Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by President Donald Trump

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that authorizes funding and establishes policies for the Department of Defense programs, including military personnel policies.

Highlights:

• Authorizes $192.44 billion in appropriations for operation and maintenance of defense systems (Sec. 4301).

• Authorizes $136.59 billion in appropriations for defense-wide equipment procurement (Sec. 4101). 

• Authorizes $58 billion in appropriations for operation and maintenance of overseas contingency operations (Sec. 4302).

• Authorizes $32.32 billion to the Defense Health Program (Sec. 4501).

• Authorizes $19.73 billion in appropriations to the National Nuclear Security Administration (Sec. 4701).

• Authorizes $8.37 billion in appropriations for military personnel (Sec. 4401).

• Authorizes $4.6 billion in appropriations for military personnel for overseas contingency operations (Sec. 4402). 

• Authorizes $785.43 million in appropriations to the DOD for drug interdiction and counter-drug activities (Sec. 4501).

• Authorizes $323.3 million in appropriations for defense-wide procurement of overseas contingency operations (Sec. 4102). 

• Requires the rates of monthly basic pay for members of the uniformed services to be increased by 3 percent, effective January 1, 2021 (Sec. 601).

• Requires the Secretary of Defense to establish a commission to assign, modify, or remove names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia to assets of the Department of Defense (DOD) that commemorate the Confederate States of America or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederacy (Sec. 370).

• Requires the Secretary of Defense to implement the plan submitted by the commission to remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederacy from all assets of the DOD(Sec. 370). 

• Requires the Secretary of Defense to establish a program for training members of the Armed Forces and DOD civilian employees regarding the threat of foreign malign influence campaigns targeted at such individuals and their families, including such campaigns carried out through social media (Sec. 589E).

• Requires the Director of the Foreign Threat Response Center to submit a report on foreign malign influence campaigns on and across social media platforms targeting elections (Sec. 9301).

• Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from reducing the total number of members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who are stationed in Germany below 34,500 until the Secretary submits a written assessment containing the following to Congress (Sec. 1245):

• An analysis of whether the reduction would be in the national security interest of the United States and would not detract from the military posture and alignment in the European theater; 

• An analysis of the impact of such a reduction on the security of the US as well as the security of allies and partners of the US in Europe; and

• An analysis of the impact of such a reduction on the ability of the Armed Forces to execute DOD contingency plans, including ongoing operations executed by the United States Central Command and United States Africa Command. 

• Prohibits appropriated amounts to the DOD from being expended for any activity having either of the following effects, until the Secretary of Defense submits the required report to Congress (Sec. 1215):

• Reducing the total number of Armed Forces deployed to Afghanistan below the lesser of: 

• 4,000; or

• The total number of Armed Forces deployed as of the date of the enactment of this bill; or

• Reducing the total number of Armed Forces deployed to Afghanistan below 2,000.

• Requires the above-mentioned report to include the following information (Sec. 1215):

• An assessment of the effect that such a reduction would have on: 

• The ongoing US counterterrorism mission against the Islamic State, al-Qaeda, and associated forces; 

• The risk to US personnel in Afghanistan; and 

• The risk for the expansion of existing or the formation of new international terrorist safe havens inside Afghanistan; 

• A plan for the orderly transition of all security-related tasks currently undertaken by US Armed Forces and nations contributing troops; 

• An update on the status of and US citizens detained in Afghanistan and an overview of administration efforts to secure their release; and

• An assessment by the intelligence community of the manner and extent to which state actors have provided any incentives to the Taliban, their affiliates, or other foreign terrorist organizations for attacks against US, coalition, or Afghan security forces or civilians in Afghanistan in the last 2 years.

• Requires the Secretary of Defense to pay hazardous pay to a member of the uniformed services who performs a hazardous duty (Sec. 614).

• Requires the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study on the financial hardships experienced by members of the Armed Forces as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic (Sec. 597).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that authorizes funding and establishes policies for the Department of Defense programs, including military personnel policies.

Highlights:

• Authorizes $192.44 billion in appropriations for operation and maintenance of defense systems (Sec. 4301).

• Authorizes $136.59 billion in appropriations for defense-wide equipment procurement (Sec. 4101). 

• Authorizes $58 billion in appropriations for operation and maintenance of overseas contingency operations (Sec. 4302).

• Authorizes $32.32 billion to the Defense Health Program (Sec. 4501).

• Authorizes $19.73 billion in appropriations to the National Nuclear Security Administration (Sec. 4701).

• Authorizes $8.37 billion in appropriations for military personnel (Sec. 4401).

• Authorizes $4.6 billion in appropriations for military personnel for overseas contingency operations (Sec. 4402). 

• Authorizes $785.43 million in appropriations to the DOD for drug interdiction and counter-drug activities (Sec. 4501).

• Authorizes $323.3 million in appropriations for defense-wide procurement of overseas contingency operations (Sec. 4102). 

• Requires the rates of monthly basic pay for members of the uniformed services to be increased by 3 percent, effective January 1, 2021 (Sec. 601).

• Requires the Secretary of Defense to establish a commission to assign, modify, or remove names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia to assets of the Department of Defense (DOD) that commemorate the Confederate States of America or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederacy (Sec. 370).

• Requires the Secretary of Defense to implement the plan submitted by the commission to remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederacy from all assets of the DOD(Sec. 370). 

• Requires the Secretary of Defense to establish a program for training members of the Armed Forces and DOD civilian employees regarding the threat of foreign malign influence campaigns targeted at such individuals and their families, including such campaigns carried out through social media (Sec. 589E).

• Requires the Director of the Foreign Threat Response Center to submit a report on foreign malign influence campaigns on and across social media platforms targeting elections (Sec. 9301).

• Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from reducing the total number of members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who are stationed in Germany below 34,500 until the Secretary submits a written assessment containing the following to Congress (Sec. 1245):

• An analysis of whether the reduction would be in the national security interest of the United States and would not detract from the military posture and alignment in the European theater; 

• An analysis of the impact of such a reduction on the security of the US as well as the security of allies and partners of the US in Europe; and

• An analysis of the impact of such a reduction on the ability of the Armed Forces to execute DOD contingency plans, including ongoing operations executed by the United States Central Command and United States Africa Command. 

• Prohibits appropriated amounts to the DOD from being expended for any activity having either of the following effects, until the Secretary of Defense submits the required report to Congress (Sec. 1215):

• Reducing the total number of Armed Forces deployed to Afghanistan below the lesser of: 

• 4,000; or

• The total number of Armed Forces deployed as of the date of the enactment of this bill; or

• Reducing the total number of Armed Forces deployed to Afghanistan below 2,000.

• Requires the above-mentioned report to include the following information (Sec. 1215):

• An assessment of the effect that such a reduction would have on: 

• The ongoing US counterterrorism mission against the Islamic State, al-Qaeda, and associated forces; 

• The risk to US personnel in Afghanistan; and 

• The risk for the expansion of existing or the formation of new international terrorist safe havens inside Afghanistan; 

• A plan for the orderly transition of all security-related tasks currently undertaken by US Armed Forces and nations contributing troops; 

• An update on the status of and US citizens detained in Afghanistan and an overview of administration efforts to secure their release; and

• An assessment by the intelligence community of the manner and extent to which state actors have provided any incentives to the Taliban, their affiliates, or other foreign terrorist organizations for attacks against US, coalition, or Afghan security forces or civilians in Afghanistan in the last 2 years.

• Requires the Secretary of Defense to pay hazardous pay to a member of the uniformed services who performs a hazardous duty (Sec. 614).

• Requires the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study on the financial hardships experienced by members of the Armed Forces as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic (Sec. 597).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes funding and establishes policies for the Department of Defense programs, including military personnel policies.

Highlights:

• Authorizes $1.98 billion in appropriations for embassy security, construction, and maintenance for the 2021 fiscal year (Sec. 14201).

• Authorizes $132.84 billion in appropriations for defense-wide equipment procurement (Sec. 4101). 

• Authorizes $5.49 billion in appropriations for procurement of overseas contingency operations (Sec. 4102).

• Appropriations $4.6 million to military personnel for overseas contingency operations (Sec. 4402).

• Authorizes $19.85 billion in appropriations to the National Nuclear Security Administration (Sec. 4701).

• Authorizes $28.84 million in appropriations to the operation of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Sec. 3201).

• Authorizes $8.37 billion in appropriations for military personnel (Sec. 4401).

• Authorizes $193.9 billion in appropriations for operation and maintenance of defense systems (Sec. 4301).

• Authorizes $58 billion in appropriations for operation and maintenance of overseas contingency operations (Sec. 4302).

• Authorizes $69.6 million in appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for drug interdiction and counter-drug activities (Sec. 4501).

• Authorizes $32.74 billion to the Defense Health Program (Sec. 4501).

• Authorizes $868 million in appropriations to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the 2021 fiscal year in order to  (Sec. 5401):

• Support research on artificial intelligence systems and related areas; 

• Support collaborations among researchers across disciplines to advance research critical to the development and deployment of trustworthy artificial intelligence systems; and

• Use the existing programs of the NSF to improve the teaching and learning of artificial intelligence systems at all levels of education, and increase participation in artificial intelligence-related fields.

• Requires the Secretary of Defense to prohibit the public display of the Confederate battle flag on all DOD property (Sec. 1749).

• Defines “Department of Defense property” as all installations, workplaces, common-access areas, and public areas of the DOD, including (Sec. 1749):

• Office buildings, facilities, naval vessels, aircraft, government vehicles, conference rooms, individual offices, cubicles, break rooms, and Navy and Marine Corps exchanges; 

• Sensitive compartmented information facilities and other secure facilities; 

• Open-bay barracks and common areas of barracks and living quarters; 

• All DOD school houses and training facilities; and

• Automobile bumper stickers, clothing, and other apparel that is located on or in any installation, workplace, common-access area, or public area of the DOD. 

• Requires each Secretary concerned to submit a report that identifies each covered military installation and all covered defense property that the Secretary determines to be the definitions of those terms, no later than 60 days after this bill’s enactment (Sec. 2829).

• Requires the DOD Secretary to begin this process by renaming each covered military installation and covered defense property identified in the naming report, no later than one year after this bill’s enactment (Sec. 2829).

• Defines “covered defense property” as any real property, including any building, structure, or other improvement to real property thereon, under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned that is named after any person who served in the political or military leadership of any armed rebellion against the US (Sec. 2829).

• Defines “covered military installation” as a military installation or reserve component facility that is named after any person who served in the political or military leadership of any armed rebellion against the US (Sec. 2829).

• Requires the DOD Secretary to establish a panel known as the COVID-19 Military Health System Review Panel in order to (Sec. 721):

• Review the response of the military health system to the coronavirus and the effects of COVID-19 on such system, including the analysis of  any strengths or weaknesses of such a system identified as a result of COVID-19; and

• Using information from the review, make such recommendations as the panel considers appropriate with respect to any policy, practice, organization, manning level, funding level, or legislative authority relating to the military health system.

• Requires the DOD Secretary to submit a report including all of the following, to the appropriate Congressional committees (Sec. 1213):

• A certification that the intended withdrawal of the US Armed Forces in Afghanistan:

• Will not compromise or otherwise negatively affect the ongoing US counterterrorism mission against the Islamic State, al-Qaeda, and associated forces; 

• Will not unduly increase the risk to US personnel in Afghanistan; 

• Will not increase the risk for the expansion of existing or formation of new international terrorist safe havens inside Afghanistan; 

• Will be undertaken with the consultation and coordination of allies supporting the US and NATO-led missions; 

• Is in the best interest of US national security and in furtherance of US policy toward Afghanistan for achieving and enduring diplomatic salutation; 

• An analysis of the impact that the intended withdrawal of the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan would have on each of the following: 

• The threat posed by the Taliban and terrorist organizations, including each covered terrorist organization, to (Sec. 1213):

• The US homeland; 

• US interests abroad; 

• Allied countries of the North American Treaty Organization (NATO);

• The Afghani government; and

• Regional peace and security;

• The ability of the Afghan government to uphold the human and civil rights of women, girls, people with disabilities, religious and ethnic minorities, and other vulnerable populations; 

• Transparent, credible, and inclusive political processes in Afghanistan; 

• The capacity of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces to effectively:

• Protect or defend against attacks by the Taliban or by terrorist organizations on civilian populations; 

• Prevent the permanent takeover of one or more provincial capitals by the Taliban or by associated organizations;

• Conduct counterterrorism operations necessary to deny safe harbor to international terrorist organizations that the intelligence community assess pose a threat to the US; and

• Maintain institutional order and discipline; and

• The influence of Afghanistan’s neighbors and on the sovereignty of Afghanistan and the strategic national security interests of the US in the region.

• Requires the DOD Secretary to develop a strategy for pandemic preparedness and response that includes the following (Sec. 722):

• Identify activities necessary to be carried out prior to a pandemic to ensure preparedness and effective communication of roles and responsibilities within the DOD, including:

• Reviewing the frequency of each exercise conducted by the Department or a military department that relates to a pandemic or severe influenza season or related force health protection; 

• Ensuring such exercises are appropriately planned, resourced, and practiced; 

• Considering the capabilities necessary to carry out the strategy and related operations for force health protection, and ensuring that these are included in each cost evaluation, DOD-wide review, or manning assessment of DOD that affects such capabilities; and

• Review DOD systems for health surveillance and detection to ensure continuous situational awareness and early warning for a pandemic, including a review of:

• The levels of funding and investment and the overall value of the Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System of the DOD, including the value demonstrated by the role of such system in:

• Improving the DOD prevention and surveillance of infectious diseases that may impact members of the Armed Forces; 

• Informing decisions relating to force health protection across the geographic combatant commands; 

• Ensuring laboratory readiness to support pandemic response efforts and to understand infectious disease threats to the Armed Forces; and

• Coordinating and collaborating with partners;

• The levels of funding and investment and the overall value of the overseas medical laboratories of the DOD; and

• The levels of funding and investment and the overall value of the Direct HIV/AIDS Prevention Program of the DOD.

• Requires the DOD Secretary to take actions necessary to develop an acquisition pathway within the DOD known as the Alternative Space Acquisition System whose goal will be to quickly and effectively acquire space warfighting capabilities needed to address the requirements of the national defense strategy (Sec. 807).

• Requires the Chair of the National Space Council to submit a report setting forth  (1754):

• A strategy to ensure that the US strengthens civil and national security capabilities and operations in space; and

• A plan to implement the strategy, which will:

• Ensure the freedom of navigation of space assets and protect the supply chain relating to such assets and the manufacturing process of such assets from threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, which may include protection from intellectual property theft and threats to electronic warfare capabilities; 

• Identify capabilities required to ensure civil and national security space leadership; 

• Provide contingency and resiliency for civil and national security space operations; and

• Strengthen relations with US allies with respect to space.

• Specifies that whenever unlawful obstruction, combinations, or assemblages, or rebellion against the authority of the United States, makes it impractical to enforce US laws in any state by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, the President may call into Federal service such of the militia of any state, and use such of the armed forces as the president considers necessary to enforce those laws or suppress the rebellion (Sec. 1052).

• Specifies that none of the funds authorized in this bill can be used to take action to reduce the total number of members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who are stationed in Germany, below the levels present on June 10, 2020, until 180 days after the DOD Secretary has submitted  certification that (Sec. 1241):

• Such a reduction is in the US’ national security interest will not significantly undermine the security of the US or its allies in the region, including a justification explaining the analysis behind the certification; and

• The DOD Secretary has consulted with US allies and partners in Europe regarding such a reduction.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text