Appropriations Committee Releases Fiscal Year 2021 Defense Funding Bill

July 7, 2020
Press Release
Legislation provides $694.6 billion in discretionary spending to defend the nation against evolving threats, prepare for future challenges, and meet the needs of service members and military families; Legislation protects against misappropriation of Defense funds for border wall and requires return of any unobligated funds taken for the wall in FY 2020

WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations Committee today released the draft fiscal year 2021 Defense funding bill, which will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow. 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.

For fiscal year 2021, the bill provides $694.6 billion in new discretionary spending authority for the Department of Defense for functions under the Defense Subcommittee’s jurisdiction, an increase of $1.3 billion above the FY 2020 enacted level, and $3.7 billion below the President’s budget request. This includes $626.2 billion in base funding, an increase of $3.5 billion above the FY 2020 enacted level, and $3.5 billion below the President’s request. It also includes $68.4 billion for OCO/GWOT funding in title IX, a decrease of $2.2 billion below the FY 2020 enacted level, and $200 million below the President’s request.

“This bill builds upon the efforts the Committee undertook last year regarding the morale and quality of life issues of those in uniform, their families, DoD civilians, and defense communities,” said House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Chairman Pete Visclosky. “The bill provides a 3.0 percent pay raise for our servicemembers and again increases funding for military childcare facilities.  I regret that this bill again must contain provisions to rein in the Department’s habitual redirection of funding in contravention of Congressional intent.  As we move forward in the FY 2021 process, I look forward to continuing to work with all Members of Congress to complete our work.”

“This bill 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 servicemembers are well-trained and equipped and that they are prepared for future military needs. It also includes the full funding necessary to provide servicemembers with a 3.0 percent pay raise. We have the most capable and advanced military in the world, and this bill honors their mission by adequately funding programs to care for servicemembers and their families, and by including provisions to end the Trump administration’s theft of defense funds to pay for a wasteful border wall.”

A summary of the draft fiscal year 2021 Defense bill is below. The full text of the bill is here.

Bill Summary:

Military Personnel

Total:                                      $162.3 billion

Base:                                       $157.7 billion

OCO/GWOT (title IX):           $4.6 billion

The FY 2021 Military Personnel recommendation is $157.7 billion in base funding for active, reserve and National Guard military personnel, a decrease of $1.2 billion below the budget request and an increase of $7.5 billion above the FY 2020 enacted level.

  • Funds active duty end strength of 1,351,500, an increase of 12,000 above current year and equal to the request. Funds reserve component end strength of 802,000, an increase of 1,200 above current year and equal to the request. 
    • Army totals:  485,900 active duty, an increase of 5,900 above current year and equal to the request; 189,800 reserve, an increase of 300 above current year and equal to the request; and 336,500 Guard, an increase of 500 above current year and equal to the request.
    • Navy totals:  347,800 active duty, an increase of 7,300 above current year and equal to the request; and 58,800 reserve, a decrease of 200 below current year and equal to the request.
    • Marine Corps totals:   184,100 active duty, a decrease of 2,100 below current year and equal to the request; and 38,500 reserve, equal to current year and the request.
    • Air Force totals:  333,700 active duty, an increase of 900 above current year and equal to the request; 70,300 reserve, an increase of 200 above current year and equal to the request; and 108,100 Guard, an increase of 400 above current year and equal to the request.
  • Provides full funding necessary to support the proposed 3.0 percent military pay raise.
  • Increases funding by $45 million above the President’s request for the Department and Services’ Sexual Assault Prevention and Response programs, for a total of $323 million. This includes $40 million for the Special Victims’ Counsel and an increase of $5 million above the request for the Department’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office. In addition, provides $4 million for the Sexual Trauma Pilot Program.

Operation and Maintenance

Total:                                      $254.5 billion

Base:                                      $196.7 billion

OCO/GWOT (title IX):          $57.8 billion

The FY 2021 Operation and Maintenance recommendation is $196.7 billion in base funding, an increase of $72.5 million above the budget request and a decrease of $2.7 billion below the FY 2020 enacted level.

  • Provides $1.67 billion above the request for key readiness programs to prepare forces 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 $24.7 billion to the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force for depot maintenance.
  • Provides $9.5 billion to fund SOCOM’s operation and maintenance requirements.
  • Provides $22 million to the Special Operations Command to restore flight operations for the 137th Special Operations Wing.
  • Provides $80.3 million to the Special Operations Command to fund equipment lost or destroyed in combat.
  • Provides $1.486 billion for Environmental Restoration activities, $413 million above the request, and $70.8 million above the fiscal year 2020 enacted level. In addition, provides $15 million for study and assessment of health implications of PFOS/PFOA contamination in drinking water.
  • Provides $270 million above the request to address public school infrastructure requirements on DoD installations.
  • Provides an additional $116 million for upgrades to childcare facilities and report language directing the services to present innovative ideas to assist Servicemembers with this quality of life issue.
  • Provides $2.49 billion to continue the transition of space activities to the Space Force. 
  • Provides increases for National Guard Youth Challenge ($210m); and Starbase (+$41.1 million).
  • Provides an additional $50 million for the Office of Economic Assistance for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program.
  • Provides $40 million for Impact Aid and $10 million for Impact Aid for those with disabilities.
  • Provides $6.75 million for gender advisor programs.
  • Provides $10 million for the Maternity Uniform Pilot Program.
  • Provides $48 million for the Procurement Technical Assistance Program.
  • Provides $360 million for the Cooperative Threat Reduction program. 
  • Provides $50 million for noise mitigation tools for communities.
  • Provides $1 million to the Army for the renaming of installations, facilities, roads and streets that bear the name of confederate leaders and officers.
  • Provides $450 million for COVID resupply and recovery.

Procurement

Total:                                      $140.1 billion

Base:                                       $133.6 billion

OCO/GWOT (title IX):           $6.5 billion

The FY 2021 Procurement recommendation is $133.6 billion in base funding, an increase of $2.8 billion above the budget request and a decrease of $0.2 billion below the FY 2020 enacted level.                                               

  • Provides $4.1 billion above the total funding request (including OCO/GWOT) for increased investments in ground vehicles, aircraft, ships, munitions, and other equipment.

Aircraft

  • Funds the request of 24 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft ($1.7 billion).
  • Funds 91 F-35 aircraft, 12 more than the request ($9.3 billion).
  • Funds 12 F-15EX aircraft to recapitalize the F-15C/D fleet ($1.2 billion).
  • Funds the request of 15 KC-46 tankers ($2.7 billion).
  • Funds the request of 19 HH-60W combat rescue helicopters ($1.1 billion).
  • Funds 11 C/KC/MC-130J aircraft, 2 more than the request ($965 million).
  • Funds 16 MQ-9 Reaper air vehicles, 16 more than the request ($344 million).
  • Funds the first five CH-47F Block II Chinook aircraft and long-lead funding for the second five CH-47F Block II Chinook aircraft to ensure that the Army stays on schedule with the program of record ($227 million).
  • Provides $141 million above the request to fund a total of 42 UH/HH-60M Blackhawk helicopters ($866 million).
  • Funds the requested 50 remanufactured AH-64 Apache helicopters ($792 million).
  • Funds eleven V-22 aircraft, two more than the request ($1.1 billion).
  • Funds three P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the Navy Reserve, three more than the request ($510 million).
  • Funds five E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft, one more than the request ($791 million).
  • Funds nine CH-53K helicopters, two more than the request ($1.05 billion).
  • Funds a new start for SOCOM’s Armed Overwatch Program.

Shipbuilding

  • Provides $22.3 billion to procure nine Navy ships, $2.4 billion above the request.
  • Funds are provided for two DDG-51 guided missile destroyers, the initial Columbia Class submarine, two SSN-774 attack submarines, one Frigate, one LPD-17 Flight II, and two towing, salvage, and rescue ships.

Vehicles/Force Protection

  • Provides $375 million above the request to upgrade a total of 259 Stryker combat vehicles ($1.16 billion).
  • Funds the request to upgrade 89 Abrams tanks to the M1A2 SEPv3 tank variant ($1.02 billion).
  • Provides an additional $100 million for Army National Guard HMMWV modernization.
  • Fully funds the Army’s request for 1,920 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) and 1,334 JLTV companion trailers.

Other

  • Provides $933 million to procure three National Security Space Launch services.
  • Provides $623 million to procure two GPS IIIF spacecraft.
  • Provides $200 million to fully support Israeli Cooperative procurement programs (Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow).
  • Includes $1 billion for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account (NGREA).
  • Provides $758 million to mitigate the impacts of COVID on second, third, and fourth tier suppliers in the Defense Industrial Base.

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation

Total:                                      $104.6 billion

Base:                                      $104.3 billion

OCO/GWOT (title IX):           $0.3 billion

The FY 2021 RDT&E recommendation is $104.3 billion in base funding, a decrease of $1.9 billion below the budget request and a decrease of $0.1 billion below the FY 2020 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.

Aircraft

  • Fully funds the Block 4 follow-on development of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ($1.6 billion).
  • Fully funds the continued development of the Air Force’s B-21 bomber program ($2.8 billion).
  • Fully funds development of the VC-25B Presidential Aircraft Replacement ($801 million).
  • Provides $20 million above the request for the development of the Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft ($154 million).
  • Fully funds the design, build, and test of prototypes for the Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft ($513 million).
  • Fully funds the continued development and testing of the CH-53K helicopter ($407 million).

Vehicles and Ground Forces

  • Provides $10 million above the request to fund the Army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon ($811 million).
  • Fully funds the Army’s Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) modernization effort ($421 million).

Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA)

  • Provides $3.51 billion for DARPA research programs.

Other

  • Provides $300 million for the Israeli cooperative research and development programs, including David’s Sling and Arrow-3.
  • Provides $258 million for the Global Positioning System IIIF program.
  • Provides $482 million for the Global Positioning System III Operational Control Segment.
  • Provides $380 million for Global Positioning System user equipment.
  • Provides $561 million for National Security Space Launch to develop new U.S. space launch vehicles.
  • Provides $2.32 billion for Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared.

Revolving and Management Funds

Total:                                      $1.37 billion

Base Requirements:            $1.35 billion

OCO/GWOT (title IX):          $0.02 billion

The FY 2021 Revolving and Management Funds recommendation is $1.35 billion in base funding, equal to the budget request and a decrease of $210 million below the FY 2020 enacted level.

  • Fully funds the Defense Working Capital Fund request for War Reserve material and commissary operations.
  • Fully funds the Defense Commissary Agency to ensure servicemembers 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:                                      $35.7 billion

Base Requirements:            $35.3 billion

OCO/GWOT (title IX):          $0.4 billion

Defense Health Programs

  • $33.3 billion plus $365.1 million for OCO/GWOT Requirements.

Adds $512.5 million for cancer research.  The total amount is distributed as follows:

  • $150 million for the breast cancer research program;
  • $110 million for the prostate cancer research program;
  • $50 million for the kidney cancer research program;
  • $35 million for the ovarian cancer research program;
  • $20 million for the lung cancer research program;
  • $20 million for the melanoma research program;
  • $10 million for the pancreatic cancer research program;
  • $7.5 million for the rare cancer research program; and
  • $110 million for the cancer research program.
  • Adds $175 million for the peer reviewed psychological health and traumatic brain injury research program.
  • Adds $40 million for spinal cord research.
  • Adds $40 million for the joint warfighter medical research program.
  • Adds $150 million for COVID Resupply and Recovery

Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction

  • $889.5 million, as requested.

Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid

  • $147.5 million, including for foreign disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, and the humanitarian mine action program at levels above the budget request.

Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities

  • $746 million, including $70 million above the budget request for the National Guard Counter-Drug Program.
  • Does not continue funding for programs the Administration reduced during FY 2020 for the border wall.
  • Does not fund an additional $20 million requested in FY 2021 for the border wall.

Office of the Inspector General

  • $387.7 million, an increase of $16.3 million above the request for oversight of funding provided in CARES.
  • Includes $24.1 million for OCO/GWOT Requirements, as requested.

General Provisions

  • Includes $2.5 billion in prior year rescissions plus $1.5 billion in rescissions from prior year OCO/GWOT funding.
  • Includes $270 million for public schools on military installations.
  • Does not include prior year provisions related to detainees at the military prison located in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
  • Provides that nothing in this Act may be construed as authorizing the use of force against Iran.
  • Prohibits funds for the Taliban except support for reconciliation activities that also include the Afghan government, do not restrict the participation of women, and are authorized by law.
  • Prohibits funds to establish permanent bases in Afghanistan or Iraq.
  • Prohibits funds from being used in contravention of the War Powers Resolution.
  • Requires the Secretary of Defense to notify Congress of any foreign contribution received relating to the stationing or operations of U.S. troops. 
  • Requires the Secretary of Defense to notify Congress of the opening or closing of foreign bases.
  • Provides $250 million for the ISR transfer fund to address near-term gaps in existing ISR capabilities.

Afghanistan Security Forces Fund

  • $3.05 billion. Funds may only be obligated if the Secretary of Defense certifies that the Afghanistan Security Forces are controlled by a civilian, representative government that is protecting human rights and women’s rights and preventing terrorists from using the territory of Afghanistan to threaten the security of the United States and U.S. allies.
  • Provides not less than $20 million for the recruitment and retention of women, which is twice the amount specified last year.
  • Prevents payments to so-called “ghost soldiers” by prohibiting funds for Afghanistan security personnel who are not enrolled in the Afghanistan Personnel and Pay System.   
  • Directs quarterly reports to Congress on United States and coalition personnel in Afghanistan and the current conditions of the conflict, including metrics related to the peace agreement and an assessment of whether the Taliban is adhering to its commitments. 

Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund

  • $700 million, including support for the Iraqi Security Forces, Kurdish Peshmerga, and the Syrian Democratic Forces fighting ISIS. 
  • Requires the Secretary of Defense to ensure that elements are appropriately vetted and have made commitments to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law.
  • Prohibits funds to exercise United States control over any oil resource of Iraq or Syria.

Security Cooperation Programs

  • $1.14 billion for International Security Cooperation Programs.
    • $160 million for programs with countries in the Africa Command area of responsibility, $63 million above the request.  
    • $130 million for programs with countries in the Southern Command area of responsibility, $61 million above the request. 
    • $105 million for programs with Jordan. 
    • $150 million for the Baltic Security Initiative.
    • $3 million above the request for women’s programs. $3.75 million is also included in the bill for the training of U.S. personnel related to these programs.
  • $275 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, $25 million above the request.  Exempts funds from apportionment and requires the Secretary of Defense to inform Congress of any undue spending delays.

Congressional Oversight

  • Prohibits the use of Defense funds for the President’s border wall at our troops’ expense. Also requires that any unobligated funds that were taken for the border wall in fiscal year 2020 be returned to their original accounts and used for the original purposes for which they were appropriated by Congress.
  • Responds to the Department of Defense’s abuse of congressionally granted reprogramming privileges by reducing transfer authority from the $9.5 billion requested to $1.9 billion and placing additional oversight mechanisms on the Department’s ability to reprogram funds.
  • Prohibits unnecessary nuclear weapons testing.
  • Prohibits the transfer of F-35 fighters to Turkey to prevent the exposure of cutting-edge U.S. technology to Russian missile systems.
  • Limits the deployment of active armed forces to the southern border unless costs are reimbursed by the requesting Department or agency.
  • Conforms with the language included in Section 365 of H.R. 7120 regarding the transfer of any personal property of the Department of Defense to a state or local law enforcement agency.
  • Provides $1 million to the Army for the renaming of installations, facilities, roads and streets that bear the name of confederate leaders and officers since the Army has the preponderance of the entities to change. 

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Issues: 
Subcommittees: 
116th Congress