Conference committees in the House and Senate have settled their differences in the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act following several months of negotiation, The Hill newspaper reported Tuesday.Rebecca Kheel writes the NDAA allocates a $612 billion budget for Defense Department operations and programs over the next fiscal year, including an additional $38 billion to fund overseas contingency operations.
“We still have some disagreement, but we were able to come together in spirit of compromise for men and women who serve this country,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told The Hill.
The House is scheduled to vote on the annual defense policy bill Thursday.
Colin Clark of Breaking Defense reported the bill would give chiefs of the U.S. military service branches more power to manage weapon programs and requirements.
The legislation is also designed to accelerate development of military technologies through a middle tier acquisition strategy and increase participation of nontraditional contractors in defense procurement initiatives, the report said.
