by Christopher Hellman

July 13, 2009

HIGHLIGHTS OF SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE ACTION ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2010 DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL (S. 1390)

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) completed its markup of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Defense Authorization bill (S. 1390) on June 25, 2009. SASC’s marked up bill recommends an overall FY’10 authorization level of $679.8 billion, $375 million less than requested by the administration. This $79.8 billion total includes $129.3 billion for ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and $551.1 billion for National Defense (function 050). Of the $551.1 billion slated for National Defense, $534.6 billion is for the Department of Defense (DOD) and $16.4 billion is for the Department of Energy’s nuclear weapons activities. The full Senate is expected to take up the Defense Authorization bill this week.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Military Pay Raise – The bill includes a 3.4 percent across-the-board pay raise, 0.5 percent above the administration’s request.
• F-22 Fighter Aircraft – Includes $1.7 billion for the purchase of seven unrequested aircraft in FY’10.
• JSF Alternative Engine – Provides $438.9 million for the continued development and acquisition of a second source engine for the Joint Strike Fighter program.
• Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAP) – Includes a combined $6.7 billion for the MRAP program in the base budget and the “Overseas Contingency Operations” funding section, $1.2 billion above the amount requested.
• Missile Defense – As requested, the bill terminates the Multiple Kill Vehicle (MKV) program, the Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) program, and cancels the second Airborne Laser (ABL).

FUNDING PROVISIONS

Total Funding (Function 050)
Request: $550.2 billion
Committee: $551.1 billion ($864.8 million above request)

Procurement
Request: $105.8 billion
Committee: $107.2 billion ($1,397.5 million above request)

Research, Development, Testing & Evaluation
Request: $78.6 billion
Committee: $79.9 billion ($1,266.4 million above request)

Operations & Maintenance
Request: $156.4 billion
Committee: $155.6 billion ($887.2 million below request)

Personnel
Request: $136.0 billion
Committee: $135.6 billion ($400 million below request)

Military Construction
Request: $13.1 billion
Committee: $12.7 billion ($372.8 million below request)

Military Housing
Request: $1.959 billion
Committee: $2.3 billion ($350 million above request)

Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Implementation
Request: $7.9 billion
Committee: $7.9 billion

Other
Request: $33.9 billion
Committee: $33.5 billion ($376.5 million below request)
NOTE: This amount includes $27.9 billion for the Defense Health program, $10.7 million above the request

Department of Energy Defense Activities (Function 053)
Request: $16.4 billion
Committee: $16.4 billion

MAJOR WEAPONS SYSTEMS

Ballistic Missile Defense (Missile Defense Agency funding only)
Request: $7.8 billion
Committee: $7.8 billion

AIRCRAFT

F/A-22 “Raptor” Fighter (aircraft procurement only)
Request: $95 million
Committee: $1.75 billion for seven aircraft

Joint Strike Fighter (aircraft procurement only)
Request: $6.8 billion for 20 Navy and ten Air Force aircraft
Committee: $6.8 billion for 20 Navy and ten Air Force aircraft and $438.9 million for the alternative engine program (not requested).

F/A-18E/F “Super Hornet” Fighter (aircraft procurement only)
Request: $1.0 billion for nine aircraft
Committee: $1.6 billion for 18 aircraft ($560 million above request)

EA-18G Radar Jamming Aircraft
Request: $1.6 billion for 22 aircraft
Committee: $1.7 billion for 22 aircraft

V-22 “Osprey” Tilt-rotor
Request: $2.7 billion for 30 Navy and five Air Force aircraft
Committee: $2.7 billion for 30 Navy and five Air Force aircraft

C-130J Transport Aircraft (aircraft procurement only)
Request: $393.6 million for four C-130J Air Force aircraft
Committee: $393.6 million for four C-130J Air Force aircraft

C-17 Globemaster Transport Aircraft
Request: $250.4 million
Committee: $250.4 million

DDG-1000 “Zumwalt” Destroyer [DD(x)]
Request: $1.1 billion, to complete third and final vessel in the class
Committee: $1.1 billion

DDG-51 “Arleigh Burke” Destroyer
Request: $2.2 billion for one ship and advanced procurement
Committee: $2.2 billion for one ship and advanced procurement

SHIPBUILDING

LPD-17 “San Antonio” Amphibious Assault Ship
Request: $1.06 billion
Committee: $1.06 billion

SSN-774 “Virginia” Class Submarine
Request: $3.9 billion for one vessel and advanced procurement for two vessels in FY’11
Committee: $3.9 billion for one vessel and advanced procurement for two vessels in FY’11

Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)
Request: $1.4 billion for three ships
Committee: $1.4 billion for three ships

T-AKE Supply Ship
Request: $940 million for two ships
Committee: $540 million for one ship

ARMY PROGRAMS

Stryker Armored Vehicle
Request: $388.6 million
Committee: $388.6 million

UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter
Request: $1.36 billion for 79 aircraft
Committee $1.36 billion for 79 aircraft

HMMWV High Mobility Vehicle
Request: $281 million for 1,770 vehicles
Committee: $281 million for 1,770 vehicles

NON-PROLIFERATION PROGRAMS

Dept. of Energy Nonproliferation Programs
Request: $2.137 billion
Committee: $2.137 billion

DoD Cooperative Threat Reduction Program (“Nunn-Lugar”)
Request: $404.1 million
Committee: $424.1 million

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NUCLEAR WEAPONS-RELATED ACTIVITIES

National Nuclear Security Administration
Request: $9.9 billion
Committee: $10.1 billion ($106 million above request)

Environmental and Other Defense Activities
Request: $6.4 billion
Committee: $6.3billion ($100 million below request)

KEY POLICY PROVISIONS

Potential Foreign Military Sales Of The F–22 Fighter – Requires the Secretary of Defense to report on the costs and technical feasibility of developing an exportable version of the F–22 and an assessment of the strategic implications of permitting foreign sales of the F–22. [Sec. 123]

Cooperation With Russia on Missile Defense – Requires the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress within 120 days of enactment on potential options for cooperation among or between the United States, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the Russian Federation on ballistic missile defense. [Sec. 244]

Repeal Of Reliable Replacement Warhead Program – The bill repeals a provision of existing law [Section 4204A of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2524a)] directing the Department of Energy to establish a reliable replacement warhead program. [sec. 3113]

Preference For Goods And Services Produced Along Afghanistan Supply Route – Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish a preference for the acquisition of products and services that are produced in Central Asia, Pakistan, and the South Caucasus which are either to be used by security forces in Afghanistan, improve the local market and transportation infrastructure, or encourage neighboring states to cooperate in expanding supply routes to Afghanistan. [Sec. 831]

Requirement For Nuclear-Powered Ships – Repeals provisions of the FY 2008 Defense Authorization Act requiring that all future Navy surface combatants have nuclear propulsion systems. [Sec. 1012]

TITLE XV – Overseas Contingency Operations

HIGHLIGHTS

• Afghanistan Security Forces – Provides $7.5 billion, as requested, for Afghanistan Security Forces Fund. Does NOT fund the $700 million request for the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund.
• Improvised Explosive Devises (IEDs) – Provides $2.1 billion for the Joint IED Defeat Fund (JIEDDF), $565 million above the request.
• Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAP) – Includes a combined $6.7 billion for the MRAP program in the base budget and the “Overseas Contingency Operations” funding section, $1.2 billion above the amount requested.
• Commanders’ Emergency Response Program (CERP) – The bill fully funds the $300 million CERP request for Iraq, and reduces the $1.2 billion request for CERP in Afghanistan by $100 million. CERP funding allows U.S. officers to finance urgent humanitarian relief and reconstruction requirements in their area of responsibility (AOR).

COMMITTEE FUNDING LEVELS

Total Funding: $129.3 billion, $740 million below the request
Procurement: $24.4 billion, $629 million above request
Research, Development, Testing & Evaluation: $310 million, as requested
Operations & Maintenance: $87.7 billion, $1.369 billion below request
Personnel: $13.6 billion, as requested
Military Construction: $1.4 billion, as requested
Other: $1.9 billion, as requested

Sources: Senate Armed Services Committee’s June 26, 2009 press release, Senate Report 111-35.