Senate Committee on Armed Services Reach Agreement with House Counterparts Regarding the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015

WASHINGTON -- Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, and Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-OK), announced today that they have reached agreement with the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015.  The bill authorizes funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) and the national security programs of the Department of Energy (DOE).

            “This bipartisan bill provides for our nation’s defense and upholds our obligations to our men and women in uniform and their families,” Levin said. "It provides funding to train and equip Syrian ground forces to take on ISIS. And this compromise bill, at the request of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, takes the first, needed steps in the area of benefits reform in order to help protect the readiness of our forces to carry out their missions. I want to thank Senator Inhofe for his hard work and his commitment to our nation’s military.”

            “This year’s bill has bipartisan support and fulfills our fundamental responsibility under the Constitution to provide for a strong national defense,” said Inhofe.  “It contains vital provisions that support the readiness and capabilities of our military men and women while providing for their well-being and that of their families.  In a time of rising threats to our security, we must move quickly to adopt the NDAA before we adjourn for the year to ensure our troops have the tools and support they need to defend the nation and return home safely to their loved ones. I would also like to extend my appreciation to Senator Levin for his commitment to our military men and women and their families and his many years of service on this Committee. He will be missed.”

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

Note: This section describes major provisions contained in the agreement.  Some items are repeated in the Detailed Description section following these major highlights.

 1.      Ensures the long-term viability of the all-volunteer force by sustaining the quality of life of the men and women of the total force (active duty, National Guard and Reserves) and their families, as well as Department of Defense civilian personnel, through fair pay, policies and benefits, and by addressing the needs of the wounded, ill and injured service members and their families.

• Adopts proposals to slow the growth of personnel costs in FY 2015 to move toward a defense budget that provides sufficient funding to address readiness deficits, in a fiscal environment constrained by sequestration-level budgets, while deferring further changes in military compensation to be made in future years if sequestration is not adequately addressed.
• Authorizes funding to support the President’s alternative pay plan establishing a 1 percent across-the-board pay raise for members of the uniformed services in pay grades O-6 and below.
• Freezes pay of general and flag officers consistent with the President’s request.
• Reduces the rate of increase in the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) to provide that BAH will cover 1 percent less than average out-of-pocket costs for housing, while ensuring that no service member will experience a reduction in BAH.
• Authorizes a $3.00 increase in pharmacy copays for non-active duty TRICARE beneficiaries who fill prescriptions outside of military treatment facilities; requires that non-formulary prescriptions be available through the national mail-order program; and requires that non-generic prescription maintenance medications be refilled through military treatment facility pharmacies or the national mail-order pharmacy program.
• Reinstates the cap on retired pay of general and flag officers at the monthly equivalent of level II of the Executive Schedule, as otherwise provided for in section 203(a)(2) of title 37, United States Code and ensures the equitable treatment of the service of general and flag officers who are retired after December 31, 2014.
• Authorizes the payment of the Survivor Benefit Plan annuity to a special needs trust for certain disabled dependent children.
• Includes numerous provisions to strengthen and improve prevention and response to sexual assaults in the military.
• Authorizes $25.0 million in impact aid for assistance to local educational agencies impacted by the enrollment of dependent children of military members and DOD civilian employees.
• Authorizes $5.0 million in impact aid for schools with large numbers of children of military members and DOD civilian employees with severe disabilities.
• Exempts those who first join military service prior to January 1, 2016, from the reduced cost of living adjustment (COLA) applicable to military retired pay made by section 403 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-67), as amended by section 2 of Public Law 113-82.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to commission an independent study of the mental, behavioral, and psychological health challenges facing U.S. Special Operations Forces and the effectiveness of U.S. Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM) Preservation of the Force and Families Program in addressing such issues.
• Transfers $14.8 million to the USSOCOM Behavioral Health and Warrior Care Management Program for additional behavioral health programs and $4.0 million to the Defense Suicide Prevention Office to support efforts to reinforce suicide prevention efforts in support of members of special operations forces and their families.

2.      Reduces our Nation's strategic risk by taking action aimed at restoring, as soon as possible, the readiness of the military services to conduct the full range of their assigned missions.

• Adds $381.2 million for the Army (active, National Guard, and Reserve) for depot maintenance, facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization, and two combat training center rotations for the National Guard.
• Adds $369.8 million for the Navy (active and Reserve) for ship and aircraft depot maintenance and facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization.
• Adds $188.8 million for the Air Force (active, Reserve, and Air National Guard) for depot maintenance and facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization.
• Adds $66.5 million for Marine Corps (active and Reserve) depot maintenance, crisis response operations, and facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization.
• Adds $5.0 million to the historically underfunded DOD Corrosion Prevention and Control Program.
• Authorizes an increase of $36.4 million to support aircrew training hours, USSOCOM’s top unfunded readiness requirement, and $20.0 million for high priority unit readiness training, which was also identified by the USSOCOM Commander as an unfunded readiness requirement.

3.      Provides our servicemen and women with the resources, training, technology, equipment, facilities, and authorities they will need to succeed in future combat, counterinsurgency, and stability operations.

• Authorizes $49.2 million in research and development for continued development of the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle.
• Authorizes $330.7 million in research and procurement for continued development and prototyping of the next generation Paladin self-propelled howitzer artillery system.
• Authorizes $144.5 million in procurement for M2 Bradley modifications.
• Authorizes $210.3 million in Army research and procurement for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
• Authorizes $120.0 million in procurement for M1 Abrams upgrades.
• Authorizes $494.0 million for the remanufacture upgrade of Apache helicopters.
• Authorizes the establishment of procedures for rapid acquisition and deployment of items for USSOCOM that are currently under development by DOD or available from the commercial sector.  Specifically, items which are urgently needed to avoid significant risk, loss of life, or mission failure, or needed to avoid collateral damage where no collateral damage is necessary for mission success.
• Authorizes $5.7 billion for the procurement of all three variants of the Joint Strike Fighter, a total of 34 aircraft.
• Authorizes $450.0 million in Navy aircraft procurement for the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft program to preserve the option of buying more EA-18G aircraft if Navy analysis shows that the Navy needs to buy more EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft in future years.
• Authorizes an additional $35.8 million in Air Force procurement for procurement and installation of C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) kits, and directs the Air Force to obligate the FY 2014 funds authorized and appropriated for AMP to conduct such activities as are necessary to complete testing and transition the program to production and installation of modernization kits.
• Authorizes an additional $22.6 million in Air Force procurement for C-130 engine upgrades and $30.0 million for propeller upgrades. 
• Prohibits the Air Force from retiring or preparing to retire any A-10 in FY 2015.  However, allows a reduction in A-10 flying hours under limited circumstances.  In particular, if the Secretary of Defense, after receiving an independent review by the Director of the office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, determines that it would be necessary to avoid unacceptable reductions in readiness or unacceptable delays in the F-35 activation program, he may authorize the Air Force to reduce flying hours for active-duty A-10s by placing up to 36 aircraft on “backup flying status” for the duration of the year. 
• Prohibits the Air Force from retiring or preparing to retire any Airborne Warning and Control Aircraft (AWACS), or making any significant changes in manning levels in FY 2015.
• Provides $276.3 million for Tomahawk missiles to maintain missile production at the minimum sustaining rate of 200 missiles, rather that the request of $194.3 million that would have cut production to 100 missiles. 
• Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the supply of rare earth materials extracted, processed, and refined from secure sources of supply to develop and produce advanced technologies in support of DOD requirements.
• Adds $12.7 million for the procurement technical assistance program which helps enhance the industrial base, improve local economies, and generates employment by assisting small businesses with help from DOD, federal agencies, and state and local governments.

4.      Successfully concludes the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan, while enhancing the capability of the U.S. Armed Forces to support other nations in their efforts to increase their capacity to provide for their domestic and regional security and contribute to international security.

• Authorizes the full request of $4.1 billion for the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund (ASFF) to build and sustain the Afghan forces in securing Afghanistan as U.S. and coalition forces shift to the post-2014 train, advise, and assist mission.
• Authorizes a total of $1.0 billion for the European Reassurance Initiative, to enhance our military’s presence in Europe and reassure our Allies and partners regarding the U.S. commitment to European security, including $75 million for activities and assistance in support of Ukraine and $30 million to build the capacity of European allies and partner nations.
• Permanently codifies the DOD “section 1206” train and equip authority for building the capacity of foreign security forces to conduct counterterrorism operations and participate in allied and coalition operations.
• Extends through 2017 the authority for the Global Security Contingency Fund (GSCF) which pays for joint DOD-State programs to build the capacity of foreign security forces to respond to emerging or urgent crises.
• Codifies a longstanding prohibition on DOD from providing assistance to a foreign security force that has committed a gross violation of human rights (“Leahy vetting”).
• Establishes an authority that permits the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, to conduct human rights training.
• Expands DOD’s so-called “1004 authority” and “1022 authority” to incorporate activities relating to countering transnational organized crime, based on the President’s National Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime.

5.      Enhances the capability of the U.S. Armed Forces and the security forces of allied and friendly nations to defeat al Qaeda, its affiliates and other violent extremist organizations.

• Authorizes $1.6 billion for the Iraq Train and Equip Fund to provide military assistance to security forces in Iraq, including Kurdish and tribal security forces and other local security forces with a national mission, to defend against the threat posed by the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and its supporters.
• Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide assistance to appropriately vetted members of the Syrian opposition.
• Extends the authority for support of special operations to combat terrorism, known as “section 1208,” through FY 2017 and increases the annual cap on the authority from $50.0 million to $75.0 million.
• Authorizes an increase of $10.9 million to help address technology gaps identified by USSOCOM on its fleet of MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

6.      Improves the ability of the Armed Forces to counter emerging and nontraditional threats, focusing on terrorism, cyber warfare, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

• Authorizes missile defense programs at $8.9 billion, the budget request level plus a net increase of $364 million for improvements to our homeland defense, increased Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) interceptors, and for Israeli missile defense programs.
• Requires DOD to follow the “fly before you buy” approach of testing and demonstrating ballistic missile defense systems before making final production decisions or deploying them operationally.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a robust acquisition plan for the re-design of the Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system to provide confidence that it will work in an operationally effective manner.
• Authorizes more than $1.6 billion for chemical and biological defense programs overseen by DOD, including $112 million in the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) budget for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to conduct research and development for responses to Ebola and other infectious diseases.
• Authorizes an additional $20.0 million in intelligence surveillance reconnaissance (ISR) support for SOUTHCOM detection and monitoring operations in the Southern Hemisphere.

 7.      Addresses the threats from nuclear weapons and materials by strengthening nonproliferation programs, maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent, reducing the size of the nuclear weapons stockpile, and ensuring the safety, security and reliability of the stockpile, the delivery systems, and the nuclear infrastructure.

• Establishes a National Sea-based Deterrence Fund, to provide resources to ensure implementation of the Ohio-class replacement program at the appropriate level of priority assigned to it by the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations, with an authorization of $100.0 million. 
• Authorizes $365.0 million, the requested amount for the Cooperative Threat Reduction program.
• Authorizes an increase of $145.0 million to the mixed oxide fuel program to continue construction of the mixed oxide fuel facility which would increase from $201.0 million to $346.0 million.
• Increases support for early concept definition studies and later production of the long range standoff warhead.
• Includes a provision that requires the Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to respond within 90 days to the findings of the Congressional Advisory Panel on the Governance of the Nuclear Security Enterprise, created in section 3166 of the NDAA for FY 2013.
• Includes a provision that aligns the independent cost estimating practices for life extension programs and new nuclear facilities with those performed by DOD as required by the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act, which requires independent cost estimates early in the concept definition phase.

8.      Terminates troubled or unnecessary programs and activities, identifies efficiencies, and reduces defense expenditures in light of the Nation's budget deficit problems. Ensures the future capability, viability, and fiscal sustainability of the all-volunteer force.

• Cuts $445.0 million based on lower than planned average civilian personnel end strength.
• Cuts $220.9 million for foreign currency fluctuation adjustments.
• Cuts $125.0 million in procurement for the Army's Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) for program delays.
• Cuts $80.6 million to the Office of Economic Adjustment for projects related to the transfer of Marines to Guam.
• Cuts $48.4 million in Operations and Maintenance (O&M) for classified programs.
• Cuts $20.0 million in Army ammunition procurement accounts.
• Cuts $13.8 million in Army National Guard advertising.
• Cuts $10.0 million in the Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters for unjustified growth.
• Cuts $9.1 million in the Marine Corps National Museum expansion.
• Cuts $8.0 million to travel budgets.
• Cuts $4.8 million in Defense-wide O&M for Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) planning.
• Cuts $4.3 million in DOD support of international sporting competitions due to under execution.
• Cuts $4.0 million in the DOD Rewards Program for under execution.
• Cuts $3.1 million in Office of Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (OSD(P&R)) for unjustified growth.
• Cuts $2.6 million in Office of Secretary of Defense for Policy (OSD(P)) for unjustified growth.

9.      Emphasizes the reduction of dependency on fossil fuels and seeks greater energy security and independence and pursues technological advances in traditional and alternative energy storage, power systems, operational energy tactical advantages, renewable energy production, and more energy efficient ground, air, and naval systems.

• Directs a report on how DOD is considering the operational impact of energy logistics support in the planning, requirements development, and acquisition processes.
• Creates incentives for the development of alternative dual-fuel vehicles.
• Requires DOD to provide a business case analysis 30 days prior to entering into a contract for the planning, design, refurbishment, or construction of a biofuels refinery.
• Prohibits DOD’s FY 2015 funding to be used for bulk purchases of drop-in fuel for operational purposes during FY 2015, unless the fully burdened cost of that drop-in fuel is cost competitive with the fully burdened cost of traditional fuel, subject to a national security waiver.

10.  Promotes aggressive and thorough oversight of the Department's programs and activities to ensure proper stewardship of taxpayer dollars and compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

• Directs DOD to designate an authoritative database on conventional ammunition, broaden the existing military service annual reporting requirements on conventional ammunition, and directs the GAO to report on the management of the conventional ammunition demilitarization stockpile of DOD.
• Further streamlines the quarterly readiness report to Congress.
• Requires the Secretary of the Army to provide a report on plans for the replacement of M113 armored personnel carriers in formation outside of its combat brigades.

FUNDING LEVELS

The administration’s budget request for national defense discretionary programs within the jurisdiction of the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives for FY 2015 was $577.1 billion.  Of this amount, $495.5 billion was requested for base DOD programs, $63.7 billion was requested for OCO, and $17.9 billion was requested for national security programs in the DOE and the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB).

The bill authorizes $577.1 billion in FY 2015, including $495.9 billion for base DOD programs, $63.7 billion for OCO, and $17.5 billion for national security programs in the DOE and the DNFSB. The bill includes $4.5 billion in General Transfer Authority and $3.5 billion in Special Transfer Authority.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON PERSONNEL

Subcommittee Chairwoman Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-SC) continued to focus the Subcommittee on Personnel’s attention on sustaining the quality of life of the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families, as well as DOD civilian personnel, through fair pay, policies, and benefits, including first rate health care, while addressing the needs of wounded, ill, and injured service members and their families.   The subcommittee included the following funding and legislative provisions:

End Strength

• Authorizes FY 2015 active-duty end strengths for the Army of 490,000; the Navy, 323,600; the Marine Corps, 184,100; and the Air Force, 312,980.  These end strengths are consistent with the President’s request.           
• Authorizes reserve component end strengths consistent with the President’s request.

Military Personnel Policy

• Authorizes service secretaries to establish selection objectives, by year group or specialty, or any combination thereof, for selection boards considering warrant officers for selective early retirement.
• Authorizes a three-month deferral of retirement for officers selected for selective early retirement.
• Repeals limitation on percentage of officers who may be recommended for discharge during a fiscal year under enhanced selective discharge authority.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit annual reports to Congress specifying the number of enlisted aides authorized and allocated for general and flag officers of the services and the joint pool, and to submit a report detailing the duties of enlisted aides, the procedures for allocating authorized enlisted aides, and a billet-by-billet justification for the authorization and assignment of each enlisted aide to each general or flag officer as of September 30, 2014.
• Repeals requirement of Secretary of Defense to submit annual reports to Congress on joint officer management and promotion policy objectives for joint officers.
• Authorizes a senior level service course of at least ten months that has been designated and certified by the Secretary of Defense as a joint professional military education (JPME) course to meet the requirements for Phase II JPME instruction.
• Eliminates the requirement that a qualified aviator or naval flight officer be in command of an inactivated nuclear-powered aircraft carrier before decommissioning prior to disposal.
• Authorizes consideration for continuation on the reserve active-status list of health professions officers in the grade of O-2 who have twice failed of selection for promotion to the next higher grade.
• Requires that certain general and flag officers assigned to the National Guard Bureau be selected by the service secretary concerned after consultation with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to establish and maintain a centralized database of military technician positions within the DOD.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress on the management of personnel records of members of the National Guard.
• Enhances the participation of mental health professionals in boards for correction of military records and boards for review of discharge or dismissal of members of the Armed Forces.
• Extends authority to conduct programs on career flexibility to enhance retention of members of the Armed Forces.
• Requires the service secretaries to validate gender-neutral occupational standards consistent with section 543 of the NDAA for FY 1994 (Public Law 103-160) that accurately predict performance of actual, regular, and recurring duties of a military occupation, and that are applied equitably to measure individual capabilities.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program to enable members of the Armed Forces to obtain certain professional credentials while they are serving that relate to training and skills acquired during military service.
• Extends the period that certain foreign exchange personnel are authorized to attend the service academies from 2 weeks to 4 weeks.
• Enhances authority to accept support for Air Force Academy athletic programs.
• Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program to assist members of the Armed Forces in obtaining post-service employment.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a plan for the education of officers and enlisted members of the Armed Forces relating to cyber security and cyber activities of DOD.
• Enhances information provided to servicemembers and veterans during transition assistance programs regarding use of post-9/11 educational assistance and federal financial aid.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to develop procedures to share specified information on servicemembers separating from the military with state veterans agencies in electronic data format to facilitate the transition of members of the military to civilian life.
• Authorizes $25.0 million in impact aid for assistance to local educational agencies impacted by the enrollment of dependent children of military members and DOD civilian employees.
• Authorizes $5.0 million in impact aid for schools with large numbers of children of military members and DOD civilian employees with severe disabilities. 
• Authorizes $25.0 million to continue DOD funding for the STARBASE program.
• Extends for an additional 3 years the program modifications made to the Impact Aid Improvement Act of 2012 by section 563(c) of Public Law 112-239.
• Authorizes employment of local nationals who are not U.S. citizens to teach host nation language courses in the Defense Dependents’ Overseas Education System, if a citizen of the United States is not available.
• Includes in the functions of the Advisory Council on Dependents’ Education the responsibility to provide advice and information on DOD’s domestic dependent elementary and secondary school system.
• Requires that temporary custody orders for custodial responsibility for a child based solely on a deployment or anticipated deployment of a servicemember parent expire not later than the period justified by the deployment of the servicemember.
• Improves data collection related to efforts to reduce underemployment of spouses of members of the Armed Forces and close the wage gap between military spouses and their civilian counterparts.
• Requires that the secretary concerned treat attacks inspired or motivated by a foreign terrorist organization as an attack by an international terrorist organization for the purpose of awarding the Purple Heart in certain circumstances when the individual or entity making the attack was in communication with the foreign terrorist organization before the attack.
• Authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to William Shemin and Henry Johnson for acts of valor during World War I.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to review and report to Congress on military programs and controls regarding professionalism of servicemembers.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to prescribe a policy for the development of a standard method for collecting, reporting, and assessing information regarding any suicide or attempted suicide involving active duty servicemembers or members of the reserve components, and any death that is reported as a suicide involving a dependent of a member of the Armed Forces.
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to commission an independent study of the mental, behavioral, and psychological health challenges facing U.S. Special Operations Forces and the effectiveness of the USSOCOM’s Preservation of the Force and Families Program in addressing these challenges.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to conduct a review of DOD efforts to prevent suicide among members of United States Special Forces community and their dependents, and to submit to Congress a report on this review.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to review the feasibility of improving DOD efforts to provide job placement assistance and related employment services directly to members in the National Guard and Reserves, and to report to Congress on the results of this review.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress on how foreign language, regional expertise, and cultural considerations, including gender-based considerations in the context of foreign cultural norms, factor into the planning and execution of overseas operations and missions of the Armed Forces.
• Requires the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress a report on the policies to prevent hazing and systems initiated to track incidents of hazing in each of the Armed Forces.
• Requires the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report to Congress on the impact of mental and physical trauma relating to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, behavioral health matters not related to PTSD, and other neurological combat traumas on the discharge of servicemembers for misconduct.
• Modifies the current reporting requirement for inspections of outpatient residential facilities occupied by recovering servicemembers from an annual basis to at least once every 2 years.
• Requires service secretaries to designate offices on certain installations to provide absentee uniformed services voters and their family members with voting information and assistance.
• Repeals section 1604 of the NDAA for FY 2002 (Public Law 107-107) that requires the Secretary of Defense to carry out an electronic voting demonstration project.
• Authorizes the removal from national cemeteries the remains of certain deceased members of the Armed Forces who have no known next of kin under certain circumstances.
• Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should undertake every reasonable effort to search for and repatriate members of the Armed Forces who are missing and to repatriate such members who are captured.
• Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to conduct a pilot program to award grants to qualified non-profit organizations to rehabilitate and modify the primary residence of certain eligible veterans.
• Establishes a new defense agency with overall responsibility for the POW/MIA accounting community.
• Redesignates the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
• Modifies the statutory termination date of the term of office of judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Services to align the termination date with the starting date of the Court’s annual term.

Sexual Assault Prevention and Response

• Revises and clarifies sexual assault prevention and response provisions in the NDAA for FY 2014 relating to the military justice system.
• Authorizes court-martial convening authority or military judge to order a deposition only if the party requesting the deposition demonstrates that, due to exceptional circumstances, it is in the interest of justice that such testimony be preserved for use at an Article 32 hearing or court-martial.
• Clarifies that members of reserve components who are not otherwise eligible for military legal assistance are eligible for the assistance of a Special Victim’s Counsel. 
• Establishes a process for consultation with a victim of a sex-related offense on jurisdictional options for prosecution of certain sexual offenses, and for consideration of victim’s preference regarding whether the offense should be prosecuted by court-martial or in a civilian court, and to notify the relevant civilian authority of the victim’s preference. 
• Establishes a right for crime victims to petition the Court of Criminal Appeals if they believe the ruling of a court-martial violates the victim protections under Rule 513 of the Military Rules of Evidence, the psychotherapist-patient privilege, or Rule 412 relating to admission of evidence regarding a victim’s sexual background.
• Requires modification of the Military Rules of Evidence to provide that the general military character of the accused is not admissible for the purpose of showing the probability of innocence of the accused for certain sex-related offenses.
• Requires modification of the Military Rules of Evidence to eliminate the “constitutionally required” exception to the psychotherapist-patient privilege in Rule 513.
• Authorizes the return of personal property to the rightful owner that was retained as evidence relative to an incident of sexual assault upon completion of legal and administrative action.
• Authorizes physicians, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses to be assigned as sexual assault forensic examiners (SAFE), and requires service secretaries to ensure that an adequate number of SAFEs are available and to maintain a SAFE training and certification program.
• Requires service secretary review of decisions by convening authorities not to refer charges of certain sex-related offenses for trial by court-martial if requested by chief prosecutor.
• Requires service secretaries to ensure that the performance appraisals of commanding officers indicate the extent to which the commanding officer has or has not established a command climate in which allegations of sexual assault are properly managed and fairly evaluated.
• Requires that the annual report on sexual assault in the military include additional analysis of the disposition of sexual assault cases.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a plan to Congress on policies to allow an individual who files a restricted sexual assault report to elect to permit certain information to be shared with military criminal investigative organizations.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a comprehensive plan to address deficiencies in reporting of information on incidents of domestic violence involving members of the Armed Forces.
• Assigns additional duties for the Judicial Proceedings Panel in its review and assessment of judicial proceedings conducted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice involving sex-related offenses.
• Establishes a Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces.
• Requires the service secretaries to establish a confidential process by which an individual who was the victim of a sex-related offense during their service may challenge the terms or characterization of their discharge or separation from the Armed Forces on the grounds that the terms or characterization were adversely affected by the individual being the victim of such an offense.
• Requires the service secretary concerned to ensure that the sexual assault prevention and response and related reforms contained in title XVII of the NDAA for FY 2014 (Public Law 113-66) apply to the military service academies.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a report containing the results of the review of the role of the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity in sexual harassment cases conducted pursuant to section 1735 of the NDAA for FY 2014 (Public Law 113-66).
• Establishes a biennial survey of DOD civilian employees on workplace and gender relations matters.

Military Pay and Compensation

• Authorizes $134.7 billion for military personnel, including costs of pay, allowances, bonuses, death benefits, and permanent change of station moves.
• Authorizes funding to support President’s alternative pay plan establishing a 1 percent across-the-board pay raise for members of the uniformed services in pay grades O-6 and below.
• Freezes basic pay of general and flag officers consistent with the President’s request.

• Reauthorizes over 40 types of bonuses and special pays aimed at encouraging enlistment, reenlistment, and continued service by active-duty and reserve component military personnel.
• Provides $100.0 million for direct subsidy to the commissary system above the amount requested by DOD.
• Extends authority to provide temporary increases in the rate of BAH in areas impacted by natural disasters or experiencing a sudden influx of personnel.
• Provides pay parity for the Chief of the National Guard Bureau and his senior enlisted advisor with the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and their senior enlisted advisors.
• Reduces the rate of increase in BAH to provide that BAH will cover 1 percent less than average out-of-pocket costs for housing, while ensuring that no service member will experience a reduction in BAH.
• Clarifies the date on which a dependent child’s status is determined for the purposes of transitional compensation in cases of dependent abuse where the member is being administratively separated.
• Reinstates the cap on retired pay of general and flag officers at the monthly equivalent of level II of the Executive Schedule, as otherwise provided for in section 203(a)(2) of title 37, United States Code and ensures the equitable treatment of the service of general and flag officers who are retired after December 31, 2014.
• Exempts those who first join military service prior to January 1, 2016, from the reduced COLA applicable to military retired pay made by section 403 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-67), as amended by section 2 of Public Law 113-82.
• Authorizes the payment of the Survivor Benefit Plan annuity to a special needs trust for certain disabled dependent children.
• Clarifies that certain service that reduces the age at which a servicemember may receive reserve retired pay may be accumulated between 2 consecutive fiscal years.
• Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to purchase any commercial item, including brand-name and generic items, for resale in, at, or by commissary stores without using full and open competition procurement procedures.
• Provides DOD authority to provide or obtain food services beneficial to the efficient management and operation of dining facilities on military installations.
• Prohibits DOD from selling tobacco products at prices below the most competitive prices for those products in the local community.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to conduct a review of management, food, and pricing options for the defense commissary system.

Health Care

• Authorizes a $3.00 increase in pharmacy copays for non-active duty TRICARE beneficiaries who fill prescriptions outside of military treatment facilities; requires that non-formulary prescriptions be available through the national mail-order program; and requires that non-generic prescription maintenance medications be refilled through military treatment facility pharmacies or the national mail-order pharmacy program.
• Increases pharmacy copays for non-active duty TRICARE beneficiaries who fill prescriptions outside of military treatment facilities; requires that non-formulary prescriptions be available through the national mail-order program; and requires that non-generic prescription maintenance medications be refilled through military treatment facility pharmacies or the national mail-order pharmacy program.
• Requires the Secretary to provide person-to-person mental health assessments for active duty and Selected Reserve members each year, and to report to Congress on the tools and processes used to provide the assessments.
• Removes limits on inpatient mental health services.
• Requires the secretaries of the military departments to provide information regarding privacy rights to a servicemember who is seeking and receiving mental health services.
• Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide provisional coverage for the provision of a service or supply if the Secretary determines that such service or supply is widely recognized in the United States as being safe and effective.
• Authorizes former servicemembers and their dependents to receive food and beverages at no cost for those who are receiving certain outpatient care in military medical treatment facilities.
• Authorizes breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling during pregnancy and the postpartum period as a covered benefit for TRICARE beneficiaries.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide TRICARE beneficiaries with notice if any significant changes are made in the structure of or benefits provided under the TRICARE program or in beneficiary cost-share rates of more than 20 percent.
• Changes frequency of reports submitted to Congress by the Comptroller General regarding the processes, procedures, and analysis used by DOD to determine the adequacy of the number of health care providers who accept TRICARE Standard and TRICARE extra.  Reports would be required in 2017 and 2020 only.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a report on the Military medical Treatment Facility Modernization Study.
• Extends termination date of the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Facility Demonstration Fund to September 30, 2016.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a report on the status of reducing the availability of TRICARE Prime in regions where it has been reduced.
• Extends for 1 year the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide rehabilitation and vocational benefits to members of the Armed Forces with severe injuries or illnesses.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to develop and carry out an acquisition strategy with respect to entering into contracts for the services of health care professional staff at military medical treatment facilities, and to report to Congress on the implementation of this strategy within 180 days of enactment of this Act.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program for at least 2 years at not less than three locations to evaluate the feasibility and desirability of including medication therapy management as part of the TRICARE program.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to carry out an antimicrobial stewardship program at DOD medical facilities.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a report evaluating the tools, processes, and best practices to improve the identification and treatment of mental health conditions and traumatic brain injury among members of the Armed Forces.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress assessing the access of members of the Armed Forces and their dependents to reproductive counseling and treatments for infertility.
• Requires the Secretary to submit to Congress a report setting forth an assessment of the feasibility and advisability of implementing the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine regarding certain improvements to DOD programs intended to strengthen the mental, emotional, and behavioral abilities associated with managing adversity, adapting to change, recovering, and learning in connection with military service.
• Requires the Comptroller General to submit to Congress a report assessing the transition of care from DOD to the VA in cases involving post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury.
• Requires the Comptroller General to review DOD policies, procedures, and programs to reduce stigma associated with mental health treatment for members of the Armed Forces and deployed civilian employees of DOD.
• Requires the Comptroller General to review and report to Congress on women’s health care services for members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty and other covered beneficiaries.

Civilian Personnel

• Authorizes DOD to accept law students as interns on a volunteer basis.
• Establishes a pilot program authorizing the Secretary of Defense to institute a government lodging program to provide government or commercial lodging for DOD employees or members of the uniformed services under the Secretary’s jurisdiction performing duty on official travel.
• Establishes as the mileage reimbursement rate for federal employees and members of the uniformed services using privately owned automobiles for government travel the single standard mileage reimbursement rate established by the Internal Revenue Service for use by taxpayers in computing the deductible costs of operating their automobiles for business purposes.
• Extends for 1 year the authority to waive annual limitation on pay for federal civilian employees working overseas.
• Extends for 1 year discretionary authority to grant allowances, benefits, and gratuities to personnel on official duty in a combat zone.
• Renews and expands the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) flexible authority to hire world class scientists and engineers.
• Provides DOD labs, through 2019, with streamlined authority to hire students, currently enrolled in scientific, technical, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) courses of study.
• Authorizes the Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences and Army Space and Missile Defense Command Technical Center to establish civilian personnel demonstration programs, similar to other DOD laboratories.
• Extends for 1 year the authority for a civilian employee of the Navy assigned to temporary duty to perform work aboard, or dockside in direct support of, the nuclear aircraft carrier that is forward deployed in Japan to receive over time, and limits the amount of money the Secretary of the Navy may pay under this authority in FY 2015 to $250,000 until certain conditions are met.
• Extends for 5 years the authority of federal agencies to reemploy retired federal civilian employees under limited conditions, without offset of annuity against salary, for certain specified purposes.
• Expresses the sense of the Congress that enhanced personnel authorities are needed for hiring, compensating, and promoting civilian personnel supporting U.S. Cyber Command and the cyber component headquarters of the military departments, and requires the Principal Cyber Advisor to provide recommendations to the Secretary of Defense within 180 days of enactment of this Act, to improve the civilian personnel support provided by Cyber Command’s executive agent and the Department of the Air Force.

Armed Forces Retirement Home

• Authorizes $63.4 million to be appropriated for the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
• Makes technical corrections regarding the designation of the Senior Medical Advisor for the Armed Forces Retirement Home to reflect the disestablishment of the TRICARE Management Activity and creation of the new Defense Health Agency.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON AIRLAND

 Under the leadership of Chairman Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS), the Subcommittee on Airland focused on providing what is needed to succeed in combat and stability operations, restore the readiness of Army ground forces, and Air Force and Navy tactical air systems, enhance the capability of the armed forces to conduct operations across the spectrum of peace and conflict, and improve efficiency of programs and apply the savings toward high-priority programs.  Specifically, the subcommittee included the following funding and legislative provisions:

Army

• Authorizes $49.2 million in research for continued development of a new ground combat vehicle.
• Adds $50.0 million for a total authorization of $435.1 million in procurement to convert flat-bottom Stryker vehicles to more survivable double-V hull configuration.
• Adds $37.0 million for a total authorization of $144.5 million in procurement for the M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle modification program.
• Authorizes $120.0 million for M1 Abrams upgrades.
• Adds $75.9 million for a total authorization of $126.4 million for the M88A2 Improved Recovery Vehicle Program.
• Authorizes $210.3 million in procurement and development for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
• Authorizes $92.4 million in research and development for the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle.
• Authorizes $330.7 million in procurement and research for continued development and prototyping of the Paladin Integrated Management program self-propelled howitzer artillery system.
• Authorizes $416.6 million in procurement for the UH-72A Light Utility Helicopter.
• Adds $103.0 million in procurement for a total authorization of $1.3 billion in procurement for UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.
• Authorizes $892.5 million in procurement for CH-47F Chinook helicopters.
• Authorizes $494.0 million in procurement for the remanufacture of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
• Adds $50.0 million for a total authorization of $145.6 million in procurement for the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle trucks.
• Adds $50 million for a total authorization of $78.4 million in procurement for the Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles.
• Cuts $125.0 million for a total authorization of $638.1 million in procurement for the WIN-T ground forces tactical network due to program delays.
• Cuts $50.0 million for a total authorization of $125.7 million in procurement for the Joint Tactical Radio System rifleman and manpack radios.
• Requires the Secretary of the Army to provide a report on plans for the modernization of the Army National Guard's UH-60A Blackhawk helicopters.
• Requires the Secretary of the Army to provide a report on plans for the replacement of M113 armored personnel carriers in formations outside of its combat brigades.
• Requires the GAO to conduct a review of the Army's Aviation Restructure Initiative.
• Establishes a National Commission on the Future of the Army to review plans for active and reserve component end strength and force structure changes driven by the Budget Control Act of 2011.  The Commission would provide DOD and Congress a report on its findings and recommendations by February 1, 2016.
• Prohibits transfer of Army National Guard Apache helicopters to the regular Army through FY 2015 but, as in the Senate committee reported version of the bill, allows the transfer of 48 aircraft beginning in FY 2016.  Congress would then consider the findings and recommendations of the Commission with respect to the Aviation Restructure Initiative.

Air Force and Naval Aviation

• Approves the budget request of $5.8 billion for procurement of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, $1.0 billion for E-2D surveillance aircraft, $1.56 billion for KC-46A tanker aircraft, and $1.4 billion for C-130 airlift aircraft. 
• Prohibits the Air Force from retiring or preparing to retire any A-10 in FY 2015.  However, allows a reduction in A-10 flying hours under limited circumstances.  In particular, if the Secretary of Defense, after receiving an independent review by the Director of the office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, determines that it would be necessary to avoid unacceptable reductions in readiness or unacceptable delays in the F-35 activation program, he may authorize the Air Force to reduce flying hours for active-duty A-10s by placing up to 36 aircraft on “backup flying status” for the duration of the year.
• Prohibits the Air Force from retiring or preparing to retire any AWACS, or making any significant changes in manning levels in FY 2015.
• Increases A-10 O&M funding by $256.5 million and AWACS O&M funding by $34.6 million.
• Authorizes $450.0 million in Navy aircraft procurement for the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft program to preserve the option of buying more EA-18G aircraft if Navy analysis shows that the Navy needs to buy more EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft in future years. 
• Prevents the Navy from obligating funds for the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike program air vehicle segment until the Secretary of Defense submits to the congressional defense committees a report that: (1) certifies that DOD has completed a review of the requirements for air vehicle segments of the unmanned carrier-launched surveillance and strike system; and (2) includes the results of such review. 
• Authorizes an additional $35.8 million in Air Force procurement for procurement and installation of C-130 AMP kits, and directs the Air Force to obligate the fiscal year 2014 funds authorized and appropriated for AMP to conduct such activities as are necessary to complete testing and transition the program to production and installation of modernization kits.
• Authorizes an additional $22.6 million in Air Force procurement for C-130 engine upgrades and $30.0 million for propeller upgrades. 
• Prohibits retirement of operational E-8 JSTARS pending submission of a report on a modernization plan.
• Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to report on the options for replacing or upgrading the T-1A trainer aircraft’s capability.
• Requires the Secretary of the Air Force so submit a series of annual reports on progress made in implementing the 42 recommendations of the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force.
• Limits aircraft retirements until the Air Force can complete the analysis of 80% of the Air Force missions and aircraft by the end of calendar year 2014.  
• Delays plan for C-130 transfers until the Air Force can provide an assessment of the costs and benefits and demonstrate that the shifts are the most effective and efficient alternative for such basing alignments. 

National Guard and Reserves

• Provides an additional $1.25 billion to buy additional National Guard and Reserve equipment to reduce high priority operational and dual-use equipment shortfalls.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON EMERGING THREATS AND CAPABILITIES

The Subcommittee  on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, under the leadership of Chairman Kay Hagan (D-NC) and Ranking Member Deb Fischer (R-NE), focused on improving DOD capabilities to protect the Nation against emerging threats, including terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and helping to transform U.S. forces to meet future threats.  The subcommittee authorized increased investments in cutting-edge science and technology programs, funding for unfunded requirements identified by special operations forces, and recommended improvements in programs to combat terrorism and violent extremism.  Specifically, the subcommittee included the following funding and legislative provisions:

Special Operations

• Authorizes $7.7 billion in base budget funding and $2.8 billion in OCO funding for USSOCOM, including an increase of $36.4 million to support aircrew training hours, USSOCOM’s top unfunded readiness requirement, and $20.0 million for high priority unit readiness training, which was also identified by the USSOCOM Commander as an unfunded readiness requirement. 
• Authorizes an increase of $10.9 million to help address technology gaps identified by USSOCOM on its fleet of MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

• Extends the authority for support of special operations to combat terrorism, known as “section 1208,” through FY 2017 and increases the annual cap on the authority from $50.0 million to $75.0 million.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide a plan for transitioning appropriate funds from the OCO budget to the base budget to preserve enduring special operations capabilities.
• Authorizes the establishment of procedures for rapid acquisition and deployment of items for USSOCOM that are currently under development by DOD or available from the commercial sector.  Specifically, items which are urgently needed to avoid significant risk, loss of life, or mission failure, or needed to avoid collateral damage where no collateral damage is necessary for mission success.
• Prohibits the transfer of MC-12 aircraft from the Air Force to USSOCOM for manned ISR, with certain exceptions, until the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, in coordination with the Commander of USSOCOM, provides the congressional defense committees with an analysis and justification for such a transfer.
• Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of more than 50 percent of the funds for procurement to support the fixed-wing aviation foreign internal defense program until the Secretary provides the congressional defense committees with a report and certification that validates program requirements.
• Modifies requirements for USSOCOM undersea mobility acquisition programs and requires a technology roadmap for such capabilities.
• Prohibits expenditure of funds for Regional Special Operations Coordination Centers and encourages USSOCOM to support regional special operations engagement activities using existing authorities and authorized funds.
• Extends, for one additional year, the authority of DOD to establish, develop, and maintain non-conventional assisted recovery capabilities.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to commission an independent study of the mental, behavioral, and psychological health challenges facing U.S. Special Operations Forces and the effectiveness of USSOCOM’s Preservation of the Force and Families Program in addressing such issues.
• Transfers $14.8 million to the USSOCOM Behavioral Health and Warrior Care Management Program for additional behavioral health programs and $4.0 million to the Defense Suicide Prevention Office to support efforts to reinforce suicide prevention efforts in support of members of special operations forces and their families.

Nonproliferation and Threat Reduction Programs

• Authorizes $365.1 million for Cooperative Threat Reduction activities.
• Consolidates and updates DOD Cooperative Threat Reduction program authorities.
• Phases out DOD Cooperative Threat Reduction activities in the Russian Federation due to the expiration of the bilateral agreement between DOD and the Russian Federation.

Assistance and Training

• Codifies the authority for the DOD “section 1206” train and equip program to build the capacity of foreign military and other security forces to conduct counterterrorism operations and to participate in allied and coalition operations. 
• Requires a biannual report on DOD programs to provide training, equipment or other assistance or reimbursement to foreign security forces.
• Expands the DOD Ministry of Defense Advisor program, which permits the Secretary of Defense to deploy DOD civilians overseas to advise foreign ministries of defense on security matters, to permit such assignments to regional organizations.
• Reiterates the committee’s support for DOD’s ongoing operation to remove Joseph Kony and the top lieutenants of the Lord’s Resistance Army from the battlefield.
• Extends through 2017 the authority for the GSCF which pays for joint DOD-State programs to build the capacity of foreign security forces to respond to emerging or urgent crises.

Research, Development, Test, & Evaluation (including Science & Technology)

• Authorizes overall funding for science and technology programs within DOD at $11.6 billion.
• Mandates a study by the Defense Science Board, on global threats to US military technological superiority and the adequacy of planned DOD research and acquisition programs to respond to such threats in the future.
• Authorizes a program to develop innovative STEM educational programs for military children, leveraging capabilities of DOD laboratories, other federal agencies, and the private sector. These children are often at a disadvantage relative to their peers due to frequent relocations, stress due to parental deployments, and a lack of high quality STEM opportunities in local educational institutions. The program is coupled to the authorization of $10.0 million to support program efforts.
• Authorizes a pilot program at DARPA under which technical experts with specialized skills from non-traditional defense contractors can serve rotational assignments to manage advanced research and development programs.
• Streamlines and expands authority for DOD to make use of prize competitions to stimulate innovation and technological developments in areas consistent with defense missions.
• Streamlines and expands authority for DOD to establish commercialization proof of concept centers to support the rapid transition of research advances stemming from universities, small businesses, and government labs into deployable technologies.
• Strengthens the authority of the Director of the Test Resource Management Center to review and approve proposed consolidations and realignments of test and evaluation ranges and resources.
• Authorizes an increase of $90.0 million for competitive, merit-based basic science activities of the Military Services and DARPA to fund innovative university research in areas consistent with DOD missions. This includes an increase of $10.0 million to support research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions.
• Authorizes $75.0 million for the Rapid Innovation Program (RIP) for competitive, merit-based projects in three broad areas: nearer-term emerging technologies; breakthrough technologies for future military capabilities; and improvements in the affordability of defense operations.
• Authorizes funding of $112.0 million for innovative DARPA research to address Ebola and other infectious disease threats.

DOD Counternarcotics Program

• Expands DOD’s so-called “1004 authority” and “1022 authority” to incorporate activities relating to countering transnational organized crime, based on the President’s National Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime.
• Renews some of DOD’s longstanding counter-narcotics train, equip, assist, and advise programs, including:
• Authority for a joint task force conducting counter-narcotics training and assistance to also provide counterterrorism training and assistance (so-called “1022 authority”).
• Authority to provide certain foreign governments with non-lethal assistance to support counter-narcotics operations (so-called “1033 authority”).
• Authority to provide foreign governments with non-lethal assistance to enable counter-narcotics operations (so-called “1004 authority”).
• Expands the so-called “1022 authority” to also permit supporting relating to other illicit trafficking activities.
• Extends the Secretary of Defense’s authority to provide assistance the Government of Colombia’s unified counterdrug and counterterrorism campaign.
• Authorizes more than $900.0 million for the DOD counter-narcotics program across the base and OCO budgets.
• Authorizes an additional $20.0 million in ISR support for SOUTHCOM detection and monitoring operations in the Hemisphere.

Chemical and Biological Matters

• Authorizes more than $1.6 billion for chemical and biological defense programs overseen by DOD, including $112.0 million in the OCO budget for DARPA to conduct research and development for responses to Ebola and other infectious diseases.
• Authorizes $867.0 million for the chemical demilitarization program, the amount requested in the budget.
• Mandates an independent assessment of the interagency biodefense research and development activities of the National Interagency Biodefense Campus at Fort Detrick, MD.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON STRATEGIC FORCES

Under the leadership of the Chairman Mark Udall (D-CO), and Ranking Member Jeff Sessions (R-AL), the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces reviewed DOD programs for national security space, strategic forces, ballistic missile defenses, intelligence, security, and reconnaissance, and cyber security, as well as DOE nuclear and environmental management programs.  Specifically, the subcommittee included the following funding and legislative provisions:

Ballistic Missile Defense

• Authorizes missile defense programs at $8.9 billion, the budget request level plus a net increase of $364 million for improvements to our homeland defense, increased Aegis BMD interceptors, and for Israeli missile defense programs.
• Authorizes an increase of $40 million for improvements in reliability and maintenance for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense program.
• Authorizes a net increase of $30 million for procurement of Aegis BMD interceptors.
• Authorizes $351 million, an increase of $175 million, for Israel to procure additional Iron Dome interceptors, including co-production in the United States.
• Authorizes $270.6 million, an increase of $173.8 million, for three U.S.-Israeli cooperative missile defense programs (Arrow System Improvement Program; Arrow-3 upper tier interceptor development; and David’s Sling short-range ballistic missile defense system).
• Requires DOD to follow the “fly before you buy” approach of testing and demonstrating ballistic missile defense systems before making final production decisions or deploying them operationally.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a robust acquisition plan for the re-design of the Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system to provide confidence that it will work in an operationally effective manner.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide a report on the status of current and planned efforts to improve homeland ballistic missile defense capabilities, including kill vehicle upgrades and enhancements to sensor and discrimination capabilities.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to report on the status and progress of efforts to improve regional missile defense capabilities, including efforts by the United States, allies, and partners in Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Strategic Systems

• Requires enhanced reporting on transfer of budget authority between DOD and DOE.
• Re-authorizes the estimate of costs for nuclear modernization by the Congressional Budget Office.
• Retains the requirement for maintaining 450 intercontinental ballistic missile silos in a warm status through the duration of the New START Treaty.
• Requires annual reporting on the fit-out of the U.S. Strategic Command Headquarters.
• Requires a study on the re-use of nuclear weapon secondaries.
• Requires reporting on quantity reductions to the B61-12 life extension program.
• Requires reporting on the current status of the existing air launched cruise missile and its replacement.
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to correct misunderstandings of the guidelines on access to special use airspace, including the authority of local DOD commanders to enter into a memorandum of understanding for the use of special use airspace by any department or agency of the Federal Government, or state governments, to include those engaged in the Federal Aviation Administration test range program, participating in the Robotic Aircraft for Public Safety program, or participating in other activities of a similar nature.

Space Programs

• Requires DOD to submit a plan on how it plans to meet DOD meteorological and oceanographic requirements.
• Requires DOD to certify that space based infrared research, development, test, and evaluation funds are used in support of data exploitation of space infrared systems and existing sensors are being fully exploited.
• Requires DOD submit the analysis of alternatives for the follow on space based infrared system.
• Requires DOD of submit the analysis of alternatives for the follow on to the advanced extremely high frequency satellite system.
• Requires a report at the time of budget submission on whether the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle plan and schedule has changed from the prior fiscal year.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to direct the Executive Agent for Space to issue directives and guidance on long term planning for acquiring commercial satellite communications services.
• Requires DOD to develop by 2019 a domestic rocket propulsion system and authorizes $220 million in FY 2015.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program for the acquisition of commercial satellite communications services.
• Requires updating to the national strategy for space protection and control.
• Requires the majority of funds for space security and defense be directed towards offensive space control and active defense strategies and capabilities.
• Prohibits DOD from procuring materials and services, such as rocket engines, from the Russian Federation that were acquired after February 1, 2014 for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program.
• Requires the GAO to assess business systems used by launch providers to DOD.
• Requires DOD to procure one additional launch under the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program for FY 2015 as well as one additional launch in the same program between FYs 2015-2017.
• Requires the use of competitive procedures for launches under the Operationally Responsive Space program.
• Requires an assessment of the space situational awareness architecture.
• Adds $20.0 million to the Operationally Responsive Space program, which was proposed to have no funding in fiscal year 2015.  The $20.0 million will enable the program to continue designing a low cost space based situational awareness satellite.

Cyber Security

• Includes a provision requiring the President to provide annual reporting on nations that engage in economic or industrial espionage through cyberspace, and provides authority for imposing sanctions on persons determined to be knowingly engaged in such espionage.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to establish procedures for designating contractors as “operationally critical contractors,” notifying such contractors that they have been designated, and requiring designated contractors to report successful penetrations of their computer networks by known or suspected advanced persistent threat actors.  An operationally critical contractor is a company designated by the Secretary as a critical source of supply for airlift, sealift, intermodal transportation services, or logistical support that is essential to mobilization, deployment, or sustainment in a contingency operation. 
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to issue guidance to improve the operations research tools and capabilities used to evaluate and validate requirements for the allocation of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets to the combatant commands and for new systems acquisitions.
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on plans to establish an interim continuous evaluation system to continuously evaluate the security status of DOD employees and contractors with access to the most sensitive classified information and privileged access to networks and databases, and to establish a strong inter-disciplinary team to manage the development of an insider threat detection and analysis capability
• Includes a sense of the Congress stating that the Secretary of Defense should support the transfer of the U.S. Government’s remaining role in Internet governance only if he is confident that the current status of legacy top-level domains and Internet Protocol address numbers used exclusively by DOD for national security will be protected; mechanisms are established to retain consensus-based decision-making; and stress testing shows that the governance model can preserve a free, open, and resilient Internet. 
• Requires the Secretary of Defense, for FY 2017 and every succeeding year, for the President’s annual budget submission and supporting documents, to develop a major force program category and program elements for DOD future years defense program for the training, arming, and equipping of the cyber mission forces.
• Provides $30.0 million to the National Security Agency for deployment of advanced commercial cybersecurity products to defend DOD networks from previously unknown threats under the Sharkseer program.

Intelligence

• Prohibits the Air Force from retiring, preparing to retire, or placing in storage any U–2 aircraft.
• Prohibits the Air Force from retiring any MQ-1 Predator aircraft during FY 2015, unless an MQ-1 aircraft has been damaged and it is not economically viable to repair the aircraft, as determined by the Secretary of the Air Force. 

Department of Energy Programs

• Authorizes new construction projects to modernize aging infrastructure across the NNSA facilities.
• Authorizes within the NNSA $8.2 billion for nuclear weapons life extension and stockpile stewardship programs, $1.8 billion for defense nuclear nonproliferation and $1.4 billion for the naval reactors program.
• Authorizes $5.6 billion for defense environmental cleanup.
• Authorizes detailed analysis of nuclear weapons for intelligence purposes.
• Authorizes personnel levels at the NNSA at 1690 (excluding the Office of Secure Transportation).
• Provides waiver authority to the $4.2 billion cost cap for the Uranium Capabilities Replacement Project as well requirements on the technology readiness levels of replacement technologies in the existing uranium processing building.
• Requires pit production capabilities and demonstrations.
• Requires the production of a replacement warhead for the long range standoff weapon.
• Requires continued construction for the Mixed Oxide Fuel Facility with a report assessing any additional plans to dispose of plutonium other than the Mixed Oxide Fuel Facility.
• Requires a completion of the Material Protection, Control and Accounting Activities in the Russian federation by FY 2018.
• Requires life cycle estimates of single purpose capital construction projects.
• Requires independent cost reviews of nuclear weapons life extension projects at the completion of project phase 6.2 and independent cost estimates of capital construction projects before achieving critical decision milestone 2.
• Requires the comments of the Administrator of the NNSA and the Chair of the Nuclear Weapons Council on the findings and conclusion of the final report issued by the Congressional Advisory Panel on the Governance of the Nuclear Security Enterprise.
• Requires separate budgeting for uranium technology sustainment.
• Requires a report on the W88 ALT 370 program.
• Requires a plan for verification and monitoring of proliferation of nuclear weapons and fissile material.
• Provides technical corrections to the DOE technology commercialization fund.

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

• Authorizes $29.1 million for the Defense Nuclear Safety Board.
• Requires the inspector general of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission serve as the inspector general of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
• Authorizes 130 full time positions at the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON SEAPOWER

Under the leadership of Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) and Ranking Member John McCain (R-AZ), the Subcommittee on Seapower focused on the needs of the Navy, Marine Corps, and strategic mobility forces.  The subcommittee put particular emphasis on supporting marine and naval forces engaged in combat operations, improving efficiencies, and applying the savings to higher-priority programs.  Specifically, the subcommittee included the following funding and legislative provisions:

• Approves funding requested by the President for most of the major programs, including $1.3 billion for the Carrier Replacement Program, $5.9 billion for two Virginia class submarines, $419.5 for the DDG?1000 destroyer program, $2.8 billion for two DDG-51s, $1.4 billion for three Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) vessels, $801.7 million for a moored training ship, $1.5 billion for 19 V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft for the Marine Corps, $859.7 million for 26 UH/AH-1 helicopters for the Marine Corps, $1.0 billion for 29 MH-60R helicopters for the Navy, and $2.0 billion for eight P-8A maritime patrol aircraft.
• Establishes a National Sea-based Deterrence Fund, to provide resources provide resources to ensure implementation the Ohio-class replacement program at the appropriate level of priority assigned to it by the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations.
• Provides $276.3 million for Tomahawk missiles to maintain missile production at the minimum sustaining rate of 200 missiles, rather than the request of $194.3 million that would have cut production to 100 missiles.
• Provides full funding of roughly $800.0 million for the continued support and advance planning for the refueling of the USS George Washington (CVN-73) aircraft carrier.  This will ensure the Navy is able to maintain 11 aircraft carriers once the USS Ford delivers in 2015.
• Includes a provision to preclude the Navy from spending any funds on inactivation of the CVN-73.
• Provides $800.0 million for LPD-28 and permissive authority to incrementally fund that ship.
• Establishes rules under which the Navy could use resources in the Ship Modernization, Operations, and Sustainment Fund and allows the Navy to “lay up” two cruisers for overhaul this year. Does not address future years, leaving open the possibility that additional cruisers could be temporarily taken out of service in future years.
• Establishes a pilot program for maintaining Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) deployed overseas.
• Requires the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, to submit a report on the current LCS test and evaluation master plan for seaframes and mission modules that would provide an assessment of whether or not completion of the test and evaluation master plan will demonstrate operational effectiveness and operational suitability for both seaframes and each mission module.

Marine Corps

• Authorizes $77.7 million in procurement for the Light Armored Vehicle product improvement program.
• Authorizes $19.0 million in procurement and development for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
• Authorizes $105.7 million in research and development for the amphibious combat vehicle version 1.1.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON READINESS AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT

Subcommittee Chairman Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Ranking Member Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) focused the subcommittee’s efforts on: (1) improving the readiness of our Armed Forces; (2) ensuring that members of the Armed Forces and their families have access to appropriate facilities, including family housing; and (3) addressing problems in the management and efficiency of DOD.  The subcommittee included the following funding and legislative provisions:

Operation & Maintenance and Procurement Funding Items

• Adds $381.2 million for the Army (active, National Guard, and Reserve) for depot maintenance, facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization, and two combat training center rotations for the National Guard.
• Adds $369.8 million for the Navy (active and Reserve) for ship and aircraft depot maintenance and facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization.
• Adds $188.8 million for the Air Force (active, Reserve, and Air National Guard) for depot maintenance and facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization.
• Adds $66.5 million for Marine Corps (active and Reserve) depot maintenance, crisis response operations, and facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization.
• Adds $12.7 million for the procurement technical assistance program which helps enhance the industrial base, improve local economies, and generates employment by assisting small businesses with help from DOD, federal agencies, state, and local governments.
• Adds $5.0 million for the historically underfunded DOD Corrosion Prevention and Control Program.
• Cuts $445.0 million based on lower than planned average civilian personnel end strength.
• Cuts $220.9 million for foreign currency fluctuation adjustments.
• Cuts $80.6 million for the Office of Economic Adjustment for projects related to the transfer of Marines to Guam.
• Cuts $48.4 million in O&M for classified programs.
• Cuts $20.0 million in Army ammunition procurement accounts.
• Cuts $13.8 million in Army National Guard advertising.
• Cuts $10.0 million in the Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters for unjustified growth.
• Cuts $9.1 million in the Marine Corps National Museum expansion.
• Cuts $8.0 million in travel budgets.
• Cuts $4.8 million in Defense-wide O&M for BRAC planning.
• Cuts $4.3 million for DOD support of international sporting competitions due to under execution.
• Cuts $4.0 million in the DOD Rewards Program for under execution.
• Cuts $3.1 million in OSD(P&R) for unjustified growth.
• Cuts $2.6 million in OSD(P) for unjustified growth.

Military Construction and Basing Issues

• Authorizes appropriations of $6.6 billion in base budget funding and $220.4 million in OCO funding for military construction, housing programs, energy conservation, and base closure activities.  Modifications to the budget request include:
• A reduction of $225.1 million to improve efficiency and prevent waste through more efficient cash flow, or incrementing, of large projects and to reflect under execution;
• An additional $219.5 million to address the top unfunded military construction requirements of each of the active, guard, and reserve components; and
• An additional $103.7 million to reduce risk associated with underfunding of facilities sustainment accounts.
• Authorizes appropriations of $174.4 million for military construction projects in support of the European Reassurance Initiative.
• Authorizes appropriations of $150.0 million for the Energy Conservation Investment Program.
• Includes a provision making clear that nothing in the bill shall be construed to authorize a future BRAC round.
• Requires congressional notification at least 15 days prior to the initiation of any construction, land acquisition, or defense-access road project by a military department, Defense Agency, or DOD Field Activity on a military installation that will be carried out pursuant to a provision of law other than a Military Construction Authorization Act.
• Limits the obligation or expenditure of funds for new military construction, with certain exceptions, in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility until the Secretary of Defense certifies to the congressional defense committees that the installations and specific military construction requirements authorized in the bill have been examined as part of the ongoing European Infrastructure Consolidation Assessment, have been determined to be of an enduring nature, and most effectively meet military requirements at the authorized location.  For projects authorized to support the European Reassurance Initiative, the agreement would also require detailed construction descriptions and certification that a pre-financing statement for eligible projects has been submitted through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program prior to awarding a contract in connection with any such project.
• Limits funding for new facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, until the Secretary of Defense certifies to the congressional defense committees that such facilities have enduring military value independent of a high value detention mission.
• Clarifies the requirements of section 2807 of the NDAA for FY 2014 (Public Law 113-66) that military construction projects built with in-kind payments or in-kind contributions required by bilateral agreements be specifically authorized by law, with certain exceptions.
• Removes restrictions on construction activities to implement the realignment of Marine Corps forces from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam and replaces them with an overall cost cap on such construction, reflecting the July 2014 Master Plan for Guam.  Continues restrictions on the development of public infrastructure on Guam unless funding for the development of public infrastructure is specifically authorized by law and would be used to carry out a project included in the report of the Economic Adjustment Committee required by section 2831(d) of the NDAA for FY 2014 (Public Law 113-66).
• Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of the Interior to provide for the establishment and operation of a surface danger zone in the Ritidian Unit, Guam, to accommodate a live-fire training range on Andersen Air Force Base-Northwest Field and provide for the management of the adjacent Guam National Wildlife Refuge property.
  Limits the obligation or expenditure of funds for construction of new military family housing units at Camp Walker, Republic of Korea (ROK), until the Secretary of the Army, in consultation with the Commander of U.S. Forces-Korea, delivers a report to the congressional defense committees validating on-post housing requirements in the ROK and a plan for meeting such requirements.
• Clarifies the authority of the DOD to enter into intergovernmental support agreements with a state or local government.
• Allows for reimbursements paid by non-Federal persons or entities for administrative expenses incurred by the military departments for certain real property transactions to be merged with those in the current appropriation, fund, or account used by the military departments for payment of such expenses.
• Allows for the renewal or extension of existing real estate leases in support of an on-base financial institution without competition.
  Limits the maximum number of offerors specified in the solicitation for a two-phase design-build contract greater than $4 million to 5, unless a higher number is approved by the head of a contracting activity.
• Authorizes DOD to use the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard, the LEED Green Building Standard System, the Green Globes Green Building Certification System, or an equivalent protocol to meet an above code green building standard or rating system for residential buildings.
• Increases various caps on unspecified minor military construction projects.
• Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to permit a third party to establish and maintain a memorial dedicated to the victims of the shooting attack at the Washington Navy Yard that occurred on September 16, 2013.
• Extends, for 1 additional year, the authority for the Secretary of Defense to use operation and maintenance funds to construct temporary facilities supporting U.S. military operations in the U.S. Central Command and specified countries in the U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility.
• Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to exchange real property with Arlington County, Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia for purposes of expanding the contiguous land available to Arlington National Cemetery.
• Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to convey the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego, California, to the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial Association, subject to certain conditions.
• Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to convey property at the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center to the Department of State and, if such a conveyance does not occur, authorizes the conveyance of certain property to an authorized recipient for the purpose of permitting the recipient to use the property for the protection of public health, including research.
• Redesignates the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies at Honolulu, Hawaii, as the "Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies."
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees a summary of the actions taken by DOD to respond to the recommendations resulting from the reviews of security standards following the November 2009 shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, and the September 2013 shootings at the Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia.

Acquisition Policy and Defense Management Provisions

• Combines the Deputy Chief Management Officer and the Chief Information Officer positions into an Under Secretary for Management and Information and elevates that position in precedence.
• Extends section 841 of the NDAA for FY 2013, Never Contract with the Enemy, to the entire Federal Government.
• Reorganizes the multiyear contract authority statute to make the reporting and certification provisions more logical.
• Requires the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics) to provide a plan to consolidate DOD’s rapid acquisition organizations, capabilities and funding.
• Requires a report on program manager development and training.
• Provides DOD a limited procurement authority preference for products and services produced in Djibouti.
• Requires the GAO to conduct a report on the extent, if any, to which weapon systems are required to conduct operational tests above those required to meet validated requirements. 
• Reauthorizes the Small Business Comprehensive Subcontracting Plans with greater safeguards to protect participating small businesses.
• Requires a report from the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics) on the implementation of the acquisition process for information technology detailing the applicable implementing regulations, instructions, and policies.
• Directs the GAO to evaluate the Joint Information Environment to ascertain the scope, costs, and implementation plans and assess the extent to which DOD is executing effective executive oversight and governance.
• Clarifies sourcing requirements related to avoiding counterfeit electronic parts.
• Provides a 3 year extension of the Joint Urgent Operational Needs Fund.
• Expresses that the Defense Contract Audit Agency has the specific authority to interview contractor employees as part of an audit.

Environmental Provisions

• Authorizes DOD to remove unexploded ordnances from public areas in Culebra, Puerto Rico.

Readiness-Related Legislative Provisions

• Directs DOD to designate an authoritative database on conventional ammunition, broaden the existing military service annual reporting requirements on conventional ammunition, and directs the GAO to report on the management of the conventional ammunition demilitarization stockpile of DOD.
• Directs the GAO to review the supply of rare earth materials extracted, processed, and refined from secure sources of supply to develop and produce advanced technologies in support of DOD requirements.
• Further streamlines the quarterly readiness report to Congress.
• Eliminates the ability of the Secretary of the Army to abolish any U.S. arsenal that he or she considers unnecessary.
• Directs a report on how DOD is considering the operational impact of energy logistics support in the planning, requirements development, and acquisition processes.
• Creates incentives for the development of alternative dual-fuel vehicles.
• Requires DOD to provide a business case analysis 30 days prior to entering into a contract for the planning, design, refurbishment, or construction of a biofuels refinery.
• Prohibits DOD’s FY 2015 funding to be used for bulk purchases of drop-in fuel for operational purposes during FY 2015, unless the fully burdened cost of that drop-in fuel is cost competitive with the fully burdened cost of traditional fuel, subject to a national security waiver.

 GENERAL PROVISIONS

• Extends the Afghanistan Special Immigrant Visa program and provides a total of 4,000 new visas for the program.
• Includes a provision that replaces the requirement for a Quadrennial Defense Review and a Quadrennial Roles and Missions Review with a new Defense Strategy Review.  The provision also modifies the role and duties of the independent National Defense Panel.
• Establishes in law an Office of Net Assessment reporting directly to the Secretary of Defense.

Provisions related to Europe and Russia

• Authorizes a total of $1.0 billion in OCO funding for the European Reassurance Initiative, to reassure Allies and partner nations by enhancing the U.S. military presence in Europe, increasing training and exercises, and building partner capacity to respond to security threats, including no less than $75.0 million for activities and assistance to support Ukraine, and $30.0 million for assistance to Allies and partner nations. 
• Requires a review of U.S. and NATO force posture, readiness and contingency plans in Europe, in light of Russian aggression against Ukraine, and the submittal of a comprehensive strategy and plans for enhancing security and stability in Europe. 
• Prohibits military-to-military cooperation between the United States and Russia, except for critical U.S. security needs. 
• Imposes a ban on contracting with Russian state corporation, Rosoboronexport, with a limited waiver for the maintenance of Afghan helicopters if critical to the success of the Afghan security forces and no practicable alternative exists. 
• Requires a detailed annual report on Russian military and security strategy and capabilities. 
• Expresses the sense of Congress in support of the provision of defensive military assistance to Ukraine, including both nonlethal and lethal aid, and requires reporting on military assistance to Ukraine.
• Authorizes a pilot program for the Air Force to operate an Inter-European Air Forces Academy to train military personnel of allied and partnered air forces, primarily in Eastern Europe, to overcome the legacy of Cold War institutional structures.

Guantanamo-Related Provisions

• Maintains the current prohibitions on the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to the United States for any purpose and on the construction or modification of any facility in the United States to hold Guantanamo detainees, but does not include a Senate provision that would have imposed a 1 year ban on the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to Yemen.

Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq

• Authorizes $4.1 billion for the ASFF to build and sustain the Afghan Army, Police and local security forces to protect the Afghan people as U.S. and coalition forces end combat operations and implement the post-2014 train, advise, and assist mission in Afghanistan. 
• Extends or modifies a number of authorities relating to operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, including:
• Authorizing the Commanders’ Emergency Response Program to support humanitarian projects and reconstruction in Afghanistan;
• Authorizing the use of DOD funds to provide logistical support to transport and sustain our coalition partners in Afghanistan and Iraq;
• Authorizing the loan of personnel protection equipment to coalition partners participating in contingency operations with the United States such as in Afghanistan;
• Authorizing the use of DOD funds to support a program to reintegrate Taliban fighters into Afghan society; and
• Authorizing up to $250.0 million through the end of fiscal 2016 to conduct clearance of unexploded ordnance at closed former U.S. training ranges in Afghanistan.
• Prohibits the use of FY 2015 funds for the Afghanistan Infrastructure Fund.
• Authorizes up to $1.2 billion in Coalition Support Funds to reimburse key nations for support provided to U.S. operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, of which up to $1.0 billion may be used to reimburse Pakistan if certain certifications relating to U.S.-Pakistan cooperation and Pakistani military operations in North Waziristan are met.
• Authorizes $1.6 billion for the Iraq Train and Equip Fund to provide training, equipment, logistics support, stipends, sustainment and other assistance to military and other security forces in Iraq, including Kurdish, tribal or other local security forces, to counter the threat from the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.   
• Authorizes up to $140.0 million to support the activities of the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq (OSC-I) and clarifies the authority of the OSC-I to provide training at military bases to Iraqi military forces and the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Services.
• Excludes the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan from the “Tier III” definition of terrorist organization under the Immigration and Nationality Act.  

Natural Resources Related Provisions

• Includes various provisions related to land conveyances, land withdrawals, public lands, National Parks, and related matters that were negotiated on a bipartisan and bicameral basis by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee.

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