HASC Passes FY16 National Defense Authorization Act

Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo today announced that the House Armed Service Committee has favorably reported out H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, which authorizes and sets policy for the Department of Defense by a recorded vote of 60 yeas and 2 noes. The bill authorizes $515 billion in discretionary budget authority for national defense as well as an additional $89.2 billion for overseas contingency operations. The bill moves to the full House during the week of May 11th for further consideration.   

H.R. 1735 supports current law and mandates a 2.3 percent increase in military pay. The bill also authorizes $7.7 billion for military construction, including approximately $272 million for military construction projects in Guam.

Additionally, H.R. 1735 contains a number of provisions sponsored by Congresswoman Bordallo. The mark amends restrictions placed on the development of civilian infrastructure projects in Guam by allowing the use of funds for infrastructure projects that are identified in a forthcoming Economic Adjustment Committee report. The bill also requires two reports to be submitted to Congress regarding the transfer of the Navy’s water and wastewater system to the Government of Guam and the potential for a permanent bomber presence at Andersen Air Force Base.

Further, the mark increases the number of slots available at the U.S. Service Academies for Guam and authorizes an additional $1 million for the Sea Cadet Corps to manage out-of-pocket for attendees.

The bill also includes an amendment made by Congresswoman Bordallo to include the text of H.R. 1614, which she introduced on March 25, 2015, to enhance the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.

The Congresswoman also led an effort to strike a provision in the bill that would be detrimental to the civilian and contractor workforce in the Department of Defense.  Section 906 of the Chairman’s mark would undermine DoD’s current collaborative efforts to work with workforce organizations to develop a performance appraisal system.  Further, the underlying provision would eliminate the veterans’ preference in hiring of jobs.  The amendment strikes section 906 and replaces with Sense of Congress language highlighting existing federal law that requires the DOD to develop and implement a workforce performance management system.  Congresswoman Bordallo’s amendment passed with a recorded vote of 43 yeas and 19 noes.

“H.R. 1735 provides the authority and resources needed to provide our service members with the tools they need to carry out their missions,” said Congresswoman Bordallo. “The bill contains important investments to promote our long-term national security and support our service members.

“Importantly for Guam, the bill authorizes for appropriation $272 million for military construction projects to support military installations on Guam.  In particular, it continues important investments for the realignment of Marines from Okinawa to Guam and builds off the success of last year’s legislation. The bill also lifts restrictions enacted in past defense bills on funding for civilian infrastructure projects related to the build-up. Specifically, the bill permits the obligation and expenditure of funds for projects that will be contained in an Economic Adjustment Committee report that is expected later this year. Additionally, the FY16 NDAA requires reports on the DOD’s efforts to transfer the Navy’s water and wastewater system to GovGuam, which is consistent with a provision I sponsored in 2010 for this purpose. It is important for this Committee to provide direct oversight on authority we’ve granted in the past and I hope to see further action in transferring the system to our local authorities who can run the water and wastewater system in a more cost effective manner.

“I am also pleased that the bill includes my amendment to incorporate my bill that enhances the National Guard’s State Partnership Program. This provision makes the SPP permanent and enhances state National Guards’ ability to establish important relationships with partner nations.  Aligning the State Partnership Program with broad national security goals is important to ensuring the longevity of the program.  Additionally, this amendment would improve oversight of the program with the establishment of a central DoD account.

“I encourage my colleagues to support this bill when it is considered by the full House.”

A list of provisions impacting Guam is outlined below.

• Supports current law on military basic pay for fiscal year 2016, which authorizes a 2.3 percent increase;
• Reverse DoD policy instituted to reduce per diem rates for federal employees on travel for longer than 30 days of work;
• Includes the modified text of Congresswoman Bordallo’s bill, H.R. 1614, to strengthen the National Guard’s State Partnership Program by establishing a central account for the program and requiring the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to develop and maintain a list of core competencies for the program. It also requires the States to identify a director for each partnership program and extends the program by 2 years.
• Requires the General Accountability Office to study the adequacy of support assets for the Asia Pacific rebalance;
• Lifts restrictions placed on the development of civilian infrastructure on Guam by allowing the use of OEA funds for infrastructure projects that are identified a forthcoming Economic Adjustment Committee report required by the FY14 NDAA;
• Expresses a Sense of Congress regarding the consolidation of U.S. military facilities in Okinawa and support for continued progress on construction of the Futenma Replacement Facility in Henoko;
• Supports recent revisions to the U.S.-Japan Defense guidelines and directs the DOD to report to Congress on how the revisions will be implemented;
• Requires the President to develop a Presidential Policy Directive to provide federal agencies with guidance on how to implement and fund the rebalance strategy which is similar to a provision included in last year’s defense bill intending to ensure adequate funding and resourcing to support the rebalance strategy in future Administrations;
• Provides for greater accountability and oversight on the use of Government of Japan funds contributed for the relocation of Marines from Okinawa to Guam;
• Increases slots available at each of the U.S. Service Academies for student from Guam from three to four;
• Requires the DOD to report on efforts to transfer the Navy’s water and wastewater system to the Government of Guam;
• Requires the DOD to report on the potential for a permanent bomber presence at Andersen Air Force Base;
• Provides additional funding for an additional MQ-4 Triton Navy Unmanned Ariel Vehicle (UAV) and effort led by Congresswoman Bordallo to ensure that the Triton program stays on-budget and on track including initial operating capability on Guam in the coming years;
• Supports the Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) program with a cut due to slippage in the date for awarding the contract for the new bomber;
• Provides an additional $1 million for the Sea Cadet Program to maintain reduced out-of-pocket for attendees;
• Provides additional $15 million above President’s Budget for a total of $75 million for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program (REPI)