House Passes Appropriations Bill

The House just passed a $491 billion fiscal year 2015 defense appropriations bill by a 340-73 vote.

The bill provides $4.1 billion above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and $200 million more than the Obama administration's request. Additionally, the bill includes $79.4 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations funding, the same level assumed in the administration's budget request and in the House-passed defense authorization bill, according to an appropriations committee statement.

Acquisition-related amendments approved by the full House include:

Lamborn (R-CO) – The amendment increases funding for the Army National Guard Operation and Maintenance account by $5 million, offset by a reduction in the Defense-Wide Operation and Maintenance account. The intent of the amendment is to support the Army National Guard Southwest Border Mission. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Lowenthal (D-CA) – The amendment cuts, then adds back, $5 million from the Defense-Wide Operation and Maintenance account. The intent of the amendment is to support DoD’s STARBASE program. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Nugent (R-FL) – The amendment cuts, then adds back, $10 million within the Air Force RDT&E account. The intent of the amendment is to support the Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Missile Project. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Holt (D-NJ) – The amendment cuts, then adds back, $2 million within the Intelligence Community Management Account. The intent of the amendment is to provide additional resources for the Inspector General to manage a whistleblower and source protection program. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Daines (R-MT) – The amendment strikes language in the bill that sunsets a provision prohibiting DoD from reducing or decommissioning Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) silos. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Grayson (D-FL) –The amendment prohibits funding to award a contract to a company that has been convicted of, or is currently indicted/civilly charged for a range of crimes, or has delinquent taxes of more than $3,000 within a three-year period of the offered contract. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Miller (R-MI) – The amendment prohibits funding in the bill to divest, retire, transfer, or place into storage any A-10 aircraft, to prepare for such activities, or to dissolve any A-10 units. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 300-114.

Runyan (R-NJ) – The amendment prohibits funding to retire, divest, or transfer the entire KC-10 aircraft fleet during fiscal year 2015. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Walberg (R-MI) – The amendment prohibits funding to promulgate Directive 293 issued by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

DeLauro (D-CT) – The amendment prohibits funding to award contracts to corporations incorporated or chartered in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, or Ireland that were previously incorporated in the United States. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Flores (R-TX) –The amendment prohibits funding to implement, administer, or enforce section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act, which prohibits federal agencies from procuring certain fuels unless the greenhouse gas emissions are less than conventional petroleum sources. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Conyers (D-MI) – The amendment prohibits funding to transfer man-portable air defense systems to any entity in Syria. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

McClintock (R-CA) – The amendment prohibits funding for green energy programs. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

The Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee will take up its version of the bill in July.