included under ``General Provisions, Sec.
8008'' which provides for the transfer of funds between working
capital funds and the ``Foreign Currency Fluctuations,
Defense'' appropriation and the operation and maintenance
appropriation accounts.
Language has been included under ``General Provisions, Sec.
8015'' which provides for the transfer of funds from the
Department of Defense Pilot Mentor-Protege Program to any other
appropriation for the purposes of implementing a Mentor-Protege
Program development assistance agreement.
Language has been included under ``General Provisions, Sec.
8052'' which provides for the transfer of funds from
``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'' to appropriations
available for the pay of military personnel in connection with
support and services of eligible organizations and activities
outside the Department of Defense.
Language has been included under ``General Provisions, Sec.
8062'' which provides for the transfer of funds from
``Operation and Maintenance, Army'' to other activities of the
federal government.
Language has been included under ``General Provisions, Sec.
8064'' which provides for the transfer of funds from
``Operation and Maintenance, Army'', ``Operation and
Maintenance, Navy'', and ``Operation and Maintenance, Air
Force'' to the central fund established for Fisher Houses and
Suites.
Language has been included under ``General Provisions, Sec.
8065'' which provides for the transfer of funds for the
construction and furnishing of additional Fisher Houses to meet
the needs of military family members when confronted with the
illness or hospitalization of an eligible military beneficiary.
Language has been included under ``General Provisions, Sec.
8066'' which provides for the transfer of funds from
``Operation and Maintenance, Navy'' to the John C. Stennis
Center for Public Service Development Trust Fund.
Language has been included under ``General Provisions, Sec.
8087'' which provides for the transfer of funds for the
National Intelligence Program.
Language has been included under ``General Provisions, Sec.
8084'' which provides for the transfer of funds appropriated
for operation and maintenance for the Defense Health Program to
the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Facility Demonstration Fund.
Language has been included under ``General Provisions, Sec.
8165'' which provides for the transfer of funds from
``Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy'' to any available Navy
ship construction appropriation for the purpose of liquidating
necessary changes from inflation, market fluctuations, or rate
adjustments.
RESCISSIONS
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following table is submitted
describing the rescissions recommended in the accompanying
bill:
2023 Appropriations:
Aircraft Procurement, Navy:
MQ-25 (AP-CY)................................. $49,963,000
Aircraft Procurement, Air Force:
F-22.......................................... $201,420,000
2024 Appropriations:
Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide:
DSCA Security Cooperation..................... $50,000,000
Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund:
Counter-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Train $50,000,000
and Equip....................................
Cooperative Threat Reduction:
Cooperative Threat Reduction Account.......... $91,000,000
Aircraft Procurement, Navy:
CH-53K (AP-CY)................................ $17,468,000
Other Procurement, Navy:
Special Purpose Supply Systems................ $22,872,000
Procurement, Marine Corps:
Radio Systems................................. $71,257,000
Aircraft Procurement, Air Force:
F-15 EPAW..................................... $90,000,000
Other Procurement, Air Force:
Classified adjustment......................... $532,994,000
Procurement, Defense Wide:
DISA Teleport................................. $6,077,000
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy:
Warfighter Sustainment Applied Research....... $25,000,000
DISCLOSURE OF EARMARKS AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING ITEMS
Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, neither the bill nor this report contains
any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited
tariff benefits as defined in clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules
of the House of Representatives.
CHANGES IN THE APPLICATION OF EXISTING LAW
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(A) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the following statements are
submitted describing the effect of provisions in the
accompanying bill which directly or indirectly change the
application of existing law.
Language is included in various parts of the bill to
continue ongoing activities which require annual authorization
or additional legislation, which to date has not been enacted.
The bill includes a number of provisions which place
limitations on the use of funds in the bill or change existing
limitations and which might, under some circumstances, be
construed as changing the application of law.
The bill includes a number of provisions which provide for
the transfer of funds and which might, under some
circumstances, be construed as changing the application of law.
The bill includes a number of provisions, which have been
virtually unchanged for many years that are technically
considered legislation.
The bill provides that appropriations shall remain
available for more than one year for some programs for which
the basic authorizing legislation does not presently authorize
each extended availability.
In various places in the bill, the Committee has allocated
funds within appropriation accounts in order to fund specific
programs.
Language is included in various accounts placing a
limitation on funds for emergencies and extraordinary expenses.
Language is included that provides not more than $2,981,000
for the Combatant Commander Initiative Fund.
Language is included that provides not less than
$27,738,000 for the Procurement Technical Assistance
Cooperative Agreement Program, of which not less than
$5,000,000 shall be available for centers.
Language is included that prohibits the consolidation of
certain legislative affairs or liaison offices.
Language is included that makes available $26,777,000 for
certain classified activities, allows such funds to be
transferred between certain accounts, and exempts such funds
from the investment item unit cost ceiling.
Language is included under the heading ``Counter-ISIS Train
and Equip Fund'' that provides for the use of funds for certain
purposes, compliance with vetting standards, management of
contributions, the submission of certain reports, and making
certain funds unavailable until a report is submitted.
Language is included that limits the use of funds for
official representation purposes under the heading ``United
States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.''
Language is included that limits funds credited or
transferred under the heading ``Department of Defense
Acquisition Workforce Development Account.''
Language is included that provides for specific
construction, acquisition, or conversion of vessels under the
heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy.''
Language is included that provides for the incurring of
additional obligations for certain activities under the heading
``Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy.''
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds
provided under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'' for the construction of any naval vessel, or the
construction of major components for the construction or
conversion of any naval vessel, in foreign facilities or
shipyards.
Language is included under the heading ``National Guard and
Reserve Equipment Account'' providing for the procurement of
certain items and the submission of modernization priority
assessments.
Language is included under the heading ``Research,
Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy'' that provides funds
for certain activities related to the V-22.
Language is included that specifies the use of certain
funds provided under the heading ``Defense Health Program.''
Language is included that provides that not less than
$12,000,000 of funds provided under the heading ``Defense
Health Program'' shall be available for HIV prevention
educational activities.
Language is included under the heading ``Defense Health
Program'' that provides that not less than $1,164,000,000 shall
be made available to the Defense Health Agency to carry out
congressionally directed medical research programs.
Language is included that specifies the use of certain
funds provided under the heading ``Chemical Agents and
Munitions Destruction, Defense.''
Language is included that specifies the use of certain
funds provided under the heading ``Drug Interdiction and
Counter-Drug Activities, Defense.''
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds for
publicity or propaganda purposes not authorized by Congress.
Language is included that provides for conditions and
limitations on the payment of compensation to, or employment
of, foreign nationals.
Language is included that limits the availability of funds.
Language is included that limits the obligation of funds
during the last two months of the fiscal year.
Language is included that provides general transfer
authority of funds to other military functions.
Language is included that provides that the tables titled
``Explanation of Project Level Adjustments'' shall be carried
out in the manner provided by the tables to the same extent as
if the tables were included in the text of this Act.
Language is included that provides for the establishment of
a baseline for application of reprogramming and transfer
authorities for the current fiscal year.
Language is included that provides for limitations on the
use of transfer authority of working capital fund cash
balances.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
initiate a special access program without prior notification to
the congressional defense committees.
Language is included that provides limitations and
conditions on the use of funds to initiate multiyear
procurement contracts.
Language is included that provides for the use of funds for
humanitarian and civic assistance costs.
Language is included that directs the Secretary of Defense
to submit a report on excessive contractor payments.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
influence congressional action on any matters pending before
the Congress.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
reduce the number of strategic delivery vehicles and launchers.
Language is included that provides for the transfer of
funds for the Department of Defense Pilot Mentor-Protege
Program.
Language is included that provides for the Department of
Defense to purchase anchor and mooring chains manufactured only
in the United States.
Language is included that prohibits funds for any non-
appropriated activity of the Department of Defense that
procures malt beverages and wine except under certain
conditions.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
demilitarize or dispose of certain surplus firearms and small
arms ammunition or ammunition components.
Language is included that provides a limitation on funds
being used for the relocation of any Department of Defense
entity into or within the National Capital Region.
Language is included that provides for incentive payments
authorized by section 504 of the Indian Financing Act of 1974
(25 U.S.C. 1544).
Language is included that provides for the conveyance,
without consideration, of relocatable housing units that are
excess to the needs of the Air Force.
Language is included that provides funds for the mitigation
of environmental impacts on Indian lands resulting from
Department of Defense activities.
Language is included that prohibits funds for the Defense
Media Activity from being used for national or international
political or psychological activities.
Language is included that has been amended and provides
funding for the Civil Air Patrol Corporation.
Language is included that prohibits funds from being used
to establish new Department of Defense Federally Funded
Research and Development Centers.
Language is included that defines the congressional defense
committees.
Language is included that defines the congressional
intelligence committees.
Language is included that provides for competitions between
private firms and Department of Defense depot maintenance
activities.
Language is included that requires the Department of
Defense to comply with the Buy American Act.
Language is included that provides for the Department of
Defense to procure carbon, alloy, or armor steel plate melted
and rolled only in the United States and Canada.
Language is included that provides for the revocation of
blanket waivers of the Buy American Act.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds for
the procurement of ball and roller bearings other than those
produced by a domestic source and of domestic origin.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
purchase supercomputers which are not manufactured in the
United States.
Language is included that provides a waiver of Buy American
provisions for certain cooperative programs.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds for
the purchase or manufacture of a United States flag unless such
flags are treated as covered items under section 4862(b) of
title 10 United States Code.
Language is included that provides for the availability of
funds contained in the Department of Defense Overseas Military
Facility Investment Recovery Account.
Language is included that provides authority to use
operation and maintenance appropriations to purchase items
having an investment item unit cost of not more than $350,000.
Language is included that has been amended and provides
authority to use operation and maintenance appropriations for
the Asia Pacific Regional Initiative Program.
Language is included that prohibits the sale of tobacco
products in military resale outlets below the most competitive
price in the local community.
Language is included that prohibits the use of Working
Capital Funds to purchase specified investment items.
Language is included that provides limitations on the
availability of funds appropriated for the Central Intelligence
Agency.
Language is included that places limitations on the use of
funds made available in this Act to establish field operating
agencies.
Language is included that places restrictions on converting
to contractor performance an activity or function of the
Department of Defense unless it meets certain guidelines.
Language is included that provides for the rescission of
$1,208,051,000.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
reduce authorized positions for military technicians (dual
status) of the Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Army
Reserve, and Air Force Reserve unless such reductions are a
direct result of a reduction in military force structure.
Language is included that prohibits funds for assistance to
the Democratic People's Republic of Korea unless specifically
appropriated for that purpose.
Language is included that provides for reimbursement to the
National Guard and reserve when members of the National Guard
and reserve provide intelligence or counterintelligence support
to the combatant commands, defense agencies, and joint
intelligence activities.
Language is included that prohibits the transfer of
Department of Defense and Central Intelligence Agency drug
interdiction and counter-drug activities funds to other
agencies except as specifically provided in an appropriations
law.
Language is included that provides funding for Red Cross
and United Services Organization grants.
Language is included that provides funds for the Small
Business Innovation Research program and the Small Business
Technology Transfer program.
Language is included that prohibits funds for contractor
bonuses being paid due to business restructuring.
Language is included that provides transfer authority for
the pay of military personnel in connection with support and
services for eligible organizations and activities outside the
Department of Defense.
Language is included that provides conditions for the use
of equipment of the National Guard Distance Learning Project on
a space-available, reimbursable basis.
Language is included that prohibits funds to retire C-40
aircraft, with certain exceptions.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
procure end-items for delivery to military forces for
operational training, operational use or inventory
requirements.
Language is included that prohibits funds for repairs or
maintenance to military family housing units.
Language is included that provides obligation authority for
new starts for defense innovation acceleration or rapid
prototyping program only after notification to the
congressional defense committees.
Language is included that requires a classified quarterly
report on certain matters as directed in the classified annex
accompanying this Act.
Language is included that provides for the use of National
Guard personnel to support ground-based elements of the
National Ballistic Missile Defense System.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
transfer certain ammunition.
Language is included that provides for a waiver by the
Chief of the National Guard Bureau or his designee for all or
part of consideration in cases of personal property leases of
less than one year.
Language is included that provides for the transfer of
funds made available in this Act under Operation and
Maintenance, Army to other activities of the federal government
for classified purposes.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
separate, or to consolidate from within, the National
Intelligence Program budget from the Department of Defense
budget.
Language is included that provides the authority to
transfer funding from operation and maintenance accounts for
the Army, Navy, and Air Force to the central fund for Fisher
Houses and Suites.
Language is included that provides grant authority for the
construction and furnishing of additional Fisher Houses to meet
the needs of military family members when confronted with the
illness or hospitalization of an eligible military beneficiary.
Language is included that provides for the authority to
transfer funding made available in this Act under Operation and
Maintenance, Navy to the John C. Stennis Center for Public
Service Development Trust Fund.
Language is included that prohibits the modification of
command and control relationships to give Fleet Forces Command
operational and administrative control of United States Navy
forces assigned to the Pacific fleet.
Language is included that requires notification for the
rapid acquisition and deployment of supplies and associated
support services.
Language is included that provides funding for the Israeli
Cooperative Programs.
Language is included that provides for the funding of prior
year shipbuilding cost increases.
Language is included that provides authorization for funds
for intelligence and intelligence-related activities until the
enactment of an Intelligence Authorization Act.
Language is included that prohibits funds to initiate a new
start program without prior written notification.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds for
the research, development, test, evaluation, procurement, or
deployment of nuclear armed interceptors of a missile defense
system.
Language is included that has been amended and prohibits
funds for the decommissioning of certain ships.
Language is included that provides limitations on the
Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy appropriation.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
reduce or disestablish the operation of the 53rd Weather
Reconnaissance Squadron of the Air Force Reserve.
Language is included that prohibits funds for the
integration of foreign intelligence information unless the
information has been lawfully collected and processed during
conduct of authorized foreign intelligence activities.
Language is included that limits the availability of
funding provided for the Office of the Director of National
Intelligence beyond the current fiscal year, except for funds
appropriated for research and technology.
Language is included that provides for the establishment of
a baseline for application of reprogramming and transfer
authorities for the Office of the Director of National
Intelligence for the current fiscal year.
Language is included that places limitations on the
reprogramming of funds from the Department of Defense
Acquisition Workforce Development Account.
Language is included that provides for limitations on
funding provided for the National Intelligence Program to be
available for obligation or expenditure through areprogramming
or transfer of funds in accordance with the National Security
Act of 1947.
Language is included that provides that any agency
receiving funds made available in this Act shall post on a
public website any report required to be submitted to Congress
with certain exceptions.
Language is included that prohibits funds for federal
contracts in excess of $1,000,000 unless the contractor meets
certain conditions.
Language is included that provides funds for transfer to
the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Facility Demonstration Fund.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds in
contravention of the provisions of section 130h of title 10,
United States Code.
Language is included that provides for the purchase of
heavy and light armored vehicles for the physical security of
personnel or for force protection purposes up to a limit of
$450,000 per vehicle.
Language is included that provides the Director of National
Intelligence with general transfer authority, with certain
limitations.
Language is included that authorizes the use of funds in
the Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy account to purchase two
used auxiliary vessels for the National Defense Reserve Fleet.
Language is included that directs the Secretary of Defense
to post grant awards on a public website in a searchable
format.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds by the
National Security Agency for targeting United States persons
under authorities granted in the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act.
Language is included that places restrictions on transfer
amounts available to pay salaries for non-Department of Defense
personnel.
Language is included that has been amended and provides
that operation and maintenance funds may be used for any
purposes related to the National Defense Reserve Fleet.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
award a new TAO Fleet Oiler or FFG Frigate program contract for
the acquisition of certain components unless those components
are manufactured in the United States.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds for
the development and design of certain future naval ships unless
any contract specifies that all hull, mechanical, and
electrical components are manufactured in the United States.
Language is included that prohibits certain transfers from
the Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Development
Account.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds for
gaming or entertainment that involves topless or nude
entertainers.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
maintain or establish a computer network that is not designed
to block access to pornography websites.
Language is included that places restrictions on the use of
funding for military parades.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
enter into a contract or provide a loan to any corporation that
has any unpaid Federal tax liability.
Language is included that provides budget activity 8 for
certain software pilot programs.
Language is included that prohibits the transfer of the
National Reconnaissance Office to the Space Force.
Language is included that prohibits funding for moving
National Guard missions, functions, or personnel to the Space
Force in contravention of current law.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds in
contravention of the United Nations Convention Against Torture.
Language is included that prohibits funds to the Azov
Battalion, the Third Separate Assault Brigade, or any successor
organization.
Language is included that provides for the obligation of
funds in anticipation of receipt of contributions from the
Government of Kuwait.
Language is included that provides funding for
International Security Cooperation Programs.
Language is included that provides funding to reimburse key
cooperating nations for logistical, military, and other
support.
Language is included that provides funding for support
authorized by subparagraphs (A) through (E) of section
1226(a)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2016.
Language is included that requires notification prior to
taking any action to pause, suspend, or eliminate assistance to
a country made available by this Act.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds in
contravention of the War Powers Resolution.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds in
violation of the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008.
Language is included that prohibits funds for any member of
Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, or the Taliban.
Language is included that prohibits funds for the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency.
Language is included that provides that certain support to
friendly foreign countries be made in accordance with section
8005 of this Act.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
enter into a contract with Rosoboronexport.
Language is included that requires notification of the
receipt of contributions from foreign governments and
notification prior to obligating such funds.
Language is included that requires the Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs to report on any unplanned activity or exercise.
Language is included that requires a report concurrent with
any exercise of the drawdown authority provided by section 506
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
Language is included that requires notification if a
foreign base is opened or closed.
Language is included that prohibits funds to establish
permanent bases in Iraq or Afghanistan or United States control
over Iraq or Syria oil resources.
Language is included that provides security assistance to
Jordan.
Language is included that requires the United States
Southern Command to assume combatant command responsibility for
activities related to Mexico.
Language is included that reduces amounts appropriated in
title II of this Act to reflect excess growth in the
procurement of advisory and assistance programs.
Language is included that reduces amounts appropriated in
title II of this Act to reflect savings attributable to
efficiencies and management improvements in the military
departments.
Language is included that reduces amounts appropriated in
title II of this Act to reflect excess cash balances in
Department of Defense Working Capital Funds.
Language is included that has been amended and reflects
savings due to favorable foreign exchange rates.
Language is included that directs the Secretary of Defense
to allocate amounts made available from the Creating Helpful
Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America
Defense Fund.
Language is included that provides guidance on the
implementation of the Policy for Assisted Reproductive Services
for the Benefit of Seriously or Severely Ill/Injured Active
Duty Service Members.
Language is included that provides the authority for the
Secretary of Defense to obligate funds to modify up to six F-35
aircraft to a test configuration.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
integrate an alternative engine on any F-35 aircraft.
Language is included that provides up to $650,000,000 for
the rapid acquisition and deployment of supplies and associated
support services.
Language is included that enables the Office of Strategic
Capital to use appropriated funds for loans and loan
guarantees.
Language is included that provides the authority for
Defense Innovation Unit Fielding funds for expenses related to
agile, research, development, test and evaluation, procurement,
production modification, and operation and maintenance
requirements, including initial acquisition of end-items for
operational use.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
support the Wuhan Institute of Virology, or any laboratory
owned or controlled by the governments of foreign adversaries.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds for
any work to be performed by EcoHealth Alliance, Inc.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
transfer, release, or assist in the transfer or release to or
within the United States of certain detainees.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
transfer any individual detained at United States Naval Station
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the custody or control of the
individual's country of origin or any other foreign country.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
construct, acquire, or modify any facility in the United States
to house any individual detained at United States Naval Station
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
carry out the closure of the United States Naval Station
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Language is included that prohibits funding to remove a
Chinese military company from the list required by section
1260H of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2021.
Language is included that prohibits funding to enforce any
COVID-19 mask mandates.
Language is included that prohibits funding to require a
member of the Armed Forces or a civilian employee of the
Department of Defense to receive a vaccination against COVID-
19.
Language is included that prohibits funding for a COVID-19
vaccination requirement as a prerequisite for students to
attend DODEA schools.
Language is included that prohibits funding to provide
gender transition procedures, including surgery or medication,
referrals for those procedures, or a change in duty station for
these activities for a child through the Exceptional Family
Member Program.
Language is included that prohibits funds to take any
discriminatory action against a person, wholly or partially, on
the basis that such person speaks, or acts, in accordance with
a sincerely held religious belief, or moral conviction, that
marriage is, or should be recognized as, a union of one man and
one woman.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
grant, renew, or maintain a security clearance for any
individual listed as a signatory in the statement titled
``Public Statement on the Hunter Biden Emails'' dated October
19, 2020.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
label communications by United States persons as
misinformation, disinformation, or malinformation, or to
partner with or fund nonprofits or other organizations that
pressure private companies to censor lawful and
constitutionally protected speech.
Language is included that prohibits funds to carry out any
program, project, or activity that promotes or advances
Critical Race Theory or any concept associated with Critical
Race Theory.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
finalize, implement, or promulgate the rule proposed by the
Department of Defense on November 14, 2022, titled ``Federal
Acquisition Regulation: Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
and Climate-Related Financial Risk.''
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds for
paid leave and travel or related expenses of a federal employee
or their dependents for the purposes of obtaining an abortion
or abortion-related services.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
recruit, hire, or promote any person who has been convicted of
charges related to child pornography or other sexual
misconduct.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
promote, host, facilitate, or support a drag queen story hour
for children on United States military installations or for
military recruiting programs that feature drag queens.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
perform surgical procedures or hormone therapies for the
purposes of gender affirming care.
Language is included that prohibits funds to carry out
section d 554(a) and 913 of the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283).
Language is included that prohibits funds to implement,
administer, apply, enforce, or carry out measures relating to
the Department of Defense diversity, equity, inclusion, and
accessibility strategy, certain executive orders, and execute
activities that promote or perpetuate divisive concepts related
to race or sex.
Language is included that prohibits funding to pay for the
costs of teleworking or remote working for any employee or
contractor of the Department of Defense on a regular and
recurring base.
Language is included that prohibits funding to provide
assistance to the Department of Homeland Security to house
persons on a military installation located in the United
States.
Language is included that prohibits funding for any office
of diversity, equity, or inclusion.
Language is included that prohibits funding to NewsGuard
Technologies Inc.
Language is included that prohibits funding to implement a
series of climate change executive orders.
Language is included that prohibits the use of funds in
contravention of Department of Defense Instruction 3216.01.
Language is included that provides that operation and
maintenance funds may be used for land acquisition cost from
the Federated States of Micronesia for defense sites in Yap.
Language is included that prohibits funding for the
divestiture or prepared divestiture of U-2 aircraft.
Language is included that prohibits funding for the
divestiture or prepared divestiture of F-15 aircraft.
Language is included that provides for special transfer
authority for ship construction programs.
Language is included that contains several provisions to
relating to the delivery of defense articles from the United
States to Israel and the obligation of funds for assistance for
Israel.
Language is included that establishes a spending reduction
account.
COMPARISON WITH THE BUDGET RESOLUTION
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives and section 308(a)(1)(A) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the following table compares
the levels of new budget authority provided in the bill with
the appropriate allocation under section 302(b) of the Budget
Act.
[In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
302(b) Allocation This Bill
---------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Budget
Authority Outlays Authority Outlays
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comparison of amounts in the bill with Committee
allocations to its subcommittees: Subcommittee
on Defense
Discretionary................................... 833,053 0 833,053 \1\839,340
Mandatory....................................... 0 0 514 \]\514
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
FIVE-YEAR OUTLAY PROJECTIONS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII and section
308(a)(1)(B) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
following table contains five-year projections associated with
the budget authority provided in the accompanying bill as
provided to the Committee by the Congressional Budget Office.
[In millions of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outlays
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Projection of outlays associated with the recommendation:
2025................................................... \1\492,019
2026................................................... 205,708
2027................................................... 64,046
2028................................................... 31,638
2029 and future years.................................. 25,621
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII and section
308(a)(1)(C) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Congressional Budget Office has provided the following
estimates of new budget authority and outlays provided by the
accompanying bill for financial assistance to State and local
governments.
[In millions of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget
Authority Outlays
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial assistance to State and local \1\0 0
governments for 2025...................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
COMMITTEE HEARINGS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(6) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following hearings were used to
develop or consider the Defense Appropriations Bill, 2025:
The Subcommittee on Defense held a budget hearing on April
10, 2024, entitled ``Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the United
States Navy and Marine Corps.'' The Subcommittee received
testimony from:
The Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary, Department of the
Navy
Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations,
Department of the Navy
General Eric M. Smith, Commandant of the Marine Corps
The Subcommittee on Defense held a budget hearing on April
10, 2024, entitled ``Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the United
States Army.'' The Subcommittee received testimony from:
The Honorable Christine E. Wormuth, Secretary, Department
of the Army
General Randy A. George, Chief of Staff, Department of the
Army
The Subcommittee on Defense held a budget hearing on April
17, 2024, entitled ``FiscalYear 2025 Request for the Department
of Defense.'' The Subcommittee received testimony from:
The Honorable Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of Defense,
Department of Defense
General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Chairman, Joint Chiefs of
Staff
The Honorable Michael McCord, Under Secretary of Defense
(Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer, Department of Defense
The Subcommittee on Defense held a budget hearing on April
30, 2024, entitled ``Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the National
Guard and Reserves Forces.'' The Subcommittee received
testimony from:
General Daniel R. Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard
Bureau, Department of Defense
Lieutenant General Jody J. Daniel, Chief of Army Reserve
and Commanding General, United States Army Reserve Command
Vice Admiral John Mustin, Chief of Navy Reserve, Department
of Navy
Lieutenant General Leaonard F. Anderson IV, Commander,
Marine Forces Reserve
Lieutenant General John P. Healy, Chief of Air Force
Reserve, Department of Air Force
The Subcommittee on Defense held a budget hearing on April
30, 2024, entitled ``Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the United
States Air Force and Space Force.'' The Subcommittee received
testimony from:
The Honorable Frank Kendall III, Secretary, Department of
the Air Force
General David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff, Department of the
Air Force
General B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations,
United States Space Force
Compliance With Rule XIII, Cl. 3(e) (Ramseyer Rule)
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the Committee notes that the
accompanying bill does not propose to repeal or amend a statute
or part thereof.
MINORITY VIEWS
The Fiscal Year 2025 Defense Appropriations Act totals $833
billion. We appreciate that the bill conforms to the Fiscal
Responsibility Act, however, we have deep concerns about the
bill, and how it will impact our military's readiness and unit
cohesion, since the bill repeats the same mistakes as the
fiscal year 2024 House proposal.
Once again, this bill includes partisan social policy
riders that were rejected in the fiscal year 2024 conference
agreement. And the inclusion of those riders in the process
last year, led to several Continuing Resolutions that spanned
over five months of this fiscal year.
We all understand that we are in a new geopolitical era,
where our nation faces grave threats--and they must be
responded to swiftly. But including riders that the majority
knows will not become law, will only serve to repeat a process
that very nearly ended in a full year Continuing Resolution.
Our national security cannot afford to waste another five
months as we did previously.
The bill, again, limits the ability of Service personnel
and their families to receive the reproductive health care they
deserve. Women make up almost 20% of the military services. And
approximately 80,000 women service members live in a state that
has limited or banned access to reproductive health care.
Service members do not get to choose where they are stationed,
and their duty station should not determine the type of health
care they receive.
Also, there are provisions that disenfranchise lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender service members rather than
making our military a welcoming and inclusive place for all
those who wish to serve our country.
There are provisions included in this bill that needlessly
attack diversity and inclusion efforts at the Department. Our
military is the institution in our country that most broadly
reflects the entire American population. That includes the 33%
of active-duty service members who identify with a minority
group. The Services continue to face recruitment challenges.
Why would the majority draft a bill to include provisions that
might dissuade any American, regardless of background, from
taking the oath of service?
Beyond contentious social policy, there are other elements
of this bill that we cannot support.
First, the bill continues to treat climate change as if it
is not happening and is not a national security threat--which
we know for a fact that it is. And we've seen the impact of
severe weather events on installations year after year--look to
Guam as a recent example.
Over $50 billion in repairs will be needed for the
installations on Guam which were damaged by the typhoon last
year. With all the military construction funding going into
Guam, the evidence of infrastructure vulnerability on the
island is even more clear. Cutting climate programs harms
resiliency, and we will pay for it on the back end.
Second, the bill cuts the funding for the Ukraine Security
Assistance Initiative. We know this bill should include the
long-term assistance that Ukraine needs. This funding signals
that the West stands with them in their fight for their own
self-determination. But failure to continue funding what has
been a long-standing, bipartisan initiative to support Ukraine
sends a terrible signal. It will only embolden Putin.
Third, the bill again limits the ability for our government
to address disinformation. Our foreign adversaries use social
media to spread disinformation here at home in the United
States. This bill deprives the Department of Defense of their
responsibility to set facts straight. This is dangerous, and it
would have real national security implications here at home and
abroad.
Fourth, the bill includes a new provision that would ban
funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. This
provision is not germane to this bill because the Department of
Defense has never funded UNRWA.
To be clear, the Hamas terrorist attacks of last October
were barbaric. And we are deeply alarmed at the suffering of
the civilian population in Gaza--where famine has taken hold.
But, the majority needs to stop a pattern of including new
general provisions that do not fall within our jurisdiction.
Fifth, we want to address the need to make comprehensive
investments in quality of life for our service members. The
total compensation package for a newly enlisted soldier
entering the military starts at $50,064. This includes basic
pay, health care, dental care, housing, food, paid leave, and
certain tax advantages.
In a private sector job, a person might earn $20 an hour.
But it may not include health care and leave. And of course, it
would not include food and rent. The private sector simply does
not provide the same holistic package of pay and benefits that
the military does.
We believe in the importance of taking care of our troops
and of course there is always more we can do. We are very
supportive of pay raises for the troops. Over the last 3 years
Congress enacted a 4.6% pay raise in 2023, a 5.2% pay raise in
2024, and the President has again proposed a 4.5% pay raise for
2025 which this bill and we support.
But on top of the 4.5% pay raise the Administration is
requesting this year, the majority is proposing an additional
15% pay increase for junior enlisted service members. This
poses two problems that the Committee must consider as this
bill moves forward:
The majority fails to fully fund the pay raise
proposal. The bill falls nearly $800 million short of
the known $3.2 billion cost. By not fully funding this
proposal, it will cause a hole in the FY 2025 Services'
budgets. If enacted, the Services will be forced to
fill that hole themselves by making cuts elsewhere. We
don't know what is going to be sacrificed and that will
cause problems in fiscal year 2025 for both the
Department of Defense and the Services.
And, it creates a disparity where pay raise does not
follow promotion. Under this proposal that promotion
will not come with the same associated pay bump as your
previous rank. A service member, confronted with this
situation, may decide to take their talents elsewhere--
creating a retention issue. With the best of
intentions, we could be creating new problems for the
Services--and quite frankly for ourselves in future
fiscal years.
That is why the Committee needs to analyze the
Administration's Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation,
which is expected at the end of this year. That report will
help us make informed decisions as we work to provide a better,
holistic package of pay and benefits for our troops. We look
forward to working with the majority to ensure that the
conference report balances pay, benefits, and the other
important programs in this bill that ensure our national
security.
Finally, the amendments adopted in full committee regarding
prohibiting funding for the joint logistics over the shore/pier
in Gaza, language in contravention of the Civil Rights Act and
continued attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, only further our
resolve to oppose the bill.
In closing, regrettably at this time, we will be unable to
support passage of this bill, but we look forward to working
with the majority to enact a bipartisan bill that strengthens
our national security.
Rosa DeLauro.
Betty McCollum.
[all]