Fact Sheet: Selected Highlights of the
FY2016 National Defense Authorization Act
(H.R. 1735 and S. 1376)
Pat Towell
Specialist in U.S. Defense Policy and Budget
June 3, 2015
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R44019

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Selected Highlights of H.R. 1735 and S. 1376 (National Defense Authorization Act)

Following are selected highlights of pending versions of the FY2016 National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA): H.R. 1735, passed by the House of Representatives on May 15,
2015, and S. 1376, reported by the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 19, 2015.This
CRS Fact Sheet, based on the two bills and their respective committee reports (H.Rept. 114-102,
and S.Rept. 114-49), is designed as a time-urgent product offering Members the best available
information pending publication of a CRS report on the legislation.
Table 1. FY2016 National Defense Authorization Act Authorization Levels
(amounts in millions of dollars of discretionary budget authority)
Senate
Budget
Budget
committee-
Request
House-passed
Request
reported
Conference

(House report)
H.R. 1735
(Senate Report)
S. 1376
Report
Base Budget
Procurement 106,967.4
109,735.7
106,967.4
111,847.6

Research and Developmenta 69,779.2
68,352.5
69,785.0
70,891.6
Operation and Maintenance
176,517.2
136,562.8
176,517.2
134,071.1

Military Personnel
136,734.7 136,443.2 136,734.7 135,480.2

Defense Health Program and
35,917.5 37,860.4 35,917.5 35,891.0

Other Authorizations
Military Construction and Family
8,306.5 7,151.0 8,306.5 8,305.6

Housing
Subtotal: DOD Base Budget
534,228.3
496,105.6
534,228.3
496,487.1

Atomic Energy Defense Activitiesb 19,031.5 18,856.2 19,002.3 18,735.5

TOTAL: National Defense Budget
553,254.0 514,961.8 553,230.6 515,222.6

Function Base Budget
Overseas Contingency Operations
50,949.6 50,949.1 50,949.6 50,901.3

(OCO)
OCO Funding for items requested in
0.0 38,290.0c 0.0
38,899.1d

the Base Budget
Subtotal: OCO
50,949.6
89,239.1
50,949.6
88,900.4

GRAND TOTAL: FY2016 NDAA
604,203.6
604,200.9
604,180.2
604,123.0

Sources: H.Rept. 114-102, Report of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives on
H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2016; and S.Rept. 114-49, Report of the Committee
on Armed Services of the Senate on S. 1376, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2016
Notes:
a. The House bill did not consider $5.8 million requested for one Army R&D program.
b. Summary tables in the Senate report did not include $29.2 million requested for the Defense Nuclear
Facilities Safety board, although the Senate bill does authorize the requested amount.
c. The OCO section of the House bill authorizes (a) 134 Operation and Maintenance (O&M) activities for
which the Administration requested a total of $38.3 billion in the base budget and (b) 10 military
construction projects for which the Administration requested a total of $532 million in the base budget.
d. The OCO section of the Senate bill authorizes 15 O&M activities for which the Administration requested a
total of $38.9 billion in the base budget.
Congressional Research Service
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Selected Highlights of H.R. 1735 and S. 1376 (National Defense Authorization Act)

Table 2. Selected Administration Policy and Cost-Cutting Proposals
House committee-
Administration
reported bill
Senate committee-
Proposal
H.R. 1735
reported bill
Conference Report
1.3% Raise in Military
Report cal s for 2.3% raise,
Authorizes 1.3% raise, as

Basic Pay in lieu of the
but the bill includes no
requested, for most
2.3% raise that would occur
relevant provision
personnel, but none for
under existing lawa
generals and admirals
(Section 601)
Reduce Commissary
Rejects proposal (Section
Authorizes some

Subsidy by efficiencies and
642); authorizes an
proposed efficiencies
reduction of store hours but
additional $322 million to
(Section 651); requires a
without closing storesa
continue current policy in
plan for commissary
FY2016
privatization; authorizes
no additional funds
Slow rate of increase in
Rejects proposal;
Authorizes proposed

Housing Allowance to
authorizes an additional
change (Section 602)
eventually cover 95% of
$400 million to continue
rental costs in lieu of current current policy in F20Y16
99% coveragea
Changes to TRICARE
Authorizes none of the
Authorizes certain

medical insurance including
proposed changes
increases in co-pays
enrol ment fee for
(Section 702); does not
TRICARE-for-Life (for
authorize TRICARE-for-
retirees) and increased
Life enrol ment fee
pharmacy co-pays for
non-active duty beneficiaries
Remove each of 11 Aegis
Requires that each of the
Report directs the Navy

cruisers from service for a
cruisers being modernized
to include in budget
four-year modernization
in FY2016 be out of service requests from FY2017
after which they would
for no more than two
onward full funding for its
replace unmodernized
years (Section 1023)
overhaul plan
cruisers as the latter retire
Move all Apache attack
Bars Apache moves until
Extends by six months

helicopters from
60 days after a commission
(through end of FY2016)
National Guard units to
report (Section 1053);
current law barring
Army units; re-equip some
authorizes $136.8 million
transfer to Army of more
of those Guard units with
to buy new Black Hawks
than 48 helicopters
Black Hawk troop carriersb
and modernize old ones
(Section 1044)
for Guard units
Continue mothballing A-10
Bars retirement of A-10s
Bars retirement of A-10s

ground-attack aircraftc
(Section 133); reduces to
and requires that 171 A-
18 the number that can be
10s be in combat-ready
sidelined (Section 132);
status, thus barring the
authorizes an additional
sidelining of additional
$603.1 million to keep
aircraft (Section 134);
operating all other A-10s
adds $257 million for A-
10 operations
a. For background, see CRS Report RL33446, Military Pay: Key Questions and Answers, by Lawrence Kapp and
Barbara Salazar Torreon.
b. For background, see CRS Report R43808, Army Active Component (AC)/Reserve Component (RC) Force Mix:
Considerations and Options for Congress, by Andrew Feickert and Lawrence Kapp.
c. For background, see CRS Report R43843, Proposed Retirement of A-10 Aircraft: Background in Brief, by
Jeremiah Gertler.
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Selected Highlights of H.R. 1735 and S. 1376 (National Defense Authorization Act)

Table 3. Selected Congressional Budget Increases and Policy Additions
House-passed
Senate committee-
Issue
H.R. 1735
reported bill
Conference Report
F/A-18E/F Navy fighters
Adds $1.15 billion for 12
Adds $1.15 billion for 12

(none requested)a
F/A-18E/Fs
F-18E/Fs
F-35 Joint Strike
Adds $1.0 billion for 6
Adds $1.05 billion for 6

Fighter ($11.0 billion
Marine Corps versions (F-
Marine Corps versions (F-
requested for 57 planes)b
35B)
35B)
Shipbuilding budget
Adds $347 million for
Adds $1.66 billion to

includes $13.8 billion for
components to be used in
accelerate work on three
10 ships and components
future construction of two
ships in the budget and to
to be used in future
additional ships
buy components for future
construction of four more
construction of two more
U.S.-built replacement for
Adds $184.4 million to
Modifies existing

Russian-built RD-180
development a replacement
requuirement fo field a
rocket motor for
for RD-180 (Section 1603)
replacement engine by
satellite launch vehicles
2019 (Section 1606)
Construction of a ballistic
Adds $30.0 million to plan
Requires a plan to cut 2

missile defense site
and design East Coast site;
years off construction time
near the East Coast (in
requires deployment of SBX for a potential East Coast
addition to current sites in
radar on East Coast
site but does not require
Alaska and California)
(Section 1673)
deployment (Section 1641)
Russian violation of 1989
Adds $25 million to develop Requires notification to

INF [Intermediate-
countermeasures; requires
Congress if Russia is in
range Nuclear Force]
report on discussions with
violation and development
Treaty (reported by
allies concerning collective
of U.S. counter moves
Administration)d
response (Section 2143)
(Section 1661)
Changes to Military
Modifies the system for new Modifies the system for

Retirement
servicemembers, with
new servicemembers, with
SystemError! Reference
changes along the lines
changes along the lines
source not found. (no
proposed by a national
proposed by a national
change proposed as part of commission, including Thrift commission, including
the budget request)
Savings Plan (Sections 631-
Thrift Savings Plan
634)
(Sections 633-636)
Lethal military assistance
Adds $200 million to train
Authorizes military

to Ukraine
and equip Ukrainian forces
assistance and intelligence
(Section 1532)
support to Ukraine
(Section 1251) and adds
$200 million to do so
Funds requested ($600
Authorizes the request and
Authorizes the request

mil ion) to train and equip
requires that 25% of anti-
Syrian forces to oppose
ISIL funds for Iraq go to
ISIL
Kurdish and Sunni forces
inside Iraq (Section 1223)
a. For background, see CRS Report RL30624, Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Program, by Jeremiah Gertler.
b. For background, see CRS Report RL30563, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program, by Jeremiah Gertler.
c. For background, see CRS Report RL32665, Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues
for Congress, by Ronald O'Rourke.
d. For background, see CRS Report R43832, Russian Compliance with the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF)
Treaty: Background and Issues for Congress, by Amy F. Woolf.
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Selected Highlights of H.R. 1735 and S. 1376 (National Defense Authorization Act)

e. CRS Insight IN10286, FY2016 NDAA: A Comparison of House and Senate Provisions for Military Retirement
Reform, by Kristy N. Kamarck.
Table 4. Selected Congressional Prohibitions and Budget Reductions
House-passed
Senate committee-
Issue
H.R. 1735
reported bill
Conference Report
Funds cut from request
Cuts $2.6 billion to be made
Cuts $1.4 billion to be made
on grounds that they
up for by unobligated
up for by unobligated
exceed the amount
balances appropriated in
balances and $490 million
required for a program
earlier budgets but not spent deemed in excess of the
in FY2016 or because of
as planned
amounts required in FY2016
unobligated balances
Fuel prices assumed in
Cuts $1.6 billion on the
Cuts $1.8 billion on the

budget request
assumption that fuel prices
assumption that fuel prices
will be lower than assumed
will be lower than assumed
in budget
in budget
Foreign currency
Cuts $1.4 billion on the
Cuts $891 million on the

assumptions
assumption that purchase of
assumption that purchase of
goods and services by U.S.
goods and services by U.S.
forces overseas will cost less forces overseas will cost
than budget assumed (due to less than budget assumed
increased value of the dollar
(due to increased value of
against foreign currencies)
the dollar against foreign
currencies)
Administration plan to
Requires a baseline
Requires a 7.5% reduction

reduce the size of
accounting of headquarters
in headquarters in FY2016
Administrative
budgets and personnel and a
and in each of the following
Headquarters by 20%
specific plan for reductions
four years (Section 351)
over 5 years
(Section 905)
Cuts $1.7 billion to match
the required cutback
Long-range Strike
Cuts $460 million because of Cuts $460 million because

Bomber ($1.25 billion
changes in program’s
of changes in program’s
requested for R&D)a
schedule
schedule
KC-46 tanker plane;
Cuts $24 million from
Cuts $24 million from

($2.35 billion requested
procurement request and
procurement request and
to procure 12 planes and $200 million from R&D
$200 million from R&D
$602 million for R&D)b
request because of changes
request because of changes
in program’s schedule
in program’s schedule
Administration’s effort to Repeals provision of FY2015
Repeals provision of FY2015
close the detention
NDAA that increased the
NDAA that increased the
facility at Guantanamo
President’s discretion to
President’s discretion to
Bay, Cubac
transfer Guantanamo
transfer Guantanamo
detainees to other places
detainees to other places;
(Sections 1036-1038); Adds
Continues or makes more
$76 million for Guantanamo
stringent other restrictions
Bay barracks
on movement of detainees,
which would be relaxed if
Congress approves a DOD
plan to close Guantanamo
Bay facility (Sections 1031-
1035)
a. For background, see CRS Report R43049, U.S. Air Force Bomber Sustainment and Modernization: Background
and Issues for Congress, by Jeremiah Gertler.
b. For background, see CRS Report RL34398, Air Force KC-46A Tanker Aircraft Program, by Jeremiah Gertler.
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Selected Highlights of H.R. 1735 and S. 1376 (National Defense Authorization Act)

c. For background, see CRS Report R42143, Wartime Detention Provisions in Recent Defense Authorization
Legislation, by Jennifer K. Elsea and Michael John Garcia.


Author Contact Information

Pat Towell

Specialist in U.S. Defense Policy and Budget
ptowell@crs.loc.gov, 7-2122


Congressional Research Service
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