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
October 2, 2015
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R44019

---

link to page 2 link to page 2 Selected Highlights of H.R. 1735 and S. 1376 (National Defense Authorization Act)

Following are selected highlights of the versions of H.R. 1735, the FY2016 National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA), passed by the House of Representatives on May 15, 2015, passed by
the Senate on June 18, 2015, and reported on September 30, 2015 by a House-Senate conference
committee. The version of the bill considered by the Senate had been reported by the Senate
Armed Services Committee as S. 1376 on May 19, 2015. When the Senate took up H.R. 1735, it
substituted the text of S. 1376 for the text of the House-passed version of H.R. 1735.
This CRS Fact Sheet, based on the three versions of the bill and their respective committee
reports (H.Rept. 114-102, S.Rept. 114-49, and H.Rept. 114-270) 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 (H.R. 1735)
(amounts in millions of dollars of discretionary budget authority)
Senate
committee-
Budget
House-passed
reported
Conference

Request
H.R. 1735
S. 1376
Report
DOD Base Budget
Procurement
106,967.4
109,735.7
111,847.6
110,824.0
Research and Developmenta
69,785.0
68,352.5
70,891.6
70,344.3
Operation and Maintenance
176,517.2
136,562.8
134,071.1
174,217.3
Military Personnel
136,734.7
136,443.2
135,480.2
135,712.3
Defense Health Program and
35,917.5
37,860.4
35,891.0
35,524.9
Other Authorizations
Military Construction and Family
8,306.5
7,151.0
8,305.6
8,078.5
Housing
Subtotal: DOD Base Budget
534,228.5
496,105.6
496,487.1
496,411.5
Atomic Energy Defense Activitiesb
19,031.5
18,856.2
18,735.5
18,557.7
TOTAL: National Defense Budget
553,254.0
514,961.8
515,222.6
514,969.1
Function Base Budget
Overseas Contingency Operations
50,949.6
50,949.1
50,901.3
50,945.7
(OCO)
OCO Funding for items requested in
0.0
38,290.0
38,899.1
38,290.0
the Base Budget
Subtotal: OCO
50,949.6
89,239.1
88,900.4
89,235.7
GRAND TOTAL: FY2016 NDAA
604,209.4
604,200.9
604,123.0
604,204.8
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; S.Rept. 114-49, Report of the Committee on Armed Services of the
Senate on S. 1376, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2016; and H.Rept. 114-270, Conference Report to
accompany H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2016.
Notes:
a. The House bil did not consider $5.8 mil ion requested for one Army R&D program.
b. Summary tables in the Senate report did not include $29.2 mil ion requested for the Defense Nuclear
Facilities Safety board, although the Senate bil does authorize the requested amount.
Congressional Research Service
1

---

link to page 3 link to page 3 link to page 3 link to page 3 link to page 3 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 calls for 2.3% raise,
Authorizes 1.3% raise, as
Freezes basic pay for
Basic Pay in lieu of the
but the bil includes no
requested, for most
generals and admirals
2.3% raise that would occur
relevant provision
personnel, but none for
(Section 601); report
under existing lawa
generals and admirals
acknowledges President’s
(Section 601)
authority to set 1.3%
raise for other military
Reduce Commissary
Rejects proposal (Section
Authorizes some
Rejects Administration
Subsidy by efficiencies and
642); authorizes an
proposed efficiencies
proposal; adds $281.2
reduction of store hours but
additional $322 mil ion to
(Section 651); requires a
mil ion to continue
without closing storesa
continue current policy in
plan for commissary
current policy; requires a
FY2016
privatization; authorizes
“budget neutral” plan to
no additional funds
hold annual subsidy at
current level of $1.4
bil ion (Section 651).
Slow rate of increase in
Rejects proposal;
Authorizes proposed
Authorizes the proposed
Housing Allowance to
authorizes an additional
change (Section 602);
change but phases it in
eventually cover 95% of
$400 mil ion to continue
over five years (2015-
rental costs in lieu of current current policy in FY2016
19). (Section 603); adds
99% coveragea
$300 mil ion to allow for
slower implementation.
Changes to TRICARE
Authorizes none of the
Authorizes certain
Authorizes some
medical insurance including
proposed changes
increases in co-pays
pharmacy co-pay
enrol ment fee for
(Section 702); cuts $85
increases (Section 702);
TRICARE-for-Life (for
mil ion requested to
cuts $71 mil ion
retirees) and increased
cover cost of the rejected
requested to cover
pharmacy co-pays for
proposals; does not
rejected proposals; does
non-active duty beneficiaries
authorize TRICARE-for-
not authorize TRICARE-
Life enrol ment fee
for-Life enrol ment fee.
Move all Apache attack
Bars Apache moves until
Extends by six months
Bars Apache moves until
helicopters from
60 days after a commission
(through end of FY2016)
60 days after a
National Guard units to
report (Section 1053);
current law barring
commission report
Army units; re-equip some
authorizes $136.8 mil ion
transfer to Army of more
(Section 1054); adds
of those Guard units with
to buy new Black Hawks
than 48 helicopters
$128.0 mil ion to buy
Black Hawk troop carriersb
and modernize old ones
(Section 1044)
new Blackhawks for
for Guard units
Guard units.
Continue mothballing A-10
Bars retirement of A-10s
Bars retirement of A-10s
Reduces to 18 the
ground-attack aircraftc
(Section 133); reduces to
and requires that 171 A-
number of A-10s that
18 the number that can be
10s be in combat-ready
can be moved to back-up
sidelined (Section 132);
status, thus barring the
status (Section 141);
authorizes an additional
sidelining of additional
requires that 171 A-10s
$603.1 mil ion to keep
aircraft (Section 134);
be combat-ready; Adds
operating all other A-10s
adds $257 mil ion for A-
$388.5 mil ion for A-10
10 operations
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.
Congressional Research Service
2

---

link to page 4 link to page 4 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 bil ion for 12
Adds $1.15 bil ion for 12
Adds $978.8 mil ion for 12
(none requested)a
F/A-18E/Fs
F-18E/Fs
F/A-18E/Fs
F-35 Joint Strike
Adds $1.0 bil ion for 6
Adds $1.05 bil ion for 6
Adds $846.0 mil ion for 6
Fighter ($11.0 bil ion
Marine Corps versions (F-
Marine Corps versions (F-
Marine Corps versions (F-
requested for 57 planes)b
35B)
35B)
35B)
$16.6 billion ship
Adds $347 mil ion for
Adds $1.66 bil ion to buy
Adds a net $1.03 bil ion,
building budget funds for
components to be used in
components and/or
primarily to accelerate or
10 ships and components
future construction of two
accelerate work on six
increase work on six
for three more
additional ships
ships.
shipbuilding programs.
Construction of a ballistic
Adds $30.0 mil ion to plan
Requires a plan to cut 2
Adds $30 mil ion to plan
missile defense site
and design East Coast site;
years off construction time and design an additional
near the East Coast (in
requires deployment of SBX for a potential East Coast
U.S. defense site; requires
addition to current sites in
radar on East Coast
site but does not require
selection of location and
Alaska and California)
(Section 1673)
deployment (Section 1641) preparation of a plan to
reduce deployment
timetable by 2 years
(Section 1683); require
deployment on East Coast
of SBX or equivalent
sensor (Section 1684).
Changes to Military
Modifies the system for new Modifies the system for
Modifies the system for
Retirement System
servicemembers, with
new servicemembers, with
new servicemembers, with
(No change was proposed
changes along the lines
changes along the lines
changes along the lines
as part of the budget, but a proposed by a national
proposed by a national
proposed by a national
far-reaching revision was
commission, including Thrift commission, including
commission, including
proposed by a legislatively
Savings Plan (Sections 631-
Thrift Savings Plan
Thrift Savings Plan
mandated commission.)
634)
(Sections 633-636)
(Sections 631-635);
Lethal military assistance
Adds $200 mil ion to train
Authorizes military
Authorizes $300 mil ion
to Ukraine
and equip Ukrainian forces
assistance and intelligence
for assistance to Ukraine
(Section 1532)
support to Ukraine
of which $50 mil ion is
(Section 1251) and adds
only for counterartil ery
$300 mil ion to do so
radar and lethal assistance
(Section 1250).
Funds requested ($715
Authorizes the request and
Authorizes the request
Authorizes the request;
mil ion) to train and equip
requires that 25% of anti-
Authorizes the Secretary
Iraqi forces to oppose ISIL ISIL funds for Iraq go to
of Defense, under certain
Kurdish and Sunni forces
circumstances, to provide
inside Iraq (Section 1223)
assistance directly to
Kurdish and Sunni forces
(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.
e. CRS Insight IN10286, FY2016 NDAA: A Comparison of House and Senate Provisions for Military Retirement
Reform, by Kristy N. Kamarck.
Congressional Research Service
3

---

link to page 5 link to page 5 link to page 5 Selected Highlights of H.R. 1735 and S. 1376 (National Defense Authorization Act)

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 bil ion to be made
Cuts $1.4 bil ion to be made Cuts $1.6 bil ion to be made
on grounds that they
up for by unobligated
up for by unobligated
up for by unobligated
exceed the amount
balances appropriated in
balances and $490 mil ion
balances and $276 mil ion
required for a program
earlier budgets but not spent deemed in excess of the
deemed in excess of the
in FY2016 or because of
as planned
amounts required in FY2016 amounts required in FY2016
unobligated balances
Fuel prices assumed in
Cuts $1.6 bil ion on the
Cuts $1.8 bil ion on the
Cuts $1.6 bil ion on the
budget request
assumption that fuel prices
assumption that fuel prices
assumption that fuel prices
wil be lower than assumed
wil be lower than assumed
wil be lower than assumed
Foreign currency
Cuts $1.4 bil ion on the
Cuts $891 mil ion on the
Cuts $1.4 bil ion on the
assumptions
assumption that purchase of
assumption that purchase of
assumption that purchase of
goods and services by U.S.
goods and services by U.S.
goods and services by U.S.
forces overseas wil cost less
forces overseas wil cost
forces overseas wil cost less
than budget assumed (due to less than budget assumed
than budget assumed (due to
increased value of the dol ar
(due to increased value of
increased value of the dol ar
against foreign currencies)
the dol ar against foreign
against foreign currencies)
currencies)
Administration plan to
Requires a baseline
Requires a 7.5% reduction
Requires Administration to
reduce the size of
accounting of headquarters
in headquarters in FY2016
cut headquarters and
Administrative
budgets and personnel and a
and in each of the fol owing
support costs by $10.0 bil ion
Headquarters by 20%
specific plan for reductions
four years (Section 351)
by FY2019 (Section 346); for
over 5 years
(Section 905)
Cuts $1.7 bil ion to match
that purpose, cuts $1.3
the required cutback
bil ion from FY2016 request
Long-range Strike
Cuts $460 mil ion because of Cuts $460 mil ion because
Cuts $460 mil ion because of
Bomber ($1.25 bil ion
changes in schedule
of changes in schedule
changes in schedule
requested for R&D)a
KC-46 tanker plane;
Cuts $24 mil ion from
Cuts $24 mil ion from
Cuts $24 mil ion from
($2.35 bil ion requested
procurement request and
procurement request and
procurement request and
to procure 12 planes and $200 mil ion from R&D
$200 mil ion from R&D
$200 mil ion from R&D
$602 mil ion for R&D)b
request because of changes
request because of changes
request because of changes
in program’s schedule
in program’s schedule
in program’s schedule
Administration’s effort to Repeals provision of FY2014
Repeals provision of FY2014 Repeals provision of FY2014
close the detention
NDAA that increased the
NDAA that increased the
NDAA that increased the
facility at Guantanamo
President’s discretion to
President’s discretion to
President’s discretion to
Bay, Cubac
transfer Guantanamo
transfer Guantanamo
transfer Guantanamo
detainees to other places
detainees; restrictions on
detainees and requires
(Sections 1039); prohibits
movement of detainees
detailed certification to
detainee transfers to Yemen
would be relaxed if
Congress that the transfer of
(Section 1042); Adds $76
Congress approves a DOD
any detainee meets certain
mil ion for Guantanamo Bay
plan to close the facility
conditions (Section 1034);
barracks
(Sections 1033); prohibits
prohibits detainee transfers
detainee transfers to Yemen to Libya, Somalia, Syria, or
(Section 1035)
Yemen (Section 1033);
requires a comprehensive
strategy for detaining
individuals (Section1035)
a. For background, see CRS Insight IN10095, Budget Highlight: Air Force Long Range Strike Bomber, by Jeremiah
Gertler.
b. For background, see CRS Report RL34398, Air Force KC-46A Tanker Aircraft Program, by Jeremiah Gertler.
c. For background, see CRS Report R42143, Wartime Detention Provisions in Recent Defense Authorization
Legislation, by Jennifer K. Elsea and Michael John Garcia.
Congressional Research Service
4

---

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


Author Contact Information

Pat Towell

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

Congressional Research Service
5

---