Defense Drumbeat

• 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.