May 26, 2005

House Passes Defense Authorization Bill
Includes $10.7 Billion in Key Programs Requested by Rep. Akin

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Late last evening, the U.S. House passed H.R. 1815, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, by a vote of 390 to 39. This bill includes a number of key programs requested by Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO).

Akin, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, noted that the authorization bill sets the policies, programs and funding levels for the nation’s military and national defense needs.

“This measure recognizes the sacrifices made by our military personnel and ensures that they have the proper tools and training they need and deserve,” said Akin. “The authorization contains great news for the economy of the greater St. Louis region, including $3.4 billion for Future Combat Systems, and $318 million for four of Boeing’s EA-18G s, an aircraft I have championed as the replacement for the Navy’s aging fleet of EA-8B Prowlers.”

Funding affecting the St. Louis region that Akin advanced include:

• F-15E – $65M for procurement of an F-15E
• Future Combat Systems (FCS) and related programs – $3.4B
• EA-18G – 4 aircraft at $318M
• F-18E/F – 38 aircraft at $2.8B
• T-45 – 9 aircraft at $298M – We plus this up. The President’s budget had only 6 aircraft
• C-17 – 15 aircraft at $3.2B – Including language authorizing the Air Force to enter into a third multi-year procurement contract for 42 additional C-17s.
• J-DAMs – 8,000 bomb kits at $223M.
• Small Diameter Bombs – 512 SDBs at $59M
• $125M for F-15 Modifications and upgrades
• $15M for the Common Remote Stabilizing System on Stryker vehicles
• $8M for a serial number tracking system in supply support equipment
• $2.9M for fiber switch systems on Aegis support systems
• $77.8M and $272.3M for Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (JUCAS)
• $5.5M for deployable Power Generation Distribution System
• $94.1M for HyFly in the Navy’s power projection budget

The National Defense Authorization Act includes multiple provisions to improve the quality of life for men and women in the nation’s active, guard and reserve forces. The legislation includes:

• A 3.1 percent increase in basic pay for members of the Armed Forces. This builds on the commitment to reduce the pay gap between military and private sector pay and would reduce the current gap from 5.1 percent to 4.6 percent.
• Increases in the maximum bonuses for first time enlistments and reenlistments, including a $10,000 increase for active duty enlistments, a $5,000 increase for reserve enlistments and a $30,000 increase for active duty re-enlistments.
• A pilot program to test a new $1,000 bonus for service members who encourage new recruits to enlist.
• Making permanent several wartime-related pay and benefits that were temporarily established last year, including an increase in the death gratuity to $100,000.
• An increase from $300 to $750 per month in the amount of hardship pay.

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