National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
Latest action · Aug 11, 2020 Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 512.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedMay 2, 2019
- Passed HouseJul 12, 2019
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
This bill authorizes FY2020 appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It does not provide budget authority, which is provided in subsequent appropriations legislation.
The bill authorizes appropriations to DOD for
- Procurement, including aircraft, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, shipbuilding and conversion, missiles, and space procurement;
- Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation;
- Operation and Maintenance;
- Working Capital Funds;
- Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction;
- Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities;
- the Defense Inspector General;
- the Defense Health Program;
- the Armed Forces Retirement Home;
- Overseas Contingency Operations; and
- Military Construction.
The bill authorizes the FY2020 personnel strengths for active duty and reserve forces and sets forth policies regarding
- military personnel;
- acquisition policy and management;
- international programs;
- National Guard and Reserve Forces facilities;
- compensation and other personnel benefits;
- health care;
- DOD organization and management;
- civilian personnel matters;
- matters relating to foreign nations; and
- strategic programs, cyber, and intelligence matters.
The bill authorizes appropriations for base realignment and closure activities, and maritime matters.
The bill also authorizes appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Energy national security programs, including the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
The bill sets forth policies for
- North Korea nuclear sanctions,
- paid family leave for federal personnel,
- limiting the use of criminal history in federal hiring and contracting,
- defense equipment sales to foreign countries or international organizations,
- matters relating to Burma,
- Saudi Arabia human rights and accountability,
- measures to combat illicit trafficking that finances Al-Shabaab,
- sanctions with respect to foreign traffickers of illicit synthetic opioids, and
- a Cable Security Fleet to meet national security requirements.
Recorded votes 36
Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.
| Roll call | Question | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| House 473 | On Passage | Passed220–197 | Jul 12, 2019 |
| House 472 | On Motion to Recommit with Instructions | Failed204–212 | Jul 12, 2019 |
| House 471 | On Agreeing to the Amendment | Agreed to230–189 | Jul 12, 2019 |
| House 470 | On Agreeing to the Amendment | Agreed to236–182 | Jul 12, 2019 |
| House 469 | On Agreeing to the Amendment | Agreed to213–204 | Jul 12, 2019 |
Cosponsors 1
Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on May 2, 2019.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-TX | Mac Thornberry | Original | May 2, 2019 |
Committees 1
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Armed Services Committee | Referred May 2, 2019Markup Jun 12, 2019Reported Jun 19, 2019Reported Jun 27, 2019 |
| Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee | Referred May 3, 2019Markup Jun 4, 2019Reported Jun 4, 2019 | |
| Military Personnel Subcommittee | Referred May 3, 2019Markup Jun 4, 2019Reported Jun 4, 2019 | |
| Readiness Subcommittee | Referred May 3, 2019Markup Jun 4, 2019Reported Jun 4, 2019 | |
| Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee | Referred May 3, 2019Markup Jun 4, 2019Reported Jun 4, 2019 | |
| Strategic Forces Subcommittee | Referred May 3, 2019Markup Jun 4, 2019Reported Jun 4, 2019 | |
| Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee | Referred May 3, 2019Markup Jun 4, 2019Reported Jun 4, 2019 |
Actions 140
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Aug 11, 2020Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 512.
- Sep 10, 2019Received in the Senate.
- Jul 12, 2019Considered as unfinished business. (CR H5733-5743)
- Jul 12, 2019DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 476, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Thompson (MS) amendment No. 437.
- Jul 12, 2019POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Thompson (MS) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Thornberry demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
In the Congressional Record 11
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | Debate and remarks S5389 | — | Aug 11, 2020 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S6725 | Mitch McConnell R-KY | Nov 21, 2019 |
| House | Debate and remarks H8904 | Steny H. Hoyer D-MD, Steve Scalise R-LA | Nov 15, 2019 |
| House | Debate and remarks H7737 | Adam Smith D-WA | Sep 17, 2019 |
| House | Debate and remarks H7692, H7693 | Steny H. Hoyer D-MD, Steve Scalise R-LA | Sep 12, 2019 |
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Committee reports
Congressional Budget Office cost estimates 3
- Sep 9, 2019H.R. 2500, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020As passed by the House of Representatives on July 12, 2019
- Jun 27, 2019H.R. 2500, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020As reported by the House Committee on Armed Services on June 19, 2019
- Jun 19, 2019Direct Spending and Revenue Effects of H.R. 2500, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020As ordered reported by the House Committee on Armed Services on June 13, 2019
Constitutional authority
The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 165, no. 72, May 2, 2019, page H3441.
Printed hearings 4
Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.
| Number | Hearing | Committee | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| S. Hrg. 116-240 | NORTH KOREA POLICY ONE YEAR AFTER HANOI50 pages | Foreign Relations Committee | Feb 25, 2020 |
| Serial No. 116-50 | REVIEWING THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES TO ADDRESS VETERAN HUNGER70 pages | Veterans' Affairs Committee | Jan 9, 2020 |
| Serial No. 116-31 | THE ADMINISTRATION'S PRIORITIES AND POLICY INITIATIVES UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT152 pages | Transportation and Infrastructure Committee | Sep 18, 2019 |
| S. Hrg. 116-388 | REVIEWING AUTHORITIES FOR THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE54 pages | Foreign Relations Committee | Jul 24, 2019 |
CRS reports 41
Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.
About this bill 2
Products that name it in their title: its number, its law number or one of its short titles.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| R46144 | FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act: P.L. 116-92 (H.R. 2500, S. 1790) Archived | Report | Jan 2, 2020 |
| IF11258 | FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2500, S. 1790) Archived | Resource | Jun 26, 2019 |
Also cite it 39
Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| R43543 | Navy LPD-17 Flight II and LHA Amphibious Ship Programs: Background and Issues for Congress Archived | Report | Jan 12, 2026 |
| R40589 | Concurrent Receipt of Military Retired Pay and Veteran Disability: Background and Issues for Congress | Report | Jun 16, 2025 |
| R47321 | Iran: Background and U.S. Policy | Report | May 22, 2025 |
| R45968 | Limits on TRICARE for Reservists: Frequently Asked Questions | Report | Jan 28, 2025 |
| R45732 | The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA): A Legal Overview | Report | Apr 17, 2023 |
Amendments 58
Amendments offered to this bill.
Related bills 183
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
Titles 33
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2020 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.
- Official Titles as Amended by House
- To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2020 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.
- Short Titles as Passed House for portions of this bill
- Stop Financing of al-Shabaab Act
- Federal Employee Paid Leave Act
- Restore Honor to Service Members Act
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
- National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
- Short Title(s) as Reported to House
- National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
- Short Title(s) as Passed House
- National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
- Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill
- Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
- Short Title(s) as Reported to House for portions of this bill
- Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
- National Defense Strategy Implementation Act
- White Sands National Park Establishment Act
- Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill
- REPAY Act
- Return Expenses Paid and Yielded Act
- Fair Chance Act
- Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019
- Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act of 2019
- National Defense Strategy Implementation Act
- Fentanyl Sanctions Act
- Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
- Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Land Affirmation Act of 2019
- White Sands National Park Establishment Act
- Short Titles for portions of this bill from PCS (Placed on Senate Calendar) bill text
- Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019
- Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
- Fentanyl Sanctions Act
- National Defense Strategy Implementation Act
- Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act of 2019
- Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Land Affirmation Act of 2019
- White Sands National Park Establishment Act
- REPAY Act
- Return Expenses Paid and Yielded Act
- Fair Chance Act
- Short Title(s) from PCS (Placed on Senate Calendar) bill text
- National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security.
- Administrative law and regulatory procedures
- Administrative remedies
- Advisory bodies
- Air quality
- Alternative and renewable resources
- Arkansas
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Armed Forces Retirement Home
- Arms control and nonproliferation
- Asia
- Assault and harassment offenses
- Aviation and airports
- Blood and blood diseases
- California
- Caribbean area
- Cemeteries and funerals
- Chemical and biological weapons
- Child care and development
- Child health
- Climate change and greenhouse gases
- Conflicts and wars
- Congressional oversight
- Congressional tributes
- Correctional facilities and imprisonment
- Crime prevention
- Crime victims
- Crimes against women
- Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
- Criminal justice information and records
- Criminal procedure and sentencing
- Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
- Defense spending
- Department of Defense
- Department of Energy
- Department of Transportation
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Diego Garcia
- Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
- Disaster relief and insurance
- Drug trafficking and controlled substances
- Educational facilities and institutions
- Electric power generation and transmission
- Elementary and secondary education
- Employee hiring
- Employee performance
- Employment discrimination and employee rights
- Energy efficiency and conservation
- Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
- Evidence and witnesses
- Executive agency funding and structure
- Family planning and birth control
- Federal-Indian relations
- Fires
- Floods and storm protection
- Foreign language and bilingual programs
- General Services Administration
- Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
- Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
- Government studies and investigations
- Guam
- Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
- Health care costs and insurance
- Health personnel
- Higher education
- Historic sites and heritage areas
- Human rights
- Immigration status and procedures
- Indian lands and resources rights
- Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
- Land transfers
- Lawyers and legal services
- Licensing and registrations
- Lighting, heating, cooling
- Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
- Marine and inland water transportation
- Marshall Islands
- Medical tests and diagnostic methods
- Members of Congress
- Mental health
- Middle East
- Military command and structure
- Military education and training
- Military facilities and property
- Military history
- Military law
- Military operations and strategy
- Military personnel and dependents
- Military procurement, research, weapons development
- Military readiness
- Minority education
- Monuments and memorials
- National Guard and reserves
- New Mexico
- News media and reporting
- Noise pollution
- North Carolina
- Nuclear weapons
- Nursing
- Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
- Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
- Oil and gas
- Parks, recreation areas, trails
- Personnel records
- Protest and dissent
- Public contracts and procurement
- Puerto Rico
- Racial and ethnic relations
- Religion
- Residential rehabilitation and home repair
- Saudi Arabia
- Sex and reproductive health
- Sex offenses
- Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
- Solid waste and recycling
- Strategic materials and reserves
- Student aid and college costs
- Teaching, teachers, curricula
- Transportation employees
- Transportation safety and security
- U.S. territories and protectorates
- Utah
- Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
- Veterans' organizations and recognition
- Veterinary medicine and animal diseases
- Vietnam
- Violent crime
- Virginia
- Visas and passports
- Water quality
- Water use and supply
- Women's health
- Women's rights
- Worker safety and health
Text 4
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Aug 11, 2020Placed on Calendar Senate
- Jul 12, 2019Engrossed in House
- Jun 19, 2019Reported in House
- May 2, 2019Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
