NDAA 2009 UPDATE 04:
The House and Senate have been working on their
>> own
>> versions of the 2009 NDAA, attempting to get a bill to the President's
>> desk for signature into law by October 1, 2008. The House
approved their
>> version, H.R.5658, on 22 MAU by a vote of 384-23. The bill has
$601.4
>> billion in regular funding (excludes war funding) for the Defense
>> Department. Included in the bill is a 3.9% pay raise; increases
in full
>> time manning for the Army and Air Guard; allows for Tricare cost share
>> increases; initiates a 3-year sabbatical program; initiates a
>> tuition-assistance program for military spouses; buys more aircraft
such
>> as C-17s, F-22s, C-130s, and F-35s; includes $750 million for Guard
&
>> reserve equipment purchases; and authorizes $65.4 million for
>> reintegration programs. The Senate version, S.3001, is still in
>> committee
>> and has not progressed to the floor for debate or vote yet. The
best
>> guess is that the Senate will not take up this legislation until after
>> the
>> 4 JUL recess is over. This bill has $612.5 billion in regular funding.
>> It
>> also increases full time manning for the Army and Air Guard; allows for
>> no
>> Tricare fee increases; includes the pay raise and sabbatical
provisions;
>> has $390 million for Guard homeland defense equipment but no equipment
>> account; authorizes 21 days of paternity leave; and requires DOD and
JCS
>> and NGB to develop a strategic plan for the role of the Guard.
Once the
>> Senate votes their version of the bill, both bills go to conference
>> committee to iron out any differences. Then the compromise
conference
>> bill goes back to both chambers for ratification vote, and following
that
>> affirmative vote, it goes to the President for signature (or veto).
On
>> May 22 MAY the White House issued a veto threat concerning HR 5658,
>> citing
>> 27 different provisions of concern in the bill. Among those
provisions
>> for which the President would veto the bill are: the pay raise (3.4%
vs.
>> 3.9%), purchase of additional C-17s, F-22s, and F-35s, and not
increasing
>> the Tricare cost share amounts to even higher levels. [Source:
EANGUS
>> Minuteman Update 12 Jun 08 ++]