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H.R. 6157: Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019

Sep 26, 2018 at 5:26 p.m. ET. On the Conference Report in the House.

This was a vote to pass H.R. 6157 (115th) in the House. The federal budget process occurs in two stages: appropriations and authorizations. This is an appropriations bill, which sets overall spending limits by agency or program, typically for a single fiscal year (October 1 through September 30 of the next year).

H.R. 6157 provides $674.6 billion in total discretionary budget authority for the Department of Defense for fiscal year (FY) 2019. The bill provides $606.5 billion for the Department of Defense base budget, which is an increase of $17.1 billion above FY18 levels, and $68.1 billion for the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account to support the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). This funding level is consistent with the National Defense Authorization Act as well as the recently enacted budget agreement.

The major provisions of the bill are as follows:

Title I—Military Personnel

The bill provides a total of $144 billion - $139.3 billion for base requirements and $4.7 billion for OCO/GWOT requirements – to provide for 1,338,100 active-duty troops and 817,700 Guard and Reserve troops. The bill fully funds the requested 16,400 end-strength increase and the 2.6 percent pay raise for the military.

Title II—Operation and Maintenance

The bill provides a total of $245.9 billion - $197.6 billion for base requirements and $48.3 billion for OCO/GWOT requirements – for operation and maintenance. This funding supports key readiness programs to prepare troops for combat and peacetime missions, including flight time and battle training, equipment and facility maintenance, and base operations. Within this amount, the bill includes $1 billion above the request to fill readiness shortfalls, $1.05 billion above the request to invest in facility sustainment, restoration, and modernization programs, and $20.6 billion total for depot maintenance. This funding will help rebuild our forces to ensure our troops have the training and equipment they need.

Title III—Procurement

The bill provides for a total of $145.7 billion - $133 billion for base requirements and $12.7 billion for OCO/GWOT requirements - for equipment and upgrades. Major initiatives and modifications include:

Title V—Revolving and Management Funds

The bill provides a total of $1.557 billion - $1.542 billion for base requirements and $15.2 million for OCO/GWOT requirements - for the Defense Revolving and Management Funds.

Title VI—Other Department of Defense Programs

The bill provides a total of $34.4 billion - $34 billion for base requirements and $352 million for OCO/GWOT requirements - for expenses not otherwise provided for, including the Defense Health Program. Specifically, the bill provides $364 million for cancer research, $125 million for traumatic brain injury and psychological health research, and $318 million for sexual assault prevention and response.

Title VII—Related Agencies

Title VII provides for $514 million for continuing the operation of the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System Fund. The Title also provides for $512.4 million for the Intelligence Community Management Account.

Title VIII—General Provisions

Title VIII includes, among others, the following general provisions:

  • Section 8012 provides that civilian personnel of the Department of Defense may not be managed on the basis of end strength or be subject to end strength limitations.
  • Section 8024 provides that none of the funds appropriated or made available shall be used to procure carbon, alloy, or armor steel plate that were not melted and rolled in the U.S. or Canada.
  • Section 8065 provides $500 million for Israel Cooperative Programs. An additional $47.5 million is provided in title II for the Israeli anti-tunneling program.
  • Section 8094 prohibits funding to transfer or release any individual detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba into the United States, its territories, or possessions.
  • Section 8095 prohibits funding to modify any United States facility (other than the facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba) to house any individual detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
  • Section 8096 prohibits funding to transfer any individual detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to a country of origin or other foreign country or entity unless the Secretary of Defense makes certain certifications.
  • Section 8105 prohibits the use of funds by the National Security Agency targeting U.S. persons under authorities granted in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
  • Section 8109 prohibits funding from being used to violate the War Powers Resolution Act.
  • Section 8115 prohibits the use of funds to close facilities at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

Title IX—Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO)

Title IX provides $68.1 billion for Global War on Terrorism operations or the OCO fund.

Source: Republican Policy Committee

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Vote Outcome
All Votes R D
Yea 86%
 
 
361
176
 
185
 
Nay 14%
 
 
61
56
 
5
 
Not Voting
 
 
6
3
 
3
 

Passed. Simple Majority Required. Source: house.gov.

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Notes: The Speaker’s Vote?
The Speaker of the House is not required to vote in “ordinary legislative proceedings, except when such vote would be decisive.” In practice, this means the Speaker of the House rarely votes and only does so when it is politically useful. When the Speaker declines to vote, he or she is simply omitted from the roll call by the House Clerk. (See House Rules, Rule I(7).)
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The U.S. Constitution says that bills should be decided on by the “yeas and nays” (Article I, Section 7). Congress takes this literally and uses “yea” and “nay” when voting on the final passage of bills.

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