The Senate passed the unusually contentious FY16 NDAA, by a vote of 71-25, today. The Senate had planned to move ahead to tackling Defense Appropriations on the Floor, but the measure failed to receive 60 votes needed to invoke cloture and proceed. As a reminder, the President has issued a veto threat on the bill and Senate Democrats have promised to block any appropriations bills that rely on the current spending plan. The FY16 appropriations cycle was left in limbo after Senate Democrats appeared to have succeeded in torpedoing a procedural vote that would have allowed debate to begin on the FY16 Defense appropriations bill. Democrats in Congress and the White House are opposed to the underlying spending framework.
The full Senate Appropriations Committee marked up the Defense bill on June 11, and here is the press release.
In the bill:
- RDT&E: $70.325 billion, which is $539.7 million above the President’s FY16 request
- Basic Research: $2.317 billion, which is $228.5 million over the FY16 request, and a $39.341 million over FY15 enacted.
The report included this language: “The Committee believes that further investment in basic research must continue. Basic research is the foundation of innovative breakthroughs that are critical to maintaining the Nation’s future technological edge. Investments in basic research not only provide advances in technology for our military men and women, but also provide an important incubator for national labs and academic research institutions. These investments also encourage partnerships and collaboration with industry. In order to keep pace with the global challenges to come, the Committee believes that additional funding should be allocated to Federal research.”
- Applied Research: $4.928 billion, which is $215 million over the FY 16 request and $280.3 million over FY 15 enacted.
- Advanced Technology Development: $5.577 billion, which is $113.6 million above the FY 16 request and $251.5 million over FY 15 enacted.
- DARPA: $2.865 billion, which is $107.1 million below the FY 16 request and $50.4 million below FY 15 enacted.