House Passes Annual Defense Authorization Act

Today, the full U.S. House of Representatives approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2011 (H.R. 5136).  The annual legislation, which includes many provisions that will have a positive impact in Utah and for local military installations and personnel, passed out of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) just last week.

During consideration this week, the House maintained language, sponsored by Congressman Bishop, reaffirming the vital need to maintain our country's Solid Rocket Motor industrial base.  The northern Utah lawmaker has long pointed out the critical connection between NASA's Constellation program and the future of our national defense and missile defense capabilities. The Bishop language, included in the final report of the bill, also criticizes NASA for its efforts to terminate the Constellation program without sufficiently consulting with the Department of Defense.
Among other things, the Defense Authorization Bill also includes:

• An additional $7.5 million in funding to maintain a warm line for the Minuteman III program.
• Full funding for continued procurement of the F-35 fighter at planned FY11 levels.
• A provision, sponsored specifically by Bishop, which directs the Army to coordinate with the Department of Health and Human Services on transferring title of 2.5 acres of land at the former Defense Depot Ogden (DDOU) to the City of Ogden for further economic development.
• $2.8 million in funding authorization for an F-22 Engine Test Cell Facility at Hill Air Force Base.
• $398.4 million in funding authorization for a National Cyber security Initiative Data Center at Camp Williams, Utah.
• Support for military personnel and their families, including a cost-of-living increase and significant equipment upgrades for the National Guard.
After final passage of the legislation, Congressman Bishop made the following statement:

"The Armed Services Committee process was very bipartisan, with a general lack of controversy because folks there worked together and produced a consensus bill.  Some of the provisions I was successful in inserting came about because both Republican and Democratic members and staff were committed to mutually solving problems and not just scoring political points or pushing an agenda.  That process produced a decent bill, and I supported it."

"On the issue of ‘don't ask, don't tell', the Committee worked with military leadership, where it could, to accommodate their desires to delay any change until they had completed their own study and review.  Unfortunately, when this bill came to the floor, the civility and bipartisanship that were present in Committee broke down.  It is disappointing that this important legislation, critical to the defense of our country and the safety and security of our troops and their families, was co-opted by Congressional leadership as a vehicle to advance a political agenda.  They took a bipartisan product and turned it into a partisan tool.  It didn't have to be this way."