HR 2500 · 116th Congress 2019–2021, ended

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020

Introduced May 2, 2019 Originated House Sponsor Adam Smith D-WA

Fact sheet Spreadsheet

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.

  1. IntroducedMay 2, 2019
  2. Passed HouseJul 12, 2019
  3. Passed SenateNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. 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 callQuestionResultDate
House 473Passed220–197Jul 12, 2019
House 472Failed204–212Jul 12, 2019
House 471Agreed to230–189Jul 12, 2019
House 470Agreed to236–182Jul 12, 2019
House 469On Agreeing to the AmendmentAgreed to213–204Jul 12, 2019

Yea 213

Nay 204

Not voting 21

Show all 36 votes

Cosponsors 1

Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on May 2, 2019.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
R-TXMac ThornberryOriginalMay 2, 2019

Committees 1

Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.

ChamberCommitteeWhat it did
HouseArmed 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.

  1. Aug 11, 2020Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 512.
  2. Sep 10, 2019Received in the Senate.
  3. Jul 12, 2019Considered as unfinished business. (CR H5733-5743)
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
Show all 140 actions

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.

WhereIn the RecordMembersDate
SenateDebate and remarks S5389—Aug 11, 2020
SenateDebate and remarks S6725Mitch McConnell R-KYNov 21, 2019
HouseDebate and remarks H8904Steny H. Hoyer D-MD, Steve Scalise R-LANov 15, 2019
HouseDebate and remarks H7737Adam Smith D-WASep 17, 2019
HouseDebate and remarks H7692, H7693Steny H. Hoyer D-MD, Steve Scalise R-LASep 12, 2019
Show all 11 days

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

  1. Sep 9, 2019H.R. 2500, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020As passed by the House of Representatives on July 12, 2019
  2. 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
  3. 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

Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant to the following: The constitutional authority on which this bill rests is the power of Congress ``to provide for the common Defence'', ``to raise and support Armies'', ``to provide and maintain a Navy'' and `to make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces'' as enumerated in Article I, section 8 of the United States Constitution.

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.

NumberHearingCommitteeHeld
S. Hrg. 116-240NORTH KOREA POLICY ONE YEAR AFTER HANOI50 pagesForeign Relations CommitteeFeb 25, 2020
Serial No. 116-50REVIEWING THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES TO ADDRESS VETERAN HUNGER70 pagesVeterans' Affairs CommitteeJan 9, 2020
Serial No. 116-31THE ADMINISTRATION'S PRIORITIES AND POLICY INITIATIVES UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT152 pagesTransportation and Infrastructure CommitteeSep 18, 2019
S. Hrg. 116-388REVIEWING AUTHORITIES FOR THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE54 pagesForeign Relations CommitteeJul 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.

ProductTitleKindPublished
R46144FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act: P.L. 116-92 (H.R. 2500, S. 1790) ArchivedReportJan 2, 2020
IF11258FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2500, S. 1790) ArchivedResourceJun 26, 2019

Also cite it 39

Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.

Amendments 58

Amendments offered to this bill.

AmendmentDescriptionOffered byStatus
HAmdt 507Amendment requires an annual report on strikes undertaken by the United States against terrorist targets to be submitted by the Director of National Intelligence instead of the Secretary of Defense.Adam Smith D-WAOn agreeing to the Smith (WA) amendment (A001) Agreed to by recorded vote: 236 - 193 (Roll no. 438). (consideration: CR H5606)
HAmdt 508An amendment comprised of the following amendments printed in Part B of House Report 116-143 as en bloc No. 1: Nos. 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 15, 16, 18, 22, 28, 30, 36, 41, 42, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, and 190.Adam Smith D-WAOn agreeing to the Smith (WA) amendments (A002) Agreed to by voice vote.
HAmdt 509Amendment requires that qualifications for eligibility to serve in the armed forces account only for the ability of an individual to meet gender-neutral occupational standards and not include any criteria relating to the race, color, national origin, religion, or sex (including gender identity or sexual orientation) of an individual.Jackie Speier D-CAOn agreeing to the Speier amendment (A003) Agreed to by recorded vote: 242 - 187 (Roll no. 439). (consideration: CR H5606-5607)
HAmdt 510Amendment requires the Department of Defense to establish a standardized educational program on family planning for all branches of the military and requires the program to be provided during the first year of an individual's military service.Jackie Speier D-CAOn agreeing to the Speier amendment (A004) Agreed to by recorded vote: 231 - 199 (Roll no. 440). (consideration: CR H5607-5608)
HAmdt 511Amendment requires stainless steel flatware procured by the Department of Defense to be reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States.Anthony Brindisi D-NYOn agreeing to the Brindisi amendment (A005) Agreed to by recorded vote: 243 - 187 (Roll no. 441). (consideration: CR H5608)
Show all 58 amendments

Related bills 183

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

BillTitleRelationshipLatest action
HCONRES 10Authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol to honor the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient of the Second World War upon death.Related billJan 30, 2019
HRES 39Expressing support for the designation of March 2, 2019, as "Gold Star Families Remembrance Day".Related billJan 24, 2019
HCONRES 43Recognizing the honorable service of military working dogs and soldier handlers in the tactical explosive detection dog program of the Army and encouraging the Army and other government agencies, including law enforcement agencies, with former tactical explosive detection dogs to prioritize adoption of the dogs to former tactical explosive detection dog handlers.Related billMay 23, 2019
HR 135Elijah E. Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act of 2019Related billDec 16, 2019
HR 136Federal Intern Protection Act of 2019Related billJan 16, 2019
Show all 183 related bills

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.

Text 4

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

  1. Aug 11, 2020Placed on Calendar Senate
  2. Jul 12, 2019Engrossed in House
  3. Jun 19, 2019Reported in House
  4. May 2, 2019Introduced in House

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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.