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HOUSE AND SENATE CONFEREES REACH AGREEMENT ON 2008 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA)
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Washington, DC (December 07, 2007) - On Thursday, December 6, House and Senate conferees agreed on a final version of the defense authorization bill. The House is expected to vote on the bill next week, with the Senate to follow. Below are highlights of the 2008 NDAA:
• 3.5% pay increase for military personnel
• Prohibits TRICARE and pharmacy user fees to prevent over $1.86 billion in healthcare costs from being passed on to service members and their families
• $17.6 billion for Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles
• $3.7 billion for 20 F-22’s
• $1.1 billion for 6 more Joint Strike Fighters
• Authorizes $480 million to continue developing a competitive engine for the Joint Strike Fighter
• $1.2 billion for body armor
• $3.3 billion for uparmored humvees
• $2.3 billion for the procurement of 8 additional C-17s
• $ 4.77 billion for Joint IED Defeat organization (JIEDDO)
• $980 million for National Guard equipment
• Requires the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the VA to develop fully interoperable electronic military healthcare records
• Requires a comprehensive policy to address Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Creates Wounded Warrior Resource center and requires semi-annual inspections of housing facilities for recovering service members
• Authorizes $18.4 billion and $ 8.6 billion for the Army and Marine Corps, respectively, to fully address equipment needs due to extended use overseas
• Authorizes 13,000 new soldiers for the Army and 9,000 new Marines
• Reduces the age at which a Reservist can draw retired pay below the age of 60 by 3 months for every 90 days of active duty service in support of a contingency operation
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