The INSIDER daily digest -- June 15, 2023

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the fiscal year 2024 defense spending bill, the Army's Extended Range Cannon Artillery program and more.

The House Appropriations Committee this week released its version of the fiscal year 2024 military spending bill, but Democrats don't like it:

GOP appropriators release draft defense bill, Dems decry cuts and riders

House Republicans have released a draft defense appropriations bill they say will counter China and protect conservative ideals, but Democrats are mustering opposition to the legislation over its cuts to the Pentagon's workforce, climate change initiatives, multiyear contracts and other "partisan riders."

Document: House appropriators' FY-24 defense spending bill

The Army's top civilian spoke about the Extended Range Cannon Artillery program this week:

Army secretary says ERCA not likely to 'get over the finish line' this year

The Extended Range Cannon Artillery program is not likely to "get over the finish line" this year in terms of its development, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told reporters this week.

More news from the House Armed Services Committee's fiscal year 2024 defense policy bill:

House authorizers want DOD to be more laser-focused

Protection against directed-energy weapons should be a priority for the Defense Department at all levels of development, according to the House Armed Services Committee.

Lawmakers propose green light for U.S.-Japan collaboration on Glide Phase Interceptor

The United States, Japan and potentially other nations could formally begin collaborative development on the Glide Phase Interceptor as soon as the fiscal year 2024 defense policy bill is enacted if a proposed single-sentence provision in that legislation becomes law, a sign of support in Congress for a joint effort to develop a next-generation Aegis guided missile.

Air National Guard to fund unit's transfer to Space Force

The proposed Space National Guard will receive funds from the existing Air National Guard to transfer its mission and people to the Space Force, according to a senior House committee aide.

Looks like the delivery of 20 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets is getting closer to fruition:

Navy: Boeing contract maintains Super Hornet production

As part of a "time-critical parts modification," Boeing will deliver to the Navy a "subset of technical data" for production of Super Hornet strike fighters, a Navy spokeswoman told Inside Defense.

A recent Government Accountability Office report makes "three recommendations to the Air Force to ensure the [service's space command and control] program includes consistent metrics in annual and internal reports, and documents how it will meet requirements":

GAO recommends Pentagon improve tracking of Space C2

The Pentagon should improve its oversight of the Space Command and Control program using upgraded tracking and consistent metrics to demonstrate how much progress the program has made amidst ongoing delays, according to a June 8 Government Accountability Office report.

Document: GAO report on space C2