Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo today announced that the House of Representatives has passed H.R. 3979, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, by a vote of 300 yeas to 119 noes. H.R. 3979 authorizes and sets policy for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2015. The bill now moves to the Senate for its consideration.

(VIDEO: Congresswoman Bordallo speaks on the House Floor in support of H.R. 3979)

The FY15 NDAA authorizes approximately $577.1 billion for the Department of Defense, including $495.9 billion in discretionary budget authority and an additional $63.7 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations. The bill restores $818 million in cuts made to readiness accounts, authorizes an additional $23 million for two Combat Training Center rotations for the Army National Guard, and supports current law to mandate a 1% increase in military pay. The bill also requires the Secretary of Defense to conduct a review of the defense commissary system to help determine the best way to maintain the system that provides significant savings to patrons.

H.R. 3979 maintains a provision offered Congresswoman Bordallo that repeals the remaining restrictions on the use of Government of Japan contributions and U.S. military construction funds for projects related to the Marine realignment to Guam. The bill provides for an $8.7 billion total cost cap for military construction related to the build-up, which reflect estimates contained in the master plan submitted to Congress in July.

The FY15 NDAA also includes a provision that would require the Departments of Defense to develop a strategy and outline efforts in the annual budget submission to support and sustain the rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region. This provision builds off the efforts of the Guam-U.S.-Asia Security Alliance (GUASA) and findings from their recent conferences. It would help to ensure that there is broader understanding of the security aspects of the rebalance so that appropriate resources can be put toward future efforts.

Further the bill includes the amended version of H.R. 4402, the Guam Military Training and Readiness Act, that authorizes the Department of the Navy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to enter into an agreement for the placement of a surface danger zone above the Ritidian Unit of the Guam National Wildlife Refuge. The amendment includes measures to maintain the purposes of the Wildlife Refuge and requires the Navy to pay for mitigations to offset impacts of placing an SDZ over the Wildlife Refuge.

“H.R. 3979 continues Congress’ 53 year tradition of passing a bipartisan defense bill, and it provides critical authorities to our men and women in uniform to carry out their mission and protect our way of life,” said Congresswoman Bordallo. “The FY15 NDAA marks a significant milestone for the build-up and removes all restrictions on military construction funds for projects related to the realignment of Marines from Okinawa to Guam. I appreciate that the Conferees, including Senator John McCain, recognized the importance of removing all restrictions on the use of these funds to support the realignment. This ensures that the build-up is back on track and is a huge achievement to move the program forward. I will continue to work with House and Senate leaders to build on this progress over the next several years to ensure that the realignment is beneficial to both our civilian community and the DoD.

“I am also pleased that the bill provides for a 1% increase to our servicemembers and restores $818 million in cuts to the readiness operations and maintenance accounts. The bill also authorizes $162.4 million in military construction projects on Guam and requires the Defense Department to develop a strategy that will outline the Department’s efforts to support the security aspects of the rebalance strategy.”

A table of the President’s budget request and a summary of Congresswoman Bordallo’s requested and supported provisions included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 are listed below:

• Fully authorizes for appropriation $162.4 million in military construction funds for Guam, including $51 million to support steps to establish a fully capable Marine Air-Ground Task Force on Guam.  It includes an additional $34.4 million, above the President’s Budget request, for a corrosion control facility at Andersen Air Force Base that was added as a top priority project for the Air Force;
• Eliminates restrictions on obligation and expenditure of Government of Japan and certain U.S. military construction funds for projects related to the realignment of Marines from Okinawa to Guam. These restriction were enacted as section 2822 of the FY14 NDAA;
• Requires the Departments of Defense to develop a strategy document that outlines efforts to support and sustain the rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region. Specifically, the report will require the DoD to clearly indicate efforts that it is undertaking to support the rebalance strategy.  The provision also requires the annual budget submission to Congress to highlight programs and projects that support the Asia-Pacific rebalance strategy. 
• Provides for a one year freeze, during FY15, of transfer of Apaches from the National Guard to the Active Duty;
• Creates the National Commission on the Future of the U.S. Army, which will have four members appointed by the President and four appointed by Congress. The Commission is tasked to report back to Congress by February 1, 2016.
• Requires the Secretaries of the Army and Secretary of the Air Force to consult with the Chief, National Guard Bureau on the appointment of general officers who will serve as Director and Deputy Director of the Army and Air National Guard; an important step to fulfilling the intent of the Guard Empowerment Act by giving the Chief of the National Guard Bureau with the tools to support Joint Chiefs requirements;
• Rejects all cuts to the TRICARE program and housing allowances contained in the President’s Budget
• Requires a report from the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics regarding the feasibility of establishing public-private housing ventures (PPV) on Guam;
• Fully funds Research, Development, Tests and Evaluation of the Long Range Strike bomber program which is critical to our rebalance strategy and maintaining air dominance;
• Provides additional $1.148 million for the Navy Sea Cadet Corps program;
• Fully funds the Global Hawk Block 30 program.

Fiscal Year 2015 Military Construction Authorization of Appropriation