Good morning, I hope my email finds you well. Since joining EANGUS on 6-Oct, I have stayed very busy despite Congress being in an Election Year Recess. As we quickly approach the end of the 113th Congress, there will be a flurry of last minute business that I would like to bring to your attention. When Congress returns on 1-Dec, it will need to pass the Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and an Omnibus Appropriations Bill or a Continuing Resolution to fund the Federal Government. Republicans and Democrats will have to work together to reach an agreement to fund the Government or we could see another shutdown. Unlike last year, however, there is little appetite for a shutdown and many believe that Congress will pass a Continuing Resolution to fund the Government through early 2015 when the 114th Congress begins its work.
FY15 NDAA
During the fall, Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and House Armed Services Committee (HASC) staffers negotiated S. 2410, the SASC-passed NDAA and H.R. 4435, the House of Representatives-passed NDAA. While both sides are close to an agreement, this week, HASC Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) announced that Members and staff are still working out details and Congressional sources close to the negotiation say that current disagreements are about increasing some TRICARE pharmacy co-pays and reducing the basic housing allowance for military personnel. Considering Chairman McKeon and SASC Chairman, Senator Carl Levin retire at the end of the year, it is highly likely that all disagreement are resolved, the NDAA passes both Houses, and is signed by the President by year’s end. Good news! Sources are telling EANGUS to expect two provisions favorable to EANGUS: The FY15 NDAA will call for a commission on the future of the Army with a suspense date of March 2016. Part of the commission’s responsibilities will be to weigh-in on the Apache transfer debate currently taking place between the Guard and Army. Secondly, sources are telling EANGUS that the FY15 NDAA will prohibit the transfer of Apaches in FY15.
Legislative Update from EANGUS
