Senate Armed Services Committee Issues Defense Authorization Report – Title XIV (Other Authorizations)

WASHINGTON, June 10 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee issued a report (S.Rpt. 115-262) on legislation (S. 2987) to authorize appropriations for the fiscal 2019 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. The report was advanced by Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, on June 5.

TITLE XIV--OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS

Subtitle A--Military Programs

Working capital funds (sec. 1401)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize the appropriations for the defense working capital funds at the levels identified in section 4501 of division D of this Act.

Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction, Defense (sec. 1402)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize the appropriations for Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction at the levels identified in section 4501 of division D of this Act.

Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense-wide (sec. 1403)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize the appropriations for Drug Interdiction and Counterdrug Activities, Defense-wide, at the levels identified in section 4501 of division D of this Act.

Defense Inspector General (sec. 1404)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize the appropriations for the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense at the levels identified in section 4501 of division D of this Act.

Defense Health Program (sec. 1405)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize appropriations for the Defense Health Program activities at the levels identified in section 4501 of division D of this Act.

Subtitle B--National Defense Stockpile

Consolidation of reporting requirements under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (sec. 1411)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend section 11 of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98h-2) to consolidate reporting requirements.

Subtitle C--Armed Forces Retirement Home

Authorization of appropriations for Armed Forces Retirement Home (sec. 1421)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize an appropriation of $64.3 million from the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund for fiscal year 2019 for the operation of the Armed Forces Retirement Home.

Expansion of eligibility for residence at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (sec. 1422)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend section 1512 of the Armed Forces Retirement Home Act of 1991 (24 U.S.C. 412) to include as authorized residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH): (1) Persons with a service- connected disability incurred in the line of duty in the Armed Forces; and (2) Certain spouses of residents. The provision would also delineate persons ineligible to be residents of the AFRH: (1) Persons discharged or released from military service under other than honorable conditions; and (2) Persons with substance abuse or mental health problems, with a limited exception.

Oversight of health care provided to residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (sec. 1423)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend section 1513A(c) of the Armed Forces Retirement Home Act of 1991 (24 U.S.C. 413a(c)) to revise the duties of the senior medical advisor to the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) to require the senior medical advisor to facilitate and monitor the timely availability to residents of the AFRH such medical, mental health, and dental care services as such residents may require at locations other than the AFRH and to monitor compliance by the facilities of the AFRH with applicable accreditation and health care standards and requirements.

Modification of authority on acceptance of gifts for the Armed Forces Retirement Home (sec. 1424)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend paragraph (1) of section 1515(f) of the Armed Forces Retirement Home Act of 1991 (24 U.S.C. 415(f)) to authorize the Chief Operating Officer of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) to accept, receive, solicit, hold, administer, and use any gift, devise, or bequest, either absolutely or in trust, of real or personal property, or any income therefrom or other interest therein, for the benefit of the AFRH. This provision would allow the AFRH to adopt gift authorities consistent with those of other Federal Government organizations, which are not intended to be capitalized by direct appropriations.

Relief for residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home impacted by increase in fees (sec. 1425)

The committee recommends a provision that would prohibit the removal or release of a resident of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) as of September 30, 2018, after that date based solely on the inability of the resident to pay the amount of any increase in fees applicable to residents that take effect on October 1, 2018. The provision would require the Chief Operating Officer of the AFRH to accommodate residents impacted by the fee structure that takes effect on October 1, 2018, through hardship relief, additional deductions from gross income, and other appropriate actions.

Limitation on applicability of fee increase for residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (sec. 1426)

The committee recommends a provision that would limit the amount of the fee increase for a resident of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) as of April 9, 2018, of those fees scheduled to increase on October 1, 2018, to 50 percent of the fees payable by such resident.

Subtitle D--Other Matters

Authority for transfer of funds to joint Department of Defense- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund for Captain James A. Lovell Health Care Center, Illinois (sec. 1431)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize the Secretary of Defense to transfer $113.0 million from the Defense Health Program to the joint Department of Defense- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, created by section 1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84) for the operations of the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center.

Economical and efficient operation of working capital fund activities (sec. 1432)

The committee recommends a provision that would direct the Department of Defense to implement workload plans that optimize the efficiency of the workforce operating within a working capital fund activity and reduce the rate structure. The provision would also encourage the working capital fund to perform reimbursable work for other entities where appropriate.

Items of Special Interest

Assessment on material shortfalls in United States Forces Korea for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defenses

The committee is encouraged by the increased chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) defense efforts by United States Forces Korea (USFK). The committee remains concerned that there are unknown shortfalls in material needs for the CBRN mission on the South Korean peninsula. Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in coordination with USFK, to submit an assessment, no later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, that establishes operational requirements and shortfalls for early warning systems, decontamination and tactical disablement operations, collective protection equipment, weapons of mass destruction characterization, subterranean operations, and additional areas that the Secretary deems appropriate.

The committee is also concerned that United States Forces Korea has not adequately prepared for decontamination efforts or identified possible limitations in the event of a chemical weapon attack. Accordingly, the assessment shall include the Department of Defense's ability to respond to chemical contamination and the limitation of water availability on the Korean Peninsula to assist in decontamination.

Fiscal stability of the National Defense Stockpile

The committee is strongly supportive of the recent efforts by the National Defense Stockpile (NDS) to execute the acquisition of strategic and critical materials, expand domestic qualification, and recycle military end items in order to reclaim strategic materials and rare earth elements.

Given the committee's concern that the funds within the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund have been significantly depleted and that the fund lacks long-term financial stability without appropriated funds, the committee is strongly encouraged by and supportive of the NDS' recent plan to coordinate a long-term strategy to request Transaction Fund appropriations in the future years defense program, coupled with the possible reconfiguration of existing stockpiles for modern military and strategic requirements.

The full text of the report is found at: https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/115th-congress/senate-report/262/1?r=4

TARGETED NEWS SERVICE: Myron Struck, editor; 703/304-1897; editor@targetednews.com; https://targetednews.com