07.27.23

Senate Committee Approves FY24 Defense Appropriations Bill

Bill passes Committee by a vote of 27-1

Washington, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Defense Appropriations Act, providing U.S. military services with the funding needed to deter China and Russia, support service members and their families, and strengthen the defense industrial base. 

The measure, which was advanced by a bipartisan vote of 27-1, provides $831 billion in funding—an increase of $5.1 billion more than the President’s FY24 request for the Department of Defense (DOD) and Intelligence Community, the Military Services, Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency.  Of the total amount, $8 billion in appropriations is designated as an emergency requirement.

“At a time when we face numerous complex threats around the globe, this bipartisan legislation provides critical resources for our military and increases funding to meet urgent priorities.  In addition to supporting U.S. allies, the bill also makes key investments to bolster military readiness, address inflation, promote innovation, and enhance counter-drug efforts,” said Senator Collins.  “I thank Chairman Tester for his partnership in developing this bill, and as the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advance this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”

Bill Highlights: 

Taking Care of Service Members and their Families:

  • Fully funds a 5.2 percent military pay raise and basic allowances for housing and subsistence. Expands pre-K access and supports child-care fee assistance.
  • Adds $20 million for renovation and repair of child development centers.
  • $145 million to expand military service recruiting initiatives to address end-strength shortfalls.
  • Adds $1.7 billion across the military services for facilities, sustainment, restoration, and modernization requirements.

Bolstering Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific:

  • $815 million to support executable INDOPACOM unfunded priorities, including $360 million for additional campaigning activities and $174 million for investments in Joint Tactical Fire Command and Control.
  • Fully supports the Pacific Deterrence Initiative.
  • $294 million in awareness gaps identified by U.S. Northern Command, including $212 million for additional long range radars and $27 million for additional sensors.  
  • Provides increased funding for critical contested logistics capabilities within the Pacific theater compared to FY23 enacted levels, including $858 million for Army prepositioned stocks and funding for two additional used sealift vessels.
  • Supports executable investments in space, hypersonic missiles, mid-to-long-range missiles, long-range precision fires, and improved sensor-to-shooter capabilities.
  • Support Marine Corps Force Design 2030 efforts.
  • Supports Air Force Secretary Kendall’s Seven Operational Imperatives to include funding requested quantities of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, B-21 bombers, Next Generation Air Dominance, and adds $200 million to accelerate long-lead items for E-7 aircraft procurement.
  • Supports executable investments in the Army’s six modernization priorities for strategic competition against China and manages risk in current capabilities by providing $532 million for Abrams tanks and$178 million for CH-47 helicopters.
  • Supports the Air Force’s tanker recapitalization approach, including the acceleration of the Next Generation Air-Refueling System.
  • $141 million to implement recommendations of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence.

Munitions:

  • Maximizes production of specific munitions that are in high demand in Ukraine, or would be in demand in a conflict involving China to include 155mm artillery, GMLRS rockets, Patriot PAC-3 missiles, LRASM, JASSM, SM-6, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and AMRAAM.
  • Provides authority and funding for all seven of the Department’s requested multi-year procurement munition contracts to include advance procurement: GMLRS rockets, Patriot PAC-3 missiles, AMRAAM, SM-6, Naval Strike Missile, JASSM, and LRASM.

Shipbuilding:

  • Funds the largest Navy shipbuilding account ever at $33.3 billion, including the procurement of 8 battle force ships: 1 Columbia-class submarine, 2 Virginia-class submarines, 2 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, 2 Constellation-class frigates, and 1 John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler,
  • Adds $1.3 billion in advanced procurement for an additional DDG-51 in fiscal year 2025.
  • Supports the expansion of Navy shipbuilding through $350 million in targeted facilities and infrastructure increases.
  • Adds $250 million to increase funding to a total of $500 million for the Marine Corps #1 unfunded priority, LPD-33.
  • Supports initiatives to improve the quality-of-life for Navy sailors serving in shipyards through recommendations to fund one additional Auxiliary Personnel Lighter ($72 million) and one additional Repair, Berthing and Messing Barge ($30 million), as well as supporting the $155 million request for multi-use and parking facilities at two shipbuilders.
  • Fully funds increased private sector ship depot maintenance and the shipyard infrastructure optimization program (SIOP) at public shipyards to increase productivity and keep more ships at sea.
  • Fully funds the Navy’s new Virginia Class Material Strategy, supporting $470 million for procurement of Virginia Class submarine spares and repair parts.
  • Provides authority and funding for the Department’s requested multi-year procurement contracts for 10 Virginia-class submarines.

Military Unfunded Requirements: $5.6 billion to address the highest priority unfunded requirements of senior, uniformed military leaders.

Funding Initiatives to Counter Scourge of Fentanyl and Drug Trafficking:

  • Adds $100 million for the National Guard Counter-Drug program for DOD to further assist law enforcement agencies in combatting illegal drug trafficking.
  • Adds $20 million for National Guard Counter-Drug schools, which supports training to state and local law enforcement at national training locations.
  • Fully funds DOD counter narcotics support, which includes programs to detect and monitor the transit of illegal drugs to the United States, support intelligence activities for counterdrug operations, and resource programs within the six geographic Combatant Commands to support U.S. and international law enforcement agencies. 

Inflation and Fuel Shortfalls: $1.5 billion to address inflation-related increases to keep DOD weapons programs on track and $500 million to address bulk fuel shortages.

Readiness and Training: $3.3 billion to address readiness shortfalls and emergent requirements in depot-level maintenance, training, and spare parts.

Defense Industrial Base:

  • $2.2 billion for modernization of depots and arsenals and address high priority shortfalls in the defense industrial base, including improving surge capacity for munitions like artillery round, energetic materials, and equipment readiness.
  • $200 million to the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund to accelerate the procurement of critical materials.
  • $55 million for the Procurement Technical Assistance Program to support small business opportunities with the Department.
  • Funds the Defense Production Act grant program and the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program above fiscal year 2023 enacted levels.

National Guard and Reserves: $850 million for the National Guard and Reserve Component Equipment Account to address capability gaps and equipment shortfalls.

Allies and Partners:

  • Provides $228 million for the Baltic Security Initiative.
  • Supports all executable requests for the European Deterrence initiative.
  • Supports $373 million for the Counter ISIS Train and Equip Fund.
  • $300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative
  • $500 million for Israel cooperative missile defense programs and $87.5 million for counter UAS development and anti-tunneling initiatives.

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