Rep. Calvert Hails Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) voted along with a bipartisan majority of the House (325 to 98) to approve H.R. 4435, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2015. The NDAA is the key mechanism to provide necessary authorities and funding for America's military.

"Even in an era of constrained taxpayer resources, it is essential that we find ways to ensure our military has the funding necessary to carry out its mission," said Rep. Calvert. "The NDAA bill before us today provides a responsible fiscal balance and prioritizes the critical tools our troops need to maintain and perform as the finest fighting force in the world. The bill also provides our warfighters, and their families, with the support and care that we have promised them.

This will be the last NDAA brought to the House floor by my good friend and the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Rep. Buck McKeon (CA-25). I want to thank Chairman McKeon for all of the hard work and dedication he has demonstrated on behalf of our troops and their families throughout his service here in the House."

Local Impacts

Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial:

The NDAA includes Rep. Calvert's legislation, the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act (H.R. 330). The designation of the memorial at March Field Air Museum as a national memorial will ensure that these brave American heroes, their families, and all admirers of the Distinguished Flying Cross, will have a place to remember, honor, and pay tribute.

NDAA Highlights

(Provided by the House Armed Services Committee)

Authorized Funding Levels:

Consistent with the House budget, the NDAA authorizes $521.3 billion in spending for national defense and an additional $79.4 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations. This is consistent with the levels for national defense House-passed FY15 budget and the Republican Study Committee substitute, and it re?ects the Ryan-Murray agreement last year. Members are aware however, that it is $45 billion less than in the President's projected FY14 budget request and $30.7 billion less than the enacted FY14 NDAA.

BRAC:

For several years, the Administration has asserted the need for one or more rounds of base closure to shed excess capacity and conserve resources. Once again, the House rejects the proposed BRAC round. The Armed Services Committee maintains its long held concern that BRAC rounds do not yield true savings but rather impose large up-front costs only then to shift property between federal agencies.

President's Proposed Benefit Cuts:

In the FY15 budget request, the President proposed his most sweeping compensation cuts to date, including TRICARE, Housing Allowances, and Commissary benefits. When combined with a reduction in the annual troop pay increase, these cuts result in thousands of dollars of additional out-of-pocket expenses for military families. Chairman McKeon categorically rejects these cuts. He continues to believe military compensation reform should be addressed comprehensively and should be informed by the recommendations of the commission.

Troop Pay:

The NDAA supports current law, which mandates an automatic 1.8% annual increase.

Civilian Workforce:

The NDAA tasks GAO to assess DoD's headquarter reduction efforts, building off its previous work conducted for the committee on examining growth in DOD headquarters.

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