Appropriations Committee Releases Fiscal Year 2022 Defense Funding Bill

June 29, 2021
Press Release
Legislation protects national security, promotes global democracy, confronts the climate crisis, and addresses gender-based violence

WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations Committee today released the draft fiscal year 2022 Defense funding bill, which will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow. The legislation funds agencies and programs in the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community, including the Services, Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency.

For 2022, the bill provides total funding of $705.939 billion, an increase of $9.978 billion above 2021. This modest increase is in line with President Biden’s budget request and has been endorsed by the Secretary of Defense. In total, the bill provides for $706.453 billion in discretionary and mandatory funding. The legislation:

  • Protects our national security, preserves our domestic advanced manufacturing base to support jobs and economic growth, and invests heavily in research and development with funding recommended by the Secretary of Defense
  • Closes the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, eliminates the Overseas Contingency Operations budget gimmick, and limits United States involvement in Yemen
  • Promotes democracy by countering China with strong funding to protect a free and open Indo-Pacific
  • Provides for the transport and safe passage of Afghans who have provided faithful and valuable service to the United States and who are under serious threat
  • Supports working families by requiring contractors to pay a $15 minimum wage
  • Confronts the climate crisis with historic investments for clean energy and climate adaptation to protect facilities, readiness, and global security
  • Addresses gender-based violence with funding to tackle sexual assault in the military and directs DoD to address extremist ideologies, including white supremacy.

“Democrats have landed on a responsible funding level for the Department of Defense that maintains a strong national security posture today, while making important investments in modernization that will make us even stronger in the years to come,” said Defense Chair Betty McCollum (D-MN-04).  “I believe that America’s security is not defined solely by the programs funded in the Defense bill.  The investments we make on healthcare, education, and infrastructure here at home, as well as the diplomatic and development initiatives put forward by the State Department will support the work we have done in the Defense bill to ensure America remains safe and secure for future generations.”

“The Defense Appropriations bill provides resources requested by the Secretary of Defense to protect our national security, maintain a strong industrial base to support good paying jobs, and counter the rising threats from our adversaries, including China,” Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. “As it protects our nation, it also honors the soldiers and civilians who serve and support our nation’s military by providing for them and their families. This includes strong funding to combat sexual assault in the military, a serious and pervasive problem that for too long has been overlooked by the Pentagon.”

A summary of the draft fiscal year 2022 Defense bill is below. The text of the draft bill is here.

 

Bill Summary:

Military Personnel

Total: $166.8 billion
 

The FY 2022 Military Personnel recommendation is $166.8 billion in funding for active, reserve and National Guard military personnel, a decrease of $488 million below the budget request and an increase of $8.99 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level.

  • Provides full funding necessary to support the proposed 2.7 percent military pay raise.
  • Increases funding by $54.5 million above the President’s request for the Department and Services’ Sexual Assault Prevention and Response programs, for a total of $442.7 million. This includes $47 million for the Special Victims’ Counsel and an increase of $7.5 million above the request for the Department’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office.
  • Funds active duty end strength of 1,346,400, a decrease of 1,975 below current year and equal to the request. Funds reserve component end strength of 799,500, a decrease of 2,500 below current year and equal to the request.
    • Army totals: 485,000 active duty, a decrease of 900 below current year and equal to the request; 189,500 reserve, a decrease of 300 below current year and equal to the request; and 336,000 Guard, a decrease of 500 below current year and equal to the request.
    • Navy totals: 346,200 active duty, a decrease of 1,600 below current year and equal to the request; and 58,600 reserve, a decrease of 200 below current year and equal to the request.
    • Marine Corps totals: 178,500 active duty, a decrease of 2,700 below current year and equal to the request; and 36,800 reserve, a decrease of 1,700 below current year and the request.
    • Air Force totals: 328,300 active duty, a decrease of 5,175 below current year and equal to the request; 70,300 reserve, equal to current year and the request; and 108,300 Guard, an increase of 200 above current year and equal to the request.
       

Operation and Maintenance

Total: $254.3 billion
 

The FY 2022 Operation and Maintenance recommendation is $254.3 billion, an increase of $696 million above the budget request and an increase of $62 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.

  • Provides $1 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 $25.5 billion to the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force for depot maintenance.
  •  Provides $1.3 billion for Environmental Restoration activities, $276 million above the request. In addition, provides $15 million for study and assessment of health implications of PFOS/PFOA contamination in drinking water.
  • Provides $9.3 billion to fund SOCOM’s operation and maintenance requirements.
  • Provides $3.37 billion to continue the transition of space activities to the Space Force.
  • 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 increases for National Guard Youth Challenge ($210m); and Starbase ($42 million).
  • Provides an additional $25 million, for a total of $75 million, for the Office of Defense Local Community Cooperation for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program.
  • Provides $50 million for Impact Aid and $20 million for Impact Aid for those with disabilities.
  • Provides $8.6 million for gender advisor programs.
  • Provides $50 million for the Procurement Technical Assistance Program.
  • Provides $345 million for the Cooperative Threat Reduction program.
  • Provides $75 million for noise mitigation tools for communities.
     

Procurement

Total: $134.3 billion

The FY 2022 Procurement recommendation is $134.3 billion in base funding, an increase of $1.7 billion above the budget request and a decrease of $2.2 billion below the FY 2021 enacted level.

  • Provides $2.2 billion above the total funding request for increased investments in ground vehicles, aircraft, ships, munitions, and other equipment.
     

Aircraft

  • Funds 12 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft ($977 million).
  • Funds the request of 85 F-35 aircraft ($8.5 billion).
  • Funds 12 F-15EX aircraft to recapitalize the F-15C/D fleet ($1.1 billion).
  • Funds the request of 14 KC-46 tankers ($2.3 billion).
  • Funds the request of 14 HH-60W combat rescue helicopters ($792 million).
  • Funds 13 C/KC/MC-130J aircraft, 4 more than the request ($1.4 billion).
  • Funds 12 MQ-9 Reaper air vehicles for the Marine Corps and Air Force, six more than the request ($351 million).
  • Funds the second set of five CH-47F Block II Chinook aircraft and long-lead funding for the third set of five CH-47F Block II Chinook aircraft to ensure that the Army stays on schedule with the program of record ($170 million).
  • Provides $211.5 million above the request to fund a total of 33 UH/HH-60M Blackhawk helicopters ($842 million).
  • Funds the requested 30 remanufactured AH-64 Apache helicopters ($494 million).
  • Funds the request of five E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft ($733 million).
  • Funds 11 CH-53K helicopters, two more than the request ($1.5 billion).
  • Provides $166 million for SOCOM’s Armed Overwatch Program.
     

Shipbuilding

  • Provides $23.5. billion to procure eight Navy ships, $915 million above the request.
  • Funds are provided for two DDG-51 guided missile destroyers, two SSN-774 attack submarines, one Frigate, one TAO Fleet Oiler, one towing, salvage, and rescue ship, and one T-AGOS(X) auxiliary general ocean surveillance ship.
     

Vehicles/Force Protection

  • Funds the request to upgrade a total of 187 Stryker combat vehicles ($956 million).
  • Funds the request to upgrade 70 Abrams tanks to the M1A2 SEPv3 tank variant ($960 million).
  • Provides an additional $100 million for Army National Guard HMMWV modernization.
  • Fully funds the Army’s request for production of 23 Mobile Protected Firepower systems ($287 million).
     

Other

  • Provides $45 million above the request for Defense Production Act Purchases to ensure the timely availability of domestic industrial base capabilities essential for the national defense ($386 million)
  • Provides $1,337 million to procure five National Security Space Launch services.
  • Provides $601 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 $950 million for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account (NGREA).

 

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation

Total: $110.4 billion
 

The FY 2022 RDT&E recommendation is $110.4 billion in base funding, a decrease of $1.6 billion below the budget request and an increase of $3.2 billion above the FY 2021 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 continued development and modernization of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ($2.1 billion).
  • Fully funds the continued development of the Air Force’s B-21 bomber ($2.9 billion).
  • Fully funds the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance program ($1.5 billion).
  • Provides $388 million above the fiscal year 2021 level to support the Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft and the Future Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft ($1.1 billion).
  • Fully funds the continued development and testing of the CH-53K helicopter ($257 million).
     

Vehicles and Ground Forces

  • Fully funds the Army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon ($300 million).
  • Fully funds the Army’s Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) modernization effort ($213 million).
     

Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA)

  • Provides $3.48 billion for DARPA research programs.
     

Other

  • Eliminate funding for the Navy’s sea-launched cruise missile - nuclear program.
  • Provides an additional $30 million for PFAS remediation and disposal technology.
  • Provides an additional $20 million for AFFF replacement, disposal and cleanup technology.
  • Provides $300 million for the Israeli cooperative research and development programs, including David’s Sling and Arrow-3.
  • Provides $264 million for the Global Positioning System IIIF program.
  • Provides $413 million for the Global Positioning System III Operational Control Segment.
  • Provides $434 million for Global Positioning System user equipment.
  • Provides $184 million for National Security Space Launch to develop new U.S. space launch vehicles.
  • Provides $2.45 billion for Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared.
  • Provides $2.5 billion for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent and $581 million for the Long Range Standoff Weapon.
  • Provides $1.3 billion for the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike program.
     

Revolving and Management Funds

Total: $1.902 billion
 

The FY 2022 Revolving and Management Funds recommendation is $1.902 billion in base funding, equal to the budget request and an increase of $428 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.

  • 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:                                      $39.0 billion

 

Defense Health Programs

  • $36.7 billion for medical and health care programs of the Department of Defense.
  • Within this total, adds $562.5 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;
    • $45 million for the ovarian cancer research program;
    • $20 million for the lung cancer research program;
    • $40 million for the melanoma research program;
    • $15 million for the pancreatic cancer research program;
    • $17.5 million for the rare cancer research program; and
    • $115 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.

Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction

  • $1.09 billion, as requested.
     

Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid

  • $150 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

  • $845 million, including $194 million for the National Guard Counter-Drug Program.
     

Office of the Inspector General

  • $438.4 million, as requested.
     

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 committed to protecting human rights and women’s rights and preventing terrorists and terrorist groups from using the territory of Afghanistan to threaten the security of the United States and U.S. allies.
  • Funds may only be obligated after the Secretary certifies that a program is in place to monitor, evaluate, and oversee funds, and directs the Inspector General to provide an assessment of the program and recommendations.
  • 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.
     

Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund

  • $500 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 made commitments to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law.
  • No funds may be used with respect to Iraq or Syria in contravention of the War Powers Resolution.
  • Prohibits funds to exercise United States control over any oil resource of Iraq or Syria.
     

Security Cooperation Programs

  • $275 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, $25 million above the request.
  • $1.14 billion for International Security Cooperation Programs.
    • $165 million for programs with countries in the Africa Command area of responsibility, $60 million above the request. 
    • $90 million for programs with Jordan.
    • $150 million for the Baltic Security Initiative.
    • Supports international security cooperation programs with countries in Indo-Pacific command, including Maritime Security Programs.
  • Up to $500 million for Jordan, including not less than less than $150 million for reimbursements for enhanced border security.
     

Important Oversight and Reform Provisions:

  • Conforms with the language included in Section 365 of H.R. 1280 regarding the transfer of any personal property of the Department of Defense to a state or local law enforcement agency.
  • Requires for-profit contractors to pay a minimum wage of $15 an hour.
  • 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.
  • Includes $300 million to construct, renovate, repair, or expand public schools on military installations and requires laborers and mechanics to be paid prevailing wages.
  • Provides $25 million to provide transport and safe passage to Afghans who have provided faithful and valuable service to the United States and who are under serious threat. 
  • Prohibits funds for the Taliban.
  • Prohibits funds to support or facilitate offensive military operations conducted by the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis in the war in Yemen.
  • Provides that nothing in this Act may be construed as authorizing the use of force against Iran or North Korea.
  • Prohibits funds from being used in contravention of the War Powers Resolution.
  • Prohibits funds to establish permanent bases in Afghanistan or Iraq.
  • Includes $1.6 billion in prior year rescissions.
  • Does not include prior year provisions related to detainees at the military prison located in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and prohibits funds from being used to operate the facility after September 30, 2022.

 

Subcommittees: 
Defense (117th Congress)
117th Congress