House, Senate committees conclude conference on 2019 National Defense Authorization Act

The House and Senate Armed Services Committees released details of the conference report authorizing funding for the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy.

Lawmakers said the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019 would help provide service men and women resources needed to face today’s increasingly complex world.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) joined Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) as well as Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) in noting the legislation would strengthen the military’s readiness, provide troops a pay raise, support effective implementation of the National Defense Strategy and drive further innovation in emerging technologies to secure military advantages.

“The NDAA supports the latest budget agreement of $716 billion in fiscal year 2019 for national defense,” the lawmakers wrote. “It authorizes a base defense budget of $639 billion for the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy. The focus of this funding will be building a joint force that is ready, equipped and capable of maintaining military overmatch against adversaries. It also authorizes $69 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations.”

Officials said they are confident it will continue to represent how the government can and should function as this bill moves toward final passage.