Work completed on FY 2003 defense appropriations

National Guard, Nov 2002

The fiscal 2003 defense appropriation of $355 billion reflects a $37 billion increase over fiscal 2002 spending.

President Bush signed a defense spending bill Oct. 23 into law that will provide $18 billion to the National Guard to fund personnel, equipment and programs.

The $355 billion fiscal 2003 defense appropriation is a $37 billion increase over fiscal 2002 spending.

The Senate passed the measure 93 to 1 Oct. 16. The House passed it by a vote of 409 to 14 Oct. 10.

The bill includes $11 billion for the Army National Guard and $7 billion for the Air National Guard.

Of that, the Army Guard will receive $1.23 billion for procurement, while the Air National Guard will receive $526.7 million. The operations and maintenance accounts will include $4.35 billion for the Army Guard and $4.2 billion for the Air Guard, while the personnel accounts include $5.11 billion for the Army Guard and $2.13 billion for the Air Guard.

The fiscal 2003 spending bill includes 14 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, of which 10 will go to the Army National Guard.

Other Army Guard spending includes:

* $51.2 million for HH-60L helicopters;

* $2.6 million for Pacific Combat Search and Rescue;

* $2 million for Oregon Combat Search and Rescue;

* $51 million for Bradley Fighting Vehicle upgrades

* $15.2 million for new Humvees;

* $5.3 million for distance learning;

* $4.5 million for Aviation Classification Repair Activity Depot

* $4.3 million for Beamhit simulators;

* $8.5 million for the Pacific Reserve Combat Automation System;

* $4.3 million for chemical-agent alarms; and

* $30 million for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account.

For the Air Guard, the bill includes $20 million for F-16 targeting pods. Other funding includes:

* $2 million for Tactical Reconnaissance System upgrades;

* $30.6 million for leasing C-40 aircraft;

* $8.1 million for a directional, infrared counter-measures system;

* $4.8 million for modular airborne fighting systems for the C-130 Hercules;

* $87 million for one EC-130J aircraft;

* $3.3 million for BOL IR flares;

* $17.5 million for Eagle Vision;

* $3.2 million for Helibasket technology; and

* $30 million for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account.

In the areas of counter-drug and counterterrorism, funding includes:

* $64.87 million for the National Guard ChalleNGe Program for at-risk youth;

* $182.3 million for counter-drug state plans;

* $2.4 million for OH-58 helicopter reconnaissance and interdiction detachments;

* $5.2 million for C-26 EO digital cameras;

* $4.7 million for continuing construction on the Southwest Border Fence; and

* $1.8 million for National Guard Bureau Counter-drug Consortium.

Appropriations for Military Construction

After signing the fiscal 2002 Defense Appropriation Act , the president also signed H.R. 5011, Appropriations for Military Construction, which nets the Army Guard $241.4 million and the Air Guard $203.8 million.

For the Army Guard the total represents a $33 million increase over the Senate's original recommendation and $81 million more than the House mark.

The Air Guard's appropriation is $84 million more than the House's original request, but $14 million less than the Senate's.

Appropriations include $1.4 million to the Army Guard for the addition of a readiness center in Waterloo, Iowa, and at least $891,000 for the design of a readiness center at Tupelo, Miss. Conferees also directed at least $1.4 million toward planning and design of a multi-purpose training range at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.

The Air Guard will have at least $472,000 for the design of a logistics complex at Toledo Express Airport, but nothing for the final phases of a maintenance complex at Duluth International Airport.

Authority to Spend Funds Lags

Passage of the defense authorization bill must wait until after the November recess.

Concurrent receipt is one of the issues holding it up. Currently, federal retirees from non-defense agencies may collect disability insurance in addition to their regular retirement. Retired military personnel may not.

Congress is considering whether to allow military retirees to collect both. Cost is the sticking point. The Congressional Budget Office has calculated that the House version of the measure would cost $4 billion over five years. A version similar to the Senate bill would cost even more-$23 billion over five years. The Bush administration says the Senate-passed bill would cost $60 billion over 10 years and opposes both measures.

Another issue holding up the bill is who should control the National Guard during homeland security missions. Members of the House approved their version of the authorization bill with a provision calling for the use of National Guardsmen-or federal troopsin a federal status.

The Senate version calls for using the Guard under the control of the governor at the federal government's expense.

Senate Passes Tax Fairness Bill

The Senate passed H.R. 5063 on Nov. 3, which provides tax relief for National Guard members who travel overnight as part of their official duties.

In October, the NGAUS, with The Military Coalition, sent letters to House and Senate leaders asking for their support for the bill.