WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Senate Armed Services Committee announced details of the committee’s markup of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016.  The committee voted 22-4 to report the bill, which authorizes $523 billion in base funding for the U.S. Department of Defense and the national security programs of the U.S. Department of Energy, as well as an additional $90.2 billion for the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account. 

OCO is intended to provide emergency funding for overseas military operations.  The President requested $50.9 billion for war-related operations in fiscal year 2016, but Republicans transferred $39.3 billion from the proposed base budget to OCO as an off-budget gimmick to avoid the arbitrary sequester and the Budget Control Act caps.

After the markup, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the committee’s Ranking Member, who voted against the bill, issued the following statement:

“I commend and thank Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) for his leadership on this bill.  He provided thoughtful, fair consideration of a very difficult topic and because of his efforts, and the collaboration on the committee, we were able to do some things that were very important, such as strengthening our military capabilities, capacity, and readiness.  We took some hard, yet needed steps, on beginning a reform of the compensation and retirement system, on cyber security, support for our allies, and other key measures.

“We made significant headway in several areas.  But we were unable to agree on the critical budget piece, particularly for OCO, which has serious limitations, and has to be addressed.

“I am for a strong military and good government, and the two shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. 

“Moving $39.3 billion from the base budget into an overseas contingency account for non-war related projects would be a fiscal and strategic mistake that hinders our commanders’ ability to plan for the future and could end up costing taxpayers more in the long run. 

“OCO was not designed to be base line funding for our military.  It is year-to-year funding and we can’t continue some of these programs based on a one year effort, we need multi-year planning.

“And our national security doesn’t just depend on our military.  We need to invest in the FBI, Homeland Security, the State Department, and law enforcement.  So just putting more money into OCO while cutting other spending misses the point about national security and keeping our country safe.

“There should be truth in budgeting: put defense spending in the base budget.  OCO increases the deficit without any attempt to offset the spending. 

“I understand the impulse to support the NDAA with this budget gimmick included, but the simple fact is that even if it reaches the President’s desk, it will be vetoed.  I believe there is still a better way forward.  We need responsible accounting and balanced solutions to advance our economic and national security goals and I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make that happen.  My view is, if we don’t start now, we’re never going to get this process going.

“I want to thank all my colleagues, but particularly Senators Bill Nelson, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Mazie Hirono for their important contributions to improving the bill.  They did a great job and stood on principle.

“Our national defense should be funded as a priority, not a contingency.  Congress shouldn’t just increase emergency wartime spending without also addressing the needed investments in education, health care, and our transportation infrastructure here at home.  Again, we need a balanced approach that reverses job-killing sequester cuts for domestic and defense priorities alike.”

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