Appropriations Committee Releases Fiscal Year 2020 Defense Funding Bill

May 14, 2019
Press Release
Legislation provides $690.2 billion in discretionary spending to defend nation against evolving threats, prepare for future challenges, and meet the needs of service members and military families; Bill also protects against misappropriation of Defense funds for border wall

WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations Committee today released the draft fiscal year 2020 Defense funding bill, which will be considered in subcommittee on Wednesday, May 15. The legislation funds the Department of Defense, including operations and maintenance, readiness activities, research and development, equipment modernization, and health and quality-of-life programs for our troops and military families.

In total, the bill provides $690.2 billion in new discretionary spending authority for the Department of Defense for functions under the Defense Subcommittee’s jurisdiction, an increase of $15.8 billion above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level, and $8 billion below the request. This includes $622.1 billion in base funding, an increase of $15.6 billion above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $88.2 billion above the President’s request. It also includes $68.1 billion for OCO/GWOT funding in title IX, an increase of $165 million above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $96.2 billion below the President’s request.

“The Subcommittee has sought throughout this legislative process to keep in mind the morale and the quality of life of all of our service members and their families.  I believe we have taken tangible steps in this bill to refocus much-deserved attention on their issues of concern,” said House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Chairman Pete Visclosky. “The legislation also aims to ensure that all personnel under its jurisdiction are able to be as safe, efficient, and effective as possible in their efforts to defend our nation.  The Subcommittee also protects and asserts the constitutional prerogatives of Congress so that funds appropriated are only to be spent on designated and authorized purposes.  It is certainly the intent of the Subcommittee to see that this legislation is signed into law prior to the start of Fiscal Year 2020.”

“This bill rejects the Trump administration’s budgetary gimmicks and sleights of hand and instead provides the Defense Department with appropriate resources to address an evolving threat landscape and ensure the security of our nation and our allies,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey. “The bill ensures that our service members are trained and equipped to do their jobs safely and effectively and that they are prepared for future military needs. We have the most capable and advanced military in the world, and this bill honors their mission by adequately funding programs to care for service members and their families, and by protecting defense funding from being stolen for the President’s wasteful wall.”

A summary of the draft fiscal year 2020 Defense bill is below. The full text of the bill is here

Bill Summary:

Military Personnel

Total:                                                  $153.9 billion

Base:                                                  $149.4 billion

OCO/GWOT (title IX):                       $4.5 billion

The FY2020 Military Personnel recommendation is $149.438 billion in base funding for active, reserve and National Guard military personnel, $1.854 billion below the budget request and $3.368 billion above FY2019 enacted level. 

  • Funds active duty end strength of 1,337,500, a decrease of 600 below current year and a decrease of 2,000 below the request. Funds reserve component end strength of 800,800, a decrease of 16,900 below current year and equal to the request. 
  • Provides full funding necessary to support the proposed 3.1 percent military pay raise.
  • Increases funding above the request for the Department and Services’ Sexual Assault Prevention and Response programs for a total of $297 million, an increase of $38 million above the request.

Operation and Maintenance

Total:                                                  $256.5 billion

Base:                                                  $206.7 billion

OCO/GWOT (title IX):                       $49.8 billion

The FY2020 Operation and Maintenance recommendation is $206.691 billion in base funding, an increase of $82.746 billion above the budget request and $13.003 billion above the FY2019 enacted level. 

  • Provides $1.055 billion above the request for key readiness programs to prepare forces, including the National Guard and reserve, for combat operations and other peacetime missions: flying hours, tank miles, and steaming days; equipment, aviation, and ship depot maintenance; training; spare parts; and base operations.
  • Provides $22.9 billion to the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force for depot maintenance, $2.3 billion above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
  • Provides $1.26 billion for Environmental Restoration activities, $188 million above the request, and $14.8 million above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level. Includes $13M for study and assessment of former and current domestic military installations known to have PFOS/PFOA contamination.
  • Provides an additional $70.7 million for upgrades to childcare facilities and report language directing the services to present innovative ideas to assist our service members with this quality of life issue.

Procurement

Total:                                                  $142.0 billion

Base:                                                  $130.3 billion

OCO/GWOT (title IX):                       $11.7 billion

The FY2020 Procurement recommendation is $130.304 billion in base funding, an increase of $11.4 billion above the budget request and $5 billion below the FY2019 enacted level.

  • Provides $11.4 billion above the base funding request for increased investments in ground vehicles, aircraft, ships, munitions, and other equipment.

Aircraft

  • Funds 90 F-35 aircraft, 12 more than the request ($8.7 billion).
  • Funds eight F-15EX aircraft to recapitalize the F-15C/D fleet ($986 million).
  • Funds 73 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, 15 more than the fiscal year 2019 enacted level ($1.4 billion).
  • Funds 14 V-22 aircraft, four more than the request ($1.2 billion).
  • Funds nine P-8A Poseidon aircraft, three more than the request ($1.7 billion).
  • Funds 16 C/MC/KC-130J aircraft, four more than the request, including an additional 4 C-130Js for the Air Force Reserve ($1.4 billion).

Shipbuilding

  • Provides $21.7 billion to procure 11 Navy ships.
  • Funds are provided for three DDG-51 guided missile destroyers, two SSN-774 attack submarines, one Frigate, one Ford class aircraft carrier, two TAO fleet oilers, and two towing, salvage, and rescue ships.
  • Funds advance procurement of the first Columbia Class submarine ($1.6 billion).
  • Funds advance procurement for three Virginia Class submarines ($4.3 billion).
  • Funds one Ship to Shore Connector, one more than the request ($65 million).

Vehicles/Force Protection

  • Provides $249 million above the request to upgrade the Stryker vehicle by procuring 86 Stryker weapon systems (30mm cannons and weapon stations).
  • Funds the request for the upgrade of 165 Abrams tanks to the upgraded configuration ($1.75 billion).

Other

  • Provides $1.24 billion for four space launch services.
  • Provides $200 million to fully support Israeli Cooperative procurement programs (Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow).
  • Provides $425.9 million to procure 37 THAAD interceptors as requested.
  • Includes $1.3 billion for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account (NGREA).

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation

Total:                                                  $101.5 billion

Base:                                                  $100.7 billion

OCO/GWOT (title IX):                      $0.8 billion

The FY2020 RDT&E recommendation is $100.692 billion in base funding, an increase of $1.9 billion below the budget request and $5.7 billion above the FY2019 enacted level.

  • Invests in basic and applied scientific research, development, test and evaluation of new technologies and equipment, and supports the research community so forces will have the systems and equipment for tomorrow’s challenges.
  • Fully funds the Block 4 follow-on development of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ($1.5 billion).
  • Fully funds the continued development of the Air Force’s B-21 bomber program ($3 billion).
  • Fully funds the Army’s Improved Turbine Engine Program ($206 million).
  • Funds the continued development of the Columbia class ballistic missile submarine ($419 million).
  • Fully funds the Army’s number one priority of Long Range Precision Fires ($418 million).
  • Provides $300 million for the Israeli cooperative research and development programs, including David’s Sling and Arrow-3.

Revolving and Management Funds

Total:                                                  $1.45 billion

Base Requirements:                        $1.43 billion

OCO/GWOT (title IX):                       $0.02 billion

  • Fully funds the Defense Commissary Agency to ensure service members and their families receive continued savings for food and household goods as part of the military pay and benefits package.

Other Department of Defense Programs

Total:                                      $33.8 billion

Base Requirements:            $33.5 billion

OCO/GWOT (title IX):           $0.3 billion

Defense Health Programs

  • $33.46 billion plus $347.7 million for OCO/GWOT Requirements.
  • Adds $920 million for the congressionally directed medical research program.

Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction

  • $985.5 million, as requested.

Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities

  • $970 million, including $153 million for OCO/GWOT Requirements.
  • Provides $172 million for the National Guard Counter-Drug Program, an additional $50 million above the request.

Office of the Inspector General

  • $387.8 million, including $24.3 million for OCO/GWOT Requirements, as requested.

General Provisions

  • Includes $3.0 billion in prior year rescissions plus $67 million in rescissions from prior year OCO/GWOT funding.
  • Includes $270 million for public schools on military installations.
  • Continues provisions prohibiting the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to the U.S. and limiting the transfer of detainees to other countries except under certain conditions (including assessment that the detainee is no longer a threat to U.S. security).

Global War on Terrorism (GWOT)

  • Includes $4.5 billion for the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund.
  • Prohibits funds from being used to pay for the expenses of any member of the Taliban to participate in any meeting that does not include the participation of members of the Government of Afghanistan or that restricts the participation of women.
  • $1.3 billion for the Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund.
  • $250 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
  • $500 million for the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Fund.

Congressional Oversight

  • Rejects the President’s $98 billion OCO gimmick, restoring funds to base accounts.
  • Prohibits the use of Defense funds for the President’s border wall at our troops’ expense.
  • Responds to the Department of Defense’s abuse of congressionally granted reprogramming privileges by reducing transfer authority from the $9.5 billion requested to $1.5 billion, and reducing thresholds for prior approval reprogrammings.
  • Prohibits the transfer of F-35 fighters to Turkey to prevent the exposure of cutting-edge U.S. technology to Russian missile systems.

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Issues: 
Subcommittees: 
116th Congress