The House Armed Services Committee on Thursday voted 60-1 to approve the House panel chair’s markup of a defense policy bill that would authorize $716 billion in funds for fiscal 2019, Defense News reported Thursday.The proposed fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act would allocate at least $35 billion in funds to update military aircraft; $25.5 billion for equipment replacement and maintenance parts; and $18.5 billion for Army equipment replacement efforts.
The measure would support the Trump administration’s plans to buy 77 new F-35 fighter aircraft, modernize approximately 3,400 joint light tactical vehicles and purchase two more Virginia-class submarines and littoral combat ships.
The NDAA would fund the addition of approximately 16,000 service personnel to the armed forces and authorize a 2.6 percent military pay increase by January 2019.
Lawmakers also approved an amendment to retain the Test Resource Management Center and a plan to establish a new commission to assess physiological episodes and mishaps in military aviation.
The report said the full House is expected to vote on the proposed legislation later this month.
