Nov 14, 2017
Defense Drumbeat
TOP FACTS TO KNOW
- OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT: The House vote was 344-81, while the Senate vote was 89-8.
- PROVIDES THE NECESSARY TOPLINE OF NEARLY $700 BILLION—a $26 billion increase above the President’s budget requests.
- LARGEST PAY RAISE FOR OUR TROOPS IN 8 YEARS
- INCREASES THE SIZE OF ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, ARMY GUARD AND RESERVE, NAVAL AND AIR RESERVE, AS WELL AS AIR GUARD
- PERMANENTLY PRESERVES SPECIAL SURVIVOR INDEMNITY ALLOWANCE (SSIA) PAYMENTS TO MORE THAN 60,000 SURVIVING MILITARY SPOUSES.
- MAKES MAJOR REFORMS IN PENTAGON BUYING PRACTICES INCLUDING E-COMMERCE, DEFENSE CONTRACT AUDITING, AND INCREASED OVERSIGHT INTO SERVICE CONTRACTS
- INCREASE OF $26.4B TO REBUILD A WORN-OUT MILITARY:
- $1.9 billion for facilities maintenance
- $4.4 billion to strengthen Missile Defense (includes budget amendment)
- Increased End Strength
- Increased Naval presence
- Better-equipped Ground Forces
- Aviation Readiness
- Critical munitions shortage
- INCREASES FUNDING FOR MILITARY FACILITIES TO RESTORE AND MAINTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE RANGING FROM BARRACKS TO HOSPITALS AND RUNWAYS TO HANGARS
- REFORM THE WAY WE WILL FIGHT AND WIN WARS IN SPACE
- MAKES KEY INVESTMENTS IN CRITICAL MILITARY CAPABILITIES TO CONFRONT AGGRESSION & ADDRESS THREATS AROUND THE WORLD
- IMPLEMENTS NEW OVERSIGHT TOOLS AS DOD UNDERGOES ITS FIRST FINANCIAL AUDIT
The full Conference Report Summary can be read here.
115th Congress