Authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) procurement, including for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, the defense health program, and chemical agents and munitions destruction; (2) research, development, test and evaluation; (3) operation and maintenance, including defense working capital funds and the Armed Forces Retirement Home; and (4) active and reserve military personnel, including authorized end strengths.
Sets forth provisions governing continuing military readiness activities on military lands and range preservation.
Increases as of January 1, 2004, the rates of military basic pay. Extends certain bonus and special and incentive pay authorities. Authorizes an incentive bonus for conversion to undermanned military occupational specialties.
Sets forth provisions or requirements concerning: (1) active and reserve military personnel policy; (2) military education and training; (3) military health care; (4) acquisition policy and management, including Buy American requirements, the temporary assignment to DOD of certain non-Government personnel, and the extension of the Defense Production Act of 1950; (5) DOD organization and management, including protection of the operational files of the National Security Agency; (6) space activities, including the provision of space surveillance network services to non-U.S. Governmental entities and launch and reentry services to commercial entities; (7) DOD civilian personnel policy; (8) matters relating to other nations, including the recognition of superior noncombat achievements by friendly foreign forces or foreign nationals and the expanded use of cooperative threat reduction funds; (9) homeland security, including the sale of chemical and biological defense articles and services to State and local governments; and (10) military construction and military family housing.
Establishes a National Defense Heritage Foundation.