(Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 for defense-wide procurement.
Subtitle B: Army Programs - (Sec. 111) Limits the obligation of FY 2004 funds for the Army's Stryker vehicle program until: (1) the Secretary of the Army has submitted a report to the Deputy Secretary of Defense on modifications of the equipment and configuration of Stryker brigades; (2) the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) has submitted such report to the congressional defense and appropriations committees, along with a certification concerning the modifications as planned by the Army; and (3) 30 days have elapsed since those committees received such report and certification.
(Sec. 112) Directs the Secretary of the Army to study and report to Congress on the participation of a second source in the production of gears for transmissions incorporated into CH-47 helicopters being procured by the Army with funds authorized under this Act.
Subtitle C: Navy Programs - (Sec. 121) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to enter into a multiyear procurement contract, beginning with: (1) the FY 2005 program year, for up to 234 aircraft in the F/A-18E, F/A-18F, and EA-18G configurations; (2) the FY 2004 program year, for tactical Tomahawk cruise missiles; (3) the FY 2004 program year, for Virginia class submarines; (4) the FY 2004 program year, for E-2C and TE-2C aircraft and engines for such aircraft; and (5) the FY 2004 program year, for the Phalanx Close In Weapon System program. Requires 30 days' prior notification of the defense and appropriations committees with respect to the submarines procurement.
(Sec. 126) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to carry out a pilot program of flexible funding of conversions and overhauls of Navy cruisers using transferred Navy procurement and operation and maintenance funds for FY 2004 through 2012. Provides limitations. Requires a program report from such Secretary to the defense and appropriations committees. Terminates the pilot program on September 30, 2012.
Subtitle D: Air Force Programs - (Sec. 131) Amends the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Stump Act) to eliminate quantity limitations on the multiyear procurement authority for C-130J aircraft.
(Sec. 132) Prohibits the Secretary of the Air Force from retiring C-5A aircraft to a number below 112 until: (1) the Air Force has modified such aircraft to a specified configuration; and (2) the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation has conducted an evaluation of the aircraft and provides an operational assessment to the Secretary and the defense and appropriations committees.
(Sec. 133) Limits FY 2004 funding availability for the procurement of F/A-22 aircraft until the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics makes a certification to the defense and appropriations committees with respect to the operational test and evaluation of the aircraft. Authorizes the Secretary to waive the certification requirement after notification to such committees.
(Sec. 134) Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to: (1) ensure that the number of KC-135E aircraft retired in FY 2004 does not exceed 12; and (2) submit to the defense and appropriations committees an analysis of alternatives for meeting Air Force aerial refueling requirements.
(Sec. 135) Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to enter into a multiyear lease for up to 20 aerial refueling tanker aircraft and to use such authority to lease up to 80 of such aircraft for up to ten program years beginning as early as FY 2004. Requires the Secretary of Defense to study and report to the defense and appropriations committees on alternative means for meeting long-term tanker aircraft maintenance and training requirements. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should ensure sufficient budgeting resources to fully execute such program and to further ensure that all other critical defense programs are fully funded.
Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - (Sec. 201) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 for the armed forces for research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E). Earmarks specified amounts for the Defense Science and Technology Program.
Subtitle B: Program Requirements, Restrictions, and Limitations - (Sec. 211) Directs the Secretary to establish and carry out a collaborative program for evaluation and demonstration of advanced technologies and concepts for advanced gun systems that use electromagnetic propulsion for direct and indirect fire applications. Requires an implementation report from the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to the defense and appropriations committees.
(Sec. 212) Authorizes the Secretary, in selecting a Director for the Department of Defense Test Resources Management Center, to choose from senior DOD civilian officials and employees. (Currently, the Secretary must select for such position only from among active-duty commissioned officers.)
(Sec. 213) Directs the Secretary to develop and submit such plan to the defense committees an implementation plan for management of the Joint Tactical Radio System development program. Requires plan implementation by December 1, 2004.
(Sec. 214) Prohibits the obligation of a specified amount of RDT&E funds under this Act for the development and demonstration of systems for the Future Combat Systems program until 30 days after the Secretary of the Army reports to the defense and appropriations committees on such program. Requires separate program elements under such program for fiscal years beginning with 2004. Requires an annual report from such Secretary to the defense and appropriations committees on the programs and projects comprising such program.
(Sec. 215) Amends the Stump Act to extend for FY 2004 a reporting requirement with respect to the RAH-66 Comanche aircraft program.
(Sec. 216) Directs the Secretary to provide for the performance of two independent studies on alternative future fleet platform architectures for the Navy. Requires study results to be forwarded to the defense and appropriations committees.
Subtitle C: Ballistic Missile Defense - (Sec. 221) Amends Federal provisions concerning program elements of ballistic missile defense (BMD) programs to: (1) repeal current program elements; and (2) authorize the President to specify such elements.
(Sec. 222) Earmarks specified RDT&E funds for the development and fielding of an initial set of BMD capabilities.
(Sec. 223) Directs the Secretary to include: (1) in budget justification materials submitted to Congress in support of the DOD budget specified information for each BMD element for which the Missile Defense Agency is engaged in planning for production and initial fielding; and (2) in the future-years defense program submitted to Congress each year an estimate of the amount necessary and justification for procurement for each BMD system element.
(Sec. 224) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 to: (1) extend through FY 2004 the authority to assist local communities impacted by the BMD system test bed; and (2) require the Secretary to report to the defense and appropriations committees on the community assistance projects so funded.
(Sec. 225) Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of any DOD funds authorized under this Act for RDT&E, or procurement or development, of nuclear armed interceptors in a missile defense system.
(Sec. 226) Revises provisions with respect to responsibility for follow-on RDT&E related to system improvements for missile defense programs transferred from the Missile Defense Agency to the military departments.
Subtitle D: Other Matters - (Sec. 231) Requires the Director of Defense Research and Engineering to carry out a Global Research Watch program to, among other things, monitor and analyze the basic and applied research activities and capabilities of foreign nations in areas of military interest. Terminates the program on September 30, 2006.
(Sec. 232) Requires the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, every other year, to prepare and submit to Congress a strategic plan for Agency activities.
(Sec. 233) Authorizes the Secretary, in furtherance of the support of educational programs in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology, to: (1) enter into contracts and cooperative arrangements; (2) make financial assistance grants; (3) provide cash awards and other incentives; (4) accept voluntary services; and (5) support national competition judging, educational event activities, and associated award ceremonies in connection with such programs.
(Sec. 234) Directs the Secretary to carry out a program of research and development (R&D) to promote the development of high-speed, high-bandwidth communications capabilities for support of network-centric operations by the armed forces. Requires the Secretary to report to the defense and appropriations committees on program activities undertaken.
(Sec. 235) Requires the Secretary, through the Commander of the U.S. Joint Forces Command, to carry out a joint experiment in FY 2004 to demonstrate and evaluate joint blue (friendly) forces tracking technologies. Requires the Secretary to report experiment results to the defense and appropriations committees, together with a plan for the development, acquisition, and fielding of a functional, near real-time blue forces tracking system.
Title III: Operation and Maintenance - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - (Sec. 301) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 for operation and maintenance (O&M) for the armed forces and specified activities and agencies of DOD.
(Sec. 302) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 for: (1) working capital funds; (2) the defense health program; (3) chemical agents and munitions destruction, defense; (4) defense drug interdiction and counter-drug activities; and (5) the Defense Inspector General.
Subtitle B: Environmental Provisions - (Sec. 311) Amends the Sikes Act to extend its authorization of appropriations through FY 2008. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary take all necessary steps to ensure full implementation of the provisions of such Act, including the implementation of integrated natural resources management plans on lands upon and surrounding military installations. Requires, in the case of such a plan for any military installation on Guam during FY 2004 through 2008, the management, control, and eradication of invasive species not native to the ecosystem of that military installation the introduction of which cause or may cause harm to military readiness, the environment, or human health or safety.
(Sec. 312) Includes within the Secretary's authority to transport humanitarian relief supplies the authority to transport supplies used to respond to or mitigate the effects of environmental emergencies. Authorizes the Secretary to transport supplies for such purpose, but only if other transportation sources are not readily available.
(Sec. 313) Repeals the authority to use environmental restoration account funds for the relocation of a contaminated facility, but retains the authority to pay relocation costs under cooperative agreements entered into up to September 30, 2003.
(Sec. 314) Authorizes the Secretary with respect to a defense agency or the Secretary of a military department, when engaged in an authorized activity that may or will result in the destruction of or adverse impact to a wetland, to make payments to a wetland mitigation banking program or approved mitigation sponsor. Directs the Secretary of the Army to issue regulations establishing in permits issued by such Secretary performance standards and criteria for the use of mitigation and mitigation banking as compensation for lost wetlands functions.
(Sec. 315) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to include environmental protection equipment within salvage facilities provided for public and private vessels. Allows claims for salvage services to include claims for environmental protection services.
(Sec. 316) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 to repeal the authority for a model program of environmental restoration at closed military bases.
(Sec. 317) Requires the Secretary to amend regulations establishing restoration advisory boards to require board meetings to be held at a reasonable time and manner and be open to the public, and for the public to be given timely notice of such meetings. Makes the Federal Advisory Committee Act inapplicable to such boards.
(Sec. 318) Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from designating as critical habitat any lands or other areas owned or controlled by DOD, or designated for its use, that are subject to an integrated natural resources management plan prepared under the Sikes Act, if such Secretary determines that the plan provides a benefit to the species for which critical habitat is proposed for designation. Requires such Secretary to consider the impact on national security when considering the designation of a critical habitat.
(Sec. 319) Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to add the definition of "harassment" with respect to a military readiness activity. Authorizes the Secretary, after conferring with the Secretary of Commerce or the Interior (or both), to exempt any action or category of actions undertaken by DOD or its components from compliance with any requirement of such Act if the Secretary determines that the exemption is necessary for national defense. Allows the incidental takings of marine mammals while engaged in a military readiness activity, requiring publication of notice thereof only in the Federal Register.
(Sec. 320) Directs the Secretary to conduct a study of the impacts of the following activities at military installations and operational ranges: (1) civilian community encroachment; (2) DOD compliance with State implementation plans for air quality under the Clean Air Act; and (3) DOD compliance with the Solid Waste Disposal Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. Requiresthe Secretary to: (1) prepare a plan to respond to encroachment issues affecting military installations and operational ranges; and (2) report to the defense committees on results of the impacts study.
(Sec. 321) Limits Army responsibility for water consumption impacts related to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Recognizes the Upper San Pedro Partnership, Arizona, and its efforts to establish a collaborative water use management program in the Sierra Vista Subwatershed regional aquifer in Arizona. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to report to Congress: (1) on the water use management and conservation measures needed to restore and maintain the sustainable yield of such aquifer by and after September 11, 2001; and (2) annually on Partnership progress toward achieving and maintaining such sustainable yield. Expresses the sense of Congress that any future appropriations to the Partnership should take into account whether it has met its annual goals for overdraft reduction.
(Sec. 322) Directs the Secretary to establish a task force to: (1) determine and assess various means of enabling full use of the live ordnance delivery areas while protecting endangered species at the Barry M. Goldwater Range, Arizona; and (2) report to Congress on its activities.
(Sec. 323) Requires the Secretary to: (1) provide for an epidemiological study of exposure to perchlorate in drinking water; and (2) provide for an independent review of the effects of perchlorate on the human endocrine system.
(Sec. 324) Directs the Comptroller General (CG) to review and report to Congress on the Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation program.
Subtitle C: Workplace and Depot Issues - (Sec. 331) Exempts from the prohibition on private contracts for the performance of DOD firefighting or security guard functions a contract for the performance of firefighting functions for one year or less if such functions would have been performed by military firefighters who are otherwise deployed.
(Sec. 332) Repeals a provision excepting the Sacramento Army Depot, California, from limitations on the DOD contracting-out of depot-level maintenance of materiel.
(Sec. 333) Excepts from certain competition requirements a depot-level maintenance and repair workload that is performed at a Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence as designated by a public-private partnership consisting of a depot-level activity and a private entity.
(Sec. 334) Requires any deadline or other schedule-related milestone for completion of a DOD public-private competition to be established solely on the basis of considered research and sound analysis regarding the availability of sufficient DOD personnel, training, and technical resources. Allows a responsible DOD official to extend such a deadline if such resources are insufficient.
(Sec. 335) Prohibits studies or competition from being conducted under the policies and procedures contained in the revised Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-76, as in effect on May 1, 2003, for possible contracting-out of work being performed by DOD employees until 45 days after the Secretary reports to Congress on the effects of such revisions.
(Sec. 336) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a pilot program for the procurement of information technology services for DOD that uses a best-value criterion in the source selection for the performance of such services. Terminates the program at the end of FY 2008. Requires the CG to review the program and report results to Congress.
(Sec. 337) Directs the Secretary to establish a pilot program under which the Secretary of each military department shall create, or continue the implementation of, high-performing organizations at military installations through the conduct of a Business Process Reengineering Initiative. Describes eligible organizations. Limits program participation to eight military installations and facilities. Requires the Secretaries to conduct annual performance reviews of such organizations.
(Sec. 338) Requires the Secretary of the Navy to establish a demonstration project during FY 2004 through 2006 under which three naval aviation depots may promote by one grade level workers certified at the journey level to perform multiple trades. Prohibits more than 15 percent of the wage grade journeymen at a project location from being selected to participate. Requires: (1) the Secretary to report to Congress on project results; and (2) theCG to evaluate the report and submit evaluation results to Congress.
Subtitle D: Other Matters - (Sec. 341) Directs the Secretary to coordinate with the Administrator of General Services to enable the use of commercial identifiers for commercial items within the Federal cataloging system.
(Sec. 342) Authorizes the Secretary to sell working-capital funded services of the Defense Information Systems Agency to a person outside DOD for use in the performance of the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet contract. Requires reimbursement for the costs of such services.
(Sec. 343) Mandates that public works, utility, and other municipal services needed for the operation of any DOD asset in Monterey County, California, be purchased from government agencies located in that County.
(Sec. 344) Directs the Secretary to provide, wherever practicable, prepaid phone cards or an equivalent benefit to military personnel stationed outside the United States who are eligible for combat zone tax exclusion benefits due to service in direct support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Limits the monthly benefit of the phone program. Terminates the program at the end of FY 2004. Authorizes the Secretary, if determined necessary, to award a contract for the deployment of additional telephones in such areas.
(Sec. 345) Directs the Secretary to submit to the defense and appropriations committees an assessment of the material condition of the Air Force's KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft.
Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations - Subtitle A: Active Forces - (Sec. 401) Sets forth authorized end strengths for active-duty forces as of the end of FY 2004.
(Sec. 402) Increases effective on October 1, 2003, the permanent active-duty end strength minimum levels.
(Sec. 403) Directs the Secretary: (1) to prescribe quarterly end strength levels for each service; and (2) at least annually, to establish for each service the maximum permissible variance of actual strength for an armed force from the end strengths so established. Requires the Secretary to notify the defense committees of any such strength levels or variances.
Subtitle B: Reserve Forces - (Sec. 411) Sets forth the authorized end strengths as of the end of FY 2004 for members of the Selected Reserve and reserve personnel on active duty in support of the reserves.
(Sec. 413) Sets forth the minimum end strength for FY 2004 for Army and Air Force dual status military technicians.
(Sec. 414) Places specified FY 2004 limits on the number of non-dual status technicians authorized to be employed by the Army and Air National Guard.
(Sec. 415) Increases effective October 1, 2007, the permanent limitation on the number of non-dual status technicians authorized to be employed by the Army and Air Force Reserve.
Subtitle C: Authorizations of Appropriations - (Sec. 421) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 for: (1) military personnel; and (2) the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
Title V: Military Personnel Policy - Subtitle A: Officer Personnel Matters - (Sec. 501) Allows for the selection of the Chief of Naval Operations and Commandant of the Marine Corps from among all Navy flag officers and all general officers of the Marine Corps, respectively. (Currently, such selection must be from active-duty list officers of certain grades.)
(Sec. 502) Requires the Chief of the Army Veterinary Corps to be appointed from Corps officers.
(Sec. 503) Repeals the requirement that the officer holding the position of defense attache to the U.S. embassy in France hold at least the grade of brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half).
(Sec. 504) Repeals the termination provision for (thus making permanent) certain authorities relating to the management of general and flag officers in certain grades.
(Sec. 505) Allows health professions officers who have failed of selection for promotion to be retained on active duty until completion of the active duty service for which the officer is obligated, unless the Secretary concerned determines that the completion of such service is not in the best interests of that military department.
(Sec. 506) Makes permanent (currently terminates at the end of 2003) the authority to reduce the three-year time-in-grade requirement for retirement in that grade for officers above major and lieutenant commander.
(Sec. 507) Exempts the position of Associate Director of Central Intelligence for Military Support from number and percentage limitations of officers in that armed force if no military officers are serving in the positions of Director of Central Intelligence, Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, or Deputy Director of Central Intelligence for Community Management.
(Sec. 508) Allows the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to reappoint the officer serving as Chief of Naval Operations on October 1, 2003, for an additional term of up to two years.
(Sec. 509) Requires the Secretary to: (1) approve the frocking (wearing of the insignia of a promoted rank before the official promotion date) of an officer above O-6; and (2) notify Congress of such intention 30 days before exercising such authority.
Subtitle B: Reserve Component Matters - (Sec. 511) Repeals the requirement of: (1) selection board participation in the determination whether to continue officers on the reserve active-status list; (2) approval of such continuation by the Secretary concerned; and (3) a continuation board to meet for such purposes.
(Sec. 512) Authorizes a reserve officer who has been ordered to or is serving on active duty in support of a contingency operation to be considered for promotion by a vacancy promotion board for up to two years after the officer begins such duty.
(Sec. 513) Provides limited authority (currently, none) for the Secretary concerned to delegate the authority to place certain retired members in the Ready Reserve.
(Sec. 514) Includes enlisted personnel within the authority of the Secretary concerned to pay expenses of Army and Air Staff personnel, and National Guard Bureau personnel, attending the national conventions of certain military associations.
(Sec. 515) Permits the use of Ready Reserve personnel for responding to a terrorist or threatened terrorist attack in the United States that results or could result in significant (currently, catastrophic) loss of life or property, if the President determines that the requirements needed for responding to such an emergency exceed the response capabilities of local, State, and Federal civilian agencies.
(Sec. 516) Prohibits an officer who is on active duty in the Army or Air National Guard in a State, territory, or the District of Columbia and who is also in command of a National Guard unit from being relieved of such active duty if: (1) the President authorizes such service in both duty statuses; and (2) the governor of the State or territory or commanding general of the District consents to service in both statuses.
(Sec. 517) Directs the President to report to Congress on the mobilization during FY 2002 and 2003 of members of the reserves. Directs the Secretary to report to the defense committees on, among other things: (1) the effects of reserve personnel being called or ordered to active duty during such period on reserve component recruitment and retention; and (2) the lessons learned from reserve mobilizations.
(Sec. 518) Authorizes the Secretary to use O&M funds for activities and materials of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to further employer commitments to employees who are members of the reserves.
Subtitle C: ROTC and Military Service Academies - (Sec. 521) Includes room and board expenses within financial assistance authorized for cadets and midshipmen receiving Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) scholarships, as well as for specially selected members of the Army Reserve and Army National Guard enrolled in advanced courses under ROTC programs.
(Sec. 522) Increases from ten to 17 the number of scholarships authorized to be awarded annually at each military junior college under the Army Reserve ROTC scholarship program.
(Sec. 523) Entitles a non-scholarship member of the Selected ROTC to a monthly subsistence allowance for up to 20 months. Allows a member of the Senior ROTC who has completed the first year of an ROTC course, who is not eligible for advanced training, and who is not an appointed cadet or midshipman to: (1) contract to serve for the period required by the program; and (2) agree to accept an appointment, if offered, as a commissioned officer and to serve for the period prescribed by the Secretary. Terminates the latter authority after December 31, 2006.
(Sec. 524) Increases from two to three the annual number of cadets authorized to be appointed to each of the military service academies from Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
(Sec. 525) Provides that when a formal report by a DOD Inspector General concerning the circumstances of a separation of a cadet or midshipman from a service academy contains a specific finding that such person received administrative or punitive action, or resigned in lieu of such action, as a result of a reprisal or threat of reprisal, then the Secretary concerned may use such report as the sole basis for readmission of the former cadet or midshipman to the respective academy. Requires each Secretary to prescribe readmission regulations with the goal of readmitting such cadet or midshipman with no loss of academic or military status previously held.
(Sec. 526) Directs the Secretary to establish a DOD task force to examine matters relating to sexual harassment and violence at the United States Military Academy and United States Naval Academy. Requires the task force to report to the: (1) Secretary recommending ways by which DOD and the service academies may more effectively address such matters; and (2) Secretary and the Secretaries of the Army and Navy on activities of the task force and such academies to respond to sexual harassment and violence at the academies. Requires the Secretary to report to the defense committees on: (1) an evaluation of the above reports; and (2) the Secretary's assessment of the effectiveness of corrective actions being taken at the United States Air Force Academy as a result of various investigations undertaken there with respect to matters involving sexual assault and harassment. Terminates the task force 90 days after submission of its final report.
(Sec. 527) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to direct the Superintendent of the military academy of that department to prescribe a policy on sexual harassment and violence applicable to academy personnel. Outlines policy requirements (including promotion of the awareness of the incidence of rape, acquaintance rape, and other sexual offenses that involve academy personnel) and procedures to follow in case of the occurrence of sexual harassment or violence. Requires the Secretary of Defense to direct each Superintendent to undertake an annual assessment of that academy's policies, training, and procedures to prevent criminal sexual harassment and violence involving academy personnel. Requires annual reports from each Secretary on sexual harassment and violence involving academy personnel for each of the 2004 through 2008 academy program years. Directs the Secretary of Defense to submit each annual report to the defense committees.
(Sec. 528) Directs the Secretary of: (1) the Air Force to report to the Secretary of Defense recommended changes in policy and law pertaining to the selection, tenure, utilization, responsibilities, and qualifications of the permanent professors at the Air Force Academy; and (2) Defense to transmit such report to the defense committees, together with recommendations for action and proposals for legislation.
(Sec. 529) Authorizes the dean of the faculty at the Air Force Academy to be appointed from either a military officer or civilian position. (Currently, only current Academy department faculty heads may be considered.)
Subtitle D: Other Military Education and Training Matters - (Sec. 531) Authorizes the President of the Marine Corps University to confer the degree of operational studies upon graduates of the Command and Staff College's School of Advanced Warfighting.
(Sec. 532) Authorizes the Secretary to permit enlisted personnel to receive instruction at the Naval Postgraduate School, including as a participant in the Information Security Scholarship program. Requires such personnel, prior to any such instruction, to have been awarded a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education. Authorizes the Secretary, on a space-available basis, to permit enlisted personnel who are assigned permanently to the staff of the Postgraduate School or to a nearby command to receive instruction at such School, with appropriate fees and costs as determined by the Secretary.
(Sec. 533) Requires the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Homeland Security to bear the cost of instruction at the Air Force Institute of Technology received by members of such departments. Allows such instruction only on a space-available basis.
(Sec. 534) Includes any accrued interest within amounts authorized to be repaid under the Selected Reserve critical specialties educational loan repayment program.
(Sec. 535) Requires funding of educational assistance entitlement incentives under the National Call to Service program to be derived from the Department of Defense Education Benefits Fund.
(Sec. 536) Earmarks FY 2004 DOD O&M funds for assistance to local educational agencies. Directs the Secretary to notify each agency of its eligibility for such assistance.
(Sec. 537) Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize impact aid for heavily impacted local educational agencies that lost eligibility for such assistance due to the privatization of military housing in that area.
Subtitle E: Administrative Matters - (Sec. 541) Prohibits a member from being deployed, or continued in a deployment, on any day in which the total number of days in which the member has been deployed out of the preceding 365 days would exceed the maximum number of deployment days prescribed by the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Provides exceptions. Requires the Secretary concerned to pay a high-tempo allowance for members deployed in excess of the authorized number due to an exception. Prohibits such monthly allowance from exceeding $1,000. Makes a member ineligible for such allowance while serving in a duty assignment designated as exempt by the Secretary concerned. Requires: (1) such allowance to be paid from O&M funds; and (2) allowance payment information to be included in a currently-required annual report.
(Sec. 542) Increases from 60 to 120 days the amount of annual leave authorized to be accumulated by high-deployment members. Requires the excess leave to be used within three years after termination of the high-deployment period.
(Sec. 544) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 to require the Secretary concerned, when determining whether to award the Purple Heart to members held as prisoners of war before April 25, 1962, to consider historical information as to the prison camp or other circumstances in which the applicant was held captive, as well as the length of time that the applicant was held. Requires the Secretary to assist the applicant in obtaining necessary information for applying for the award.
(Sec. 545) Prohibits reserve and retired regular officers who serve on active duty for more than 270 days from holding elective office in a State if the holding of such office is prohibited by the laws of that State or interferes with the officer's performance of duties. Prohibits any officer holding an elective office from performing that office's duties while serving on active duty.
(Sec. 546) Requires the Secretary to prescribe DOD policy on the public release of identifying information concerning military casualties.
(Sec. 547) Requires the Secretary to develop and report to the defense committees on a human capital resources strategy for space personnel of DOD. Requires the CG to review the strategy and report results to the defense committees.
(Sec. 548) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a joint advertising, market research, and studies program to complement the recruiting advertising programs of the military departments and their ability to attract and recruit qualified individuals. Provides funding from defense-wide O&M funds.
(Sec. 549) Prohibits the Secretary of the Navy from reducing or disestablishing a Naval or Marine Corps Reserve aviation squadron before February 1, 2004.
Subtitle F: Military Justice Matters - (Sec. 551) Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to allow a person charged with having committed a child abuse offense to be tried by court-martial at any time before the child reaches the age of 25.
(Sec. 552) Makes the requisite blood alcohol content under the UCMJ equal to or in excess of (currently, in excess of) the requisite blood alcohol content adopted by the State in which the offense occurs. Provides for the adoption of the lower requisite blood alcohol content in instances occurring on military installations located in more than one State.
Subtitle G: Benefits - (Sec. 561) Makes eligible for the Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program any former Federal employee who has met all other Federal retirement qualifications but has not yet reached the minimum requisite age, including reservists transferred to the Retired Reserve who are under 60 years of age.
(Sec. 562) Removes: (1) the requirement that a member must have died in a military medical facility within the United States in order to be eligible for the transportation of remains for burial; and (2) the prohibition against transportation of such remains to a place outside the United States.
(Sec. 553) Amends the Defense Dependents' Education Act of 1978 to make eligible for tuition-free education under such Act the dependents of reserve members who: (1) are ordered to active duty; (2) were so ordered from a location inside the United States (other than Alaska or Hawaii); and (3) are serving outside the United States or in Alaska or Hawaii.
Subtitle H: Domestic Violence - (Sec. 571) Directs the Secretary concerned to provide travel and transportation allowances for the relocation of abused dependents of military personnel.
(Sec. 572) Revises the date of commencement of the payment of transitional compensation to the dependents of members separated from the armed forces for dependent abuse. Makes the duration of such payments not less than 12 months nor more than 36 months.
(Sec. 573) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to make eligible for transitional compensation the dependents and former dependents of a former member of the armed forces in a case in which such dependents are not otherwise eligible for such benefits and such Secretary determines that the former member engaged in dependent-abuse conduct and was thereafter separated from the armed forces. Authorizes such Secretary to make adjustments to the length and amount of such compensation in light of the circumstances. Provides that either a voluntary or involuntary separation shall trigger such assistance.
(Sec. 575) Directs the CG to: (1) review and assess DOD progress in implementing the recommendations of the Defense Task Force on Domestic Violence; and (2) report results to the defense committees.
(Sec. 576) Directs the Secretary concerned to conduct a multidisciplinary, impartial review in the case of each fatality known or suspected to have resulted from domestic violence or child abuse with respect to military personnel and dependents of such personnel in that military department. Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide guidance for the conduct of such reviews.
(Sec. 577) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of: (1) Defense shoulddevelop a strategic plan for domestic violence that incorporates principles proposed by the Defense Task Force on Domestic Violence in its third annual report; and (2) each military department should establish and support a Victim Advocate Protocol.
Subtitle I: Other Matters - (Sec. 581) Directs the Secretary to: (1) implement and sustain programs to celebrate the contributions and sacrifices of the American military family; (2) focus such celebrations during a specific period of each year; and (3) seek the assistance and support of appropriate civilian organizations, associations, and other entities in carrying out such celebrations.
(Sec. 582) Authorizes the Secretary of a military department to provide support services to chaplain-led programs to assist active-duty military personnel and their immediate family members and reserve active-status personnel and their immediate family members in building and maintaining a strong family structure.
(Sec. 583) Establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee to recommend to the Secretaries of such departments the strategic direction for joint coordination and sharing efforts between and within such departments. Requires an annual report from the Committee to the Secretaries and Congress.
(Sec. 584) Requires the Secretary to: (1) commence a review of the death of Colonel James S. Sabow, United States Marine Corps, who died on January 22, 1991, at the Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, California, with the principal review focus being the determination of the cause of death; and (2) report findings to the defense committees.
(Sec. 585) Directs the Secretary to: (1) prescribe the DOD policy on concurrent deployment to a combat zone of both spouses of a dual-military family with one or more minor children; and (2) transmit such policy to the defense committees.
(Sec. 586) Provides that an amendment or cancellation of a DOD directive relating to access to military installations for conducting limited personal commercial solicitation shall not take effect until 90 days after the Secretary submits to Congress notice of the amendment or cancellation and the reasons therefor.
(Sec. 587) Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the adequacy and impact of the matching funds requirement for States participating in the National Guard Challenge Program and on potential alternatives that would provide management flexibility.
(Sec. 588) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary should: (1) use available authority to disburse funds rewarding individuals who provide information leading to the conclusive resolution of the status of any missing members of the armed forces; and (2) authorize and publicize an award of $1 million for information resolving the fate of those military personnel, such as Michael Scott Speicher, who the Secretary has reason to believe may yet be alive in captivity.
Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits - Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances - (Sec. 601) Waives any FY 2004 pay increases tied to increases in the General Schedule of Compensation for Government employees. Increases, effective January 1, 2004, the rates of basic pay for military personnel.
(Sec. 602) Requires: (1) the annual adjustment to military basic pay rates on January 1 of each year; and (2) that such adjustment be an equal percentage increase for all military personnel based on the percentage increase in the Economic Cost Index. Directs that if the President considers any adjustment inappropriate because of national emergency or serious economic conditions, the President shall prepare and transmit to Congress a plan for an alternative pay adjustment for that year, including an assessment of its impact on the Government's ability to recruit and retain well-qualified persons for the armed forces.
(Sec. 603) Provides for the computation of the basic pay rate for commissioned officers with prior enlisted or warrant officer service.
(Sec. 604) Authorizes the Secretary to provide to a member assigned to duty in a high-cost duty location or under other unique and unusual circumstances, but not entitled to the meals portion of the per diem allowance in connection with such duty: (1) meals at no cost; (2) a basic allowance for subsistence at the standard rate; and/or (3) a supplemental subsistence allowance at a rate higher than the basic allowance for subsistence. Makes eligible for such meals or allowance members assigned to qualifying duty after September 11, 2001.
(Sec. 605) Entitles each member married to another member without dependents, when both members are on sea duty, to a basic allowance for housing. (Currently, such members are jointly entitled to one such allowance.)
(Sec. 606) Increases the monthly rate of the family separation allowance from $100 to $250 for the period beginning October 1, 2003, and ending December 31, 2004.
Subtitle B: Bonuses and Special and Incentive Pays - (Sec. 611) Extends through 2004 specified authorities currently scheduled to expire at the end of 2003 with respect to certain special pay and bonus programs within the regular and reserve armed forces.
(Sec. 615)Authorizes hazardous duty pay for duty involving the use of ski-equipped aircraft on the ground in Antarctica or on the Arctic icepack.
(Sec. 616) Limits the number of officers in the Selected Reserve who may be paid special pay for reserve officers holding positions of unusual responsibility and of a critical nature.
(Sec. 617) Ensures the payment of the Selected Reserve reenlistment bonus during any period that such members are called or ordered to active duty.
(Sec. 618) Makes reserve personnel on inactive duty eligible for hostile fire and imminent danger pay for periods during which such member: (1) was subject to hostile fire or explosion of hostile mines; (2) was on duty in an area of imminent danger; (3) was killed, injured, or wounded in hostile action; or (4) was on duty in a foreign area in which the member was subject to the threat of harm or imminent danger due to civil insurrection, civil war, terrorism, or wartime conditions. Continues such eligibility during any period of required hospitalization.
(Sec. 619) Increases from $150 to $225 the rate of hostile fire and imminent danger pay for the period beginning October 1, 2003, and ending December 31, 2004.
(Sec. 620) Authorizes such pay to members assigned to duty in the sea area of the Mediterranean Sea east of 30 degrees East Longitude during the period beginning March 19, 2003, and ending April 11, 2003.
(Sec. 621) Makes officers (currently, only enlisted personnel) eligible for: (1) special pay or a bonus for extending overseas tours of duty; and (2) a rest and recuperative absence in lieu of such pay or bonus.
(Sec. 622) Repeals the requirement of prior congressional notification prior to the designation of critical military skills for purposes of eligibility for a retention bonus.
(Sec. 623) Makes appointed warrant officers eligible for an accession bonus for new officers serving in critical skills positions.
(Sec. 624) Authorizes the Secretary of a military department to pay a special pay of $150 monthly to a member entitled to basic pay or a reserve member performing inactive duty training who is assigned to duty as a member of a Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team if such Secretary determines that the special pay is needed to address recruitment or retention concerns in that military department.
(Sec. 625) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to pay an incentive bonus of up to $4,000 to a member in pay grade E-6 with not more than ten years of service, or a member in pay grade E- 5 or below regardless of the number of years of service, who agrees to convert to, and serve for at least three years in, a military occupational specialty for which there is a shortage of trained and qualified personnel. Requires a pro rata bonus repayment for any obligated period not successfully served. Terminates such authority on December 31, 2006.
(Sec. 626) Authorizes the Secretary or the Secretary concerned to waive critical skill reenlistment, Selected Reserve reenlistment, or Ready Reserve reenlistment bonus eligibility requirements in the case of a reenlistment or voluntary enlistment extension while the member is serving on active duty in Afghanistan, Iraq, or Kuwait in support of Operations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom.
Subtitle C: Travel and Transportation Allowances - (Sec. 631) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to allow a member making a permanent change of station to arrange for the private shipment of a motor vehicle in lieu of motor vehicle transportation at the expense of the United States.
(Sec. 632) Authorizes round-trip transportation for up to two family members of a member who is retired due to an illness or injury incurred during active duty and hospitalized in a military medical facility if the attending physician and surgeon and the commander or head of the facility concerned determine that the presence of the family members would be in the best interest of the hospitalized family member.
(Sec. 633) Authorizes the payment or reimbursement of student baggage storage costs for dependent children accompanying members assigned to a permanent change of station overseas at any time in the same fiscal year of such change in station, as selected by the member.
(Sec. 634) Authorizes the Secretary to include in a contract for the transportation of baggage and household effects for members a clause that requires the carrier to pay the full replacement value for loss or damage to such baggage or effects.
(Sec. 635) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to pay or reimburse certain members assigned to temporary duty of more than 30 days in support of a contingency operation or in other specific situations as designated by such Secretary for the lodging expenses incurred while performing such duty, as long as the members perform such duty away from their home or permanent duty station.
Subtitle D: Retired Pay and Survivors Benefits - (Sec. 641) Authorizes the concurrent payment, phased in over a ten-year period from 2004 through 2013, of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation for military retirees with service-connected disabilities rated at 50 percent or more. Provides special rules for retirees whose retirements were necessitated by physical disabilities. Prohibits such concurrent compensation for disabled retirees with less than 20 years of retirement-creditable service. Requires a person also eligible for combat-related special compensation under the next section to choose compensation from that program or from the concurrent compensation program, but not from both.
(Sec. 642) Authorizes the payment of special compensation for combat-related disabilities, as provided under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003, to all retirees eligible under the criteria set forth in such Act, including those whose disabilities are rated less than 50 percent. Requires the same choice as above for those eligible under this program and the concurrent compensation program.
(Sec. 643) Makes commanders of unified or specified combatant commands equal to chiefs of service for purposes of computation of the retired pay base.
(Sec. 644) Authorizes the payment of a Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity for the surviving spouses of reserve personnel not eligible for retirement who die from an injury or illness incurred or aggravated during inactive-duty training.
(Sec. 645) Expands coverage under the SBP for dependent children and surviving spouses of military personnel who die while on active duty. Requires vitiation of elections by disability-retired military personnel who die within one year after retirement from causes related to such disability with respect to elections of SBP or Supplemental SBP benefits and payments for individuals who are not dependents of the retiree.
(Sec. 646) Increases from $6,000 to $12,000 the death gratuity payable to survivors of deceased military personnel. Expresses the sense of Congress recognizing the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces, the significant disparity between death benefits for survivors of deceased military personnel and those for survivors of civilian victims of terrorism, and the inadequacy of the current military death benefits system. Directs the: (1) Secretary to study the adequacy of all current and projected death benefits for survivors of military personnel; and (2) CG to study death benefits payable under Federal, State, and local laws. Requires both studies' results to be submitted to the defense committees.
Subtitle E: Commissary and Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentality Benefits - (Sec. 651) Authorizes the use of military commissary stores on the same basis as for members on active duty for members of the Selected Reserve, members of the Ready Reserve not in the Selected Reserve, and reserve retirees under the age of 60, as well as their dependents. Repeals provisions limiting commissary access to 24 days per year for Ready Reserve personnel with 50 or more retirement-creditable points and persons qualified for military retired pay but for being under 60 years of age.
(Sec. 652) Directs the Secretary to operate as separate DOD systems a defense commissary system and an exchange stores system. Makes such requirement inapplicable to NEXMART stores of the Navy Exchange Service Command established before October 1, 2003.
(Sec. 653)Authorizes private persons to perform certain limited commissary store functions. Prohibits any change to private operation of such a function currently being performed by more than ten DOD civilian employees until 75 days after the Secretary so notifies Congress.
(Sec. 654) Requires (current law authorizes) commissary store operating expenses to be paid from appropriated funds (as opposed to nonappropriated fund instrumentalities). Allows amounts appropriated to cover operating expenses of the Defense Commissary Agency and the defense commissary system to be supplemented by amounts received as reimbursement for support activities provided by commissary activities.
(Sec. 655) Amends the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act and the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to make defense base closure account funds available to the Secretary, without appropriation and until expended, to acquire, construct and improve commissary stores and real property and facilities for nonappropriated fund instrumentalities. (Currently, the Secretary is authorized to use such funds in such aggregate amounts as provided in advance in appropriation Acts.)
Subtitle F: Other Matters - (Sec. 661) Requires the CG to report to Congress regarding the adequacy of special pays and allowances for service members who experience frequent deployments of less than 30 days away from their permanent duty stations.
Title VII: Health Care Provisions - Subtitle A: Enhanced Benefits for Reserves - (Sec. 701)Authorizes the provision of medical and dental screening for members of the Ready Reserve who are called or ordered to active duty for a period of more than 30 days.
(Sec. 702) Makes eligible for enrollment under TRICARE members of the Selected Reserve and members of the Individual Ready Reserve, as well as the dependents of each, for any period that the member: (1) is an eligible unemployment recipient; or (2) is not eligible for health care benefits under an employer-sponsored health benefits plan. Allows the provision of either self alone or self and family coverage. Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide at least one open enrollment period for such individuals each year; and (2) charge annual premiums for such coverage. Prohibits a person from so enrolling while entitled to transitional health care authorized for a temporary period after active-duty service. Terminates such enrollment authority after December 31, 2004.
(Sec. 703) Provides an effective active-duty date, for purposes of eligibility for TRICARE benefits as active-duty personnel, for a reserve member who is issued a delayed-effective-date active-duty order or is covered by such an order.
(Sec. 704) Extends until January 1, 2005, the period for which former active-duty personnel and reserve personnel called to active duty for a contingency operation shall be entitled to transitional health care benefits to 180 days (currently, either 60 or 120 days depending on total years of active-duty service).
(Sec. 705) Directs the CG to evaluate, and report to the defense committees on, the needs of reserve personnel and their families for obtaining and maintaining coverage for health care benefits under health care benefits plans and programs, with special consideration for the increased use of such personnel for mobilized military operations.
(Sec. 706) Limits to $400 million the FY 2004 outlays for temporary Reserve health care programs.
(Sec. 707) Requires the designation for each of the TRICARE regions of at least one person to serve full-time as a beneficiary counseling and assistance coordinator solely for reserve members and their dependents who are beneficiaries under the TRICARE program.
(Sec. 708) Makes eligible for medical and dental care in any military medical facility a member of the reserves who has been commissioned as an officer if: (1) the member has requested orders for active duty for the initial period of duty following commissioning; (2) the request has been approved; (3) the orders are to be issued but have not been issued; and (4) the member does not have other health insurance or coverage.
Subtitle B: Other Benefits Improvements - (Sec. 711) Requires the Secretary to accelerate implementation of the plan required under the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Spence Act) relating to chiropractic health care services and benefits, with a goal of fully implementing the plan by October 1, 2005.
(Sec. 712) Includes a dental specialist as a dental care provider for purposes of authorized reimbursement of certain travel expenses of a covered military health care beneficiary who is referred by a primary care physician to a specialty care provider who is more than 100 miles from the location of the primary care physician.
(Sec. 713) Makes eligible for the premium-based temporary health care program, currently available only to members of the armed forces, members and dependents of all uniformed services, including members of the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who are TRICARE beneficiaries.
(Sec. 714) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 to allow designated health care providers to market services to, and enroll covered beneficiaries with, other health insurance providers under specified requirements and limitations.
Subtitle C: Planning, Programming, and Management - (Sec. 721) Makes permanent (currently terminates on December 31, 2003) DOD authority to enter into personal services contracts for health care services to be performed at locations outside of military medical treatment facilities.
(Sec. 722) Authorizes the Secretary to determine separate Medicare-eligible retiree health care fund valuations and contributions for each participating military department.
(Sec. 723) Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct surveys in at least 20 TRICARE Standard market areas to determine the number of health care providers in each area that are accepting new patients; and (2) designate a senior DOD official to take necessary actions to achieve and maintain participation of health care providers in TRICARE Standard in each market area in a number adequate to ensure its viability for beneficiaries in that area. Requires the CG to review the above actions and report, semiannually, to the defense committees.
(Sec. 724) Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop a plan for providing DOD health coverage information to members, former members, and dependents eligible for certain benefits, including benefits under TRICARE; (2) implement such plan with respect to any health care contract entered into by DOD after May 31, 2003; and (3) report to the defense committees on such plan and a schedule for implementation.
(Sec. 725) Transfers certain contractors and providers under the DOD pharmacy benefits program from membership on the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee to membership on the Uniform Formulary Beneficiary Advisory Panel.
(Sec. 726) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 to direct the Secretary to establish a working group on the provision of military health care to persons who rely for such care at military installations selected for closure or realignment either under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 or as a result of force posture changes. Terminates the working group on December 31, 2006.
(Sec. 727) Authorizes the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to conduct a program to develop and evaluate integrated healing care practices for military personnel and veterans. Requires such program to be carried out through the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee as established under prior law.
Title VIII: Acquisition Policy, Acquisition Management, and Related Matters - Subtitle A: Acquisition Policy and Management - (Sec. 801) Directs the Secretary to require the Secretary of each military department, the head of each defense agency, and the head of each DOD field activity to ensure that decisions made regarding consolidation of contract requirements (consolidation) are made with a view to providing small businesses with appropriate opportunities to participate in DOD procurements as prime contractors and/or subcontractors. Prohibits any such official from executing an acquisition strategy that includes a consolidation with a total value in excess of $5 million unless the senior procurement executive concerned first: (1) conducts market research; (2) identifies any alternative contract approaches that would involve a lesser degree of consolidation; and (3) determines that the consolidation is necessary and justified. Requires the Secretary to: (1) revise the data collection systems of DOD to ensure that such systems are capable of identifying each procurement that includes a consolidation of contract requirements with a total value in excess of $5 million; and (2) ensure that appropriate DOD officials review the information collected in cooperation with the Small Business Administration.
(Sec. 802) Directs the Secretary to prescribe a quality control policy for the procurement of aviation critical safety items and of modifications, repair, and overhaul of such items.
(Sec. 803) Requires the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy to establish a program under which States and units of local government may procure, through contracts entered into by DOD or the Department of Homeland Security, anti-terrorism technologies or services for preventing, detecting, identifying, deterring, or recovering from acts of terrorism.
(Sec. 804) Authorizes the Secretary, through FY 2006, to settle any financial account for a contract entered into by the Secretary or the Secretary of a military department before October 1, 1996, that is administratively complete if the account has an unreconciled balance, either positive or negative, of less than $100,000.
(Sec. 805) Requires DOD to fully comply with Federal competitive contracting requirements for any contract awarded for reconstruction activities in Iraq, and to conduct a full and open competition for performing work needed for the reconstruction of the Iraqi oil industry. Requires DOD, if it does not have on the date of enactment of this Act a fully competitive contract to replace the March 8, 2003, contract for the reconstruction of the Iraqi oil industry, to report to Congress detailing the reasons for allowing the March 8 contract to continue.
Subtitle B: United States Defense Industrial Base Provisions - Part I: Essential Items Identification and Domestic Production Capabilities Improvement Program - (Sec. 811) States that no provision of, or amendment made by, this Subtitle shall apply to the extent that the Secretary, after appropriate consultation, determines that it is inconsistent with U.S. obligations under an international agreement.
(Sec. 812) Directs the Secretary to establish a program to assess the: (1) degree to which the United States is dependent on foreign sources of supply; and (2) capabilities of the U.S. defense industrial base to produce military systems necessary to support national security requirements. Requires the Secretary to collect certain data in support of the program, including contracts and their bids and proposals, and to ensure that collected information remains confidential. Directs the Secretary to annually prepare an assessment of the data compiled and report such assessment to the defense committees.
(Sec. 813) Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a process to identify essential items and components with respect to each military system; (2) produce a list of such items, to be known as the military system essential item breakout list; and (3) report annually to the defense committees on the implementation of such requirements. Requires a study by a f