$847 Billion Bill For Defense Budget Approved, Where Will These Go?

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) released an $847 billion defense policy bill last week, filed by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Ranking Member Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.).

In a press release statement, Inhofe emphasized the importance of the bill’s approval in the present day.

“With the Chinese Communist Party accelerating the already historic modernization of its military, Russia continuing to destabilize security in Europe, and record-high inflation jeopardizing our buying power, Congress must do everything we can to give our military every advantage on the battlefield,” Inhofe said.

The legislation will authorize $817.15 billion for the Department of Defense (DOD) and $29.71 billion for national security programs within the Department of Energy (DOE). It also includes a $13.8 billion increase in procurement funds over the Pentagon’s budget request and up to $7.5 billion additional funds for research, development, test, and evaluation programs.

“I hope the Senate acts with a sense of urgency on the NDAA, and I hope we’ll consider it in an open process so we can continue to improve the most important bill we’ll do all year,” the Ranking Member Senator added.

Reed also commented, “with broad, bipartisan support, this year’s NDAA increases funding for our national defense, invests in the platforms and infrastructure our military needs, and delivers critical resources for our allies and partners around the globe.”

Inhofe is a high-ranking member of the SASC committed to resurrecting the US military from its readiness crisis and addressing the growing threats from adversaries. He is a proud Oklahoman who helps to ensure that the military has the best equipment, training, and resources to meet the nation’s diverse security challenges. On the other hand, Reed is in charge of the SASC, which helps shape defense policy and spending for the DOD.

MH-60 Sierra Seahawk. (Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Dylan Lavin/dvidshub)

SASC’s version of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will support a $13.8 billion increase in procurement funds over the Pentagon’s budget request and up to $7.5 billion in additional funds for R&D, testing, and evaluation programs. Furthermore, the NDAA will fund future battlefield investments in hypersonic, artificial intelligence, and cyber platforms.

What’s more, by standard reprogramming procedures, the bill will allow approximately $6 billion in general authority for unforeseeable higher-priority needs.

One of the main goals of the NDAA is to “strengthen the all-volunteer force and improve the quality of life of the force’s men and women (Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserves) and their families, and DOD civilian personnel as they fulfill their solemn oath to the Constitution of the United States.”

It will also equip the US military services and combatant commanders with the resources they need to implement the National Defense Strategy and outcompete, deter, and, if necessary, defeat near-peer rivals.

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Enhances deterrence by recapitalizing and modernizing the US nuclear triad; ensuring the safety, security, and reliability of our nuclear stockpile, delivery systems, and infrastructure; increasing capacity in theater and homeland missile defense; and strengthening nonproliferation programs.

The defense policy bill aims to strengthen deterrence by recapitalizing and modernizing the American nuclear triad. It will also ensure the safety, security, and reliability of the US nuclear stockpile, delivery systems, and infrastructure. Likewise, increase theater and homeland missile defense capacity and strengthen nonproliferation programs.

“I look forward to improving the bill even further on the Senate floor,” Reed said, concluding his statement.

See below for a quick rundown of its subcommittee’s 2023 National Defense Act.

Subcommittee on Air-Land

The Air-Land subcommittee, led by Chairwoman Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Ranking Member Tom Cotton (R-AR), aims to continue accelerating the modernization of the Army and Air Force by prioritizing research and development of future capabilities in air power, land warfare capabilities, countering evolving threats, and further enhancing munitions.

Subcommittee on Cybersecurity

The cybersecurity subcommittee, run by Chairman Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Ranking Member Mike Rounds (RSD), will focus on strengthening the cybersecurity posture of the DOD and the defense industrial base. Its primary needs include responding to the cyber threat environment by adopting innovative and modern cybersecurity strategies, tools, and technologies and filling in critical cyber personnel roles.

Subcommittee on Emerging Threats And Capabilities

The subcommittee, under the leadership of Chairman Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Ranking Member Joni Ernst (R-IA), will be overseeing many critical priorities, including assisting in the development of new capabilities required for long-term strategic competition with China and Russia, facilitating security cooperation with foreign partners, and providing resources for special operations forces. It will also strengthen support for Ukraine and NATO member states.

Subcommittee on Personnel

Under the leadership of Chairwoman Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Ranking Member Thom Tillis (R-NC), the personnel subcommittee will move forward with proposals to strengthen the all-volunteer force and improve the quality of life for service members, their families, and the DOD civilian workforce.

Subcommittee on Readiness And Management Support

The readiness and management support subcommittee, led by Chairman Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Ranking Member Dan Sullivan (R-AK), will focus on improving the nation’s readiness and reforming acquisition policy, contracting, and industrial base operations. It will also optimize energy, environmental, health security, supply chain, and stockpile resilience. In addition, military construction and bolstering operations and maintenance will be prioritized as part of the subcommittee.

Subcommittee on Seapower

The seapower subcommittee, under the leadership of Chairwoman Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Ranking Member Kevin Cramer (R-ND), will dedicate its resources to continuing previous years’ efforts on the Navy and Marine Corps’ ability to implement the National Defense Strategy, such as surface and undersea warfare, aircraft procurement, extending fund spending, and certification before the Marine Mammal System’s termination.

Subcommittee on Strategic Forces

Finally, the strategic forces subcommittee will continue to support nuclear modernization. Under the bipartisan leadership of Chairman Angus King (I-ME) and Ranking Member Deb Fischer (R-NE), it will also focus on enhancing the nation’s Strategic and Space Defense Activities, Missile Defense, Nonproliferation Efforts, Modernization Efforts, the Department of Energy, Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Matters, Budget and Financial Management Matters, and Environmental Security.

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