The 2016 Defense Appropriations bill would shatter caps on defense spending by adding $38 billion in base costs to off-budget war accounts, creating a massive hole in next year’s budget, destabilizing long-term planning, and allowing domestic priorities to wither on the vine. By making a new budget agreement less likely, it would have drastic and negative consequences on our schools, roads and bridges, law enforcement, scientific research, and other domestic priorities critical to military families and all hardworking Americans.
2015 enacted level, base: $492.9 billion
2015 enacted level, OCO: $64.0 billion
2016 budget request, base: $526.9 billion
2016 budget request, OCO: $50.9 billion
2016 House bill, base: $490.2 billion
2016 House bill, OCO: $88.4 billion
Highlights and key points:
* Adds $38 billion in base defense costs to off-budget Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account, creating a hole in next year’s budget, destabilizing long-term planning, and making a new budget agreement allowing greater investments in domestic priorities less likely.
* $122.7 billion in the base for Military Personnel, which is $5.3 million less than the 2015 enacted level and $10.5 billion in OCO, which is $5.5 billion more than 2015.
* $162.3 billion in the base for Operation and Maintenance, which is $630.8 million more than the 2015 enacted level and $49.1 billion in OCO, which is $5.4 billion more than 2015 (includes section 9017).
* $98.6 billion in the base for Procurement, which is $2.1 billion more than the 2015 enacted level and $18.1 billion in OCO, which is $10.4 billion more than 2015.
* $66.2 billion in the base for Research and Development, which is $2.4 billion more than the 2015 enacted level and $1.7 billion in OCO, which is $1.5 billion more than 2015.
* An additional $500 million is provided in OCO to improve Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance capabilities.
* Fully funds the request of $263 million for Sexual Assault and Prevention Office (SAPRO) services and adds $20 million for high priority Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program requirements.
* Fully funds Peer Reviewed Medical Research Programs and includes $100 million above the request for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Psychological Health research and $262 million above the request for cancer research.
* $20 million above the request for suicide prevention and outreach.
* $330 million above the request for Israeli Cooperative Missile Defense programs, full funding for Iron Dome, and $40 million for Israeli technical working group tunnel detection joint technology.
* $250 million above the request for the Defense Rapid Innovation Program to incorporate small business developments into DoD programs.
* $1.5 billion above the request to enhance National Guard and Reserve equipment.
* Adds $700 million to support a 2.3% military pay raise, consistent with the House NDAA, and 1% higher than proposed by the President.
* $789.3 million for the European Reassurance Initiative (ERI), to support increased capability, presence, readiness, and responsiveness to deter further destabilization in central and eastern Europe.
* $200 million above the ERI requested levels for Ukraine, including explicit support for “lethal weapons of a defensive nature".
* $452.7 million to preserve the present force structure of the A-10. The bill also prohibits divestment of the A-10 or disestablishment of A-10 units in FY 2016, as well as further movement of A-10 aircraft to backup inventory.
* $1.3 billion for Department of Defense operations targeting ISIL, including funds to train and equip Iraqi security forces and the Syrian opposition.
* Sense of Congress stating that Congress has a Constitutional duty to debate and decide when to authorize the use of military force in the fight against ISIL.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
