House Approves FY 2016 Defense Authorization Bill

The House of Representatives approved the National Defense Authorization Act last Friday by a vote of 269-151 on a mostly party line vote. Disputes regarding how the bill worked around strict spending limits imposed by the Budget Control Act caused many Democrats to vote against H.R. 1735, including Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA).

This bill sets policy and program spending limits for the Department of Defense and the nuclear weapons programs of the Department of Energy. Actual funding is provided by appropriations bills.

The accompanying 641-page committee report prepared by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and the majority staff outlines specific program policy recommendations and spending limits. Introductory material, Addressing emerging threats and challenges, on page 7 is of interest. Section II, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation starts on report page 50. Funding tables for RDT&E start on report page 453. Note that these tables include only the Administration’s FY 2016 request and the committee’s authorization level. The figures shown below regarding the FY 2015 appropriation were calculated from the FY 2016 R-1 budget request document prepared by Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). The House authorization levels were calculated from the committee report, and are as compared to the FY 2015 appropriation.

Total 6.1 Basic Research:
The FY 2015 appropriation was $2,277.8 million
The FY 2016 request is $2,089.0 million, a decrease of $188.8 million or 8.3 percent
The House bill authorizes $2,127.0 million, a decrease of $150.8 million or 6.6 percent

Total 6.2 Applied Research:
The FY 2014 appropriation was $4,647.8 million
The FY 2015 request is $4,713.2 million, an increase of $65.4 million or 1.4 percent
The House bill authorizes $4,696.2 million, an increase of $48.4 million or 1.0 percent

Total 6.3 Advanced Technology Development:
The FY 2015 appropriation was $5,326.4 million
The FY 2016 request is $5,464.4 million, an increase of $138.0 million or 2.6 percent
The House bill authorizes $5,377.0 million, an increase of $50.6 million or 1.0 percent

Total 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3:
The FY 2015 appropriation was $12,252.0 million
The FY 2016 request is $12,266.6 million, an increase of $14.6 million or 0.1 percent
The House bill authorizes $12,200.2 million, a decrease of $51.8 million or 0.4 percent

Total Army 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3:
The FY 2015 appropriation was $2,554.9 million
The FY 2015 request is $2,200.6 million, a decrease of $354.3 million or 13.9 percent
The House bill authorizes $2,203.6 million, a decrease of $351.3 million or 13.8 percent

Total Navy 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3:
The FY 2014 appropriation was $2,155.3 million
The FY 2015 request is $2,114.4 million or a decrease of $40.9 million or 1.9 percent
The House bill authorizes $2,142.4 million, a decrease of $12.9 million or 0.6 percent

Total Air Force 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3:
The FY 2015 appropriation was $2,281.7 million
The FY 2016 request is $2,378.4 million or an increase of $96.7 million or 4.2 percent
The House bill authorizes $2,383.4 million, an increase of $101.7 million or 4.5 percent

Total Defense-Wide (i.e., DARPA, etc.) 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3:
The FY 2015 appropriation was $5,260.1 million
The FY 2016 request is $5,573.1 million, an increase of $313.0 million or 6.0 percent
The House bill authorizes $5,470.8 million, an increase of $210.7 million or 4.0 percent