On the same day the House passed its version of the FY 2011 National Defense Authorization Act, the Senate made sure it wasn’t too far behind.  On May 28, the Senate Armed Services Committee marked-up the Senate version of the defense bill, which is expected to reach the Senate floor soon after Congress returns to session.  The bill is nearly identical in cost coming in at $725.9 billion, including $549 billion for the Defense Department and $159 billion for overseas contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 Major highlights from the bill include:

 Provides full funding ($3.4 billion) for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAP) fund that funds the development, testing, production, and sustainment of the MRAP vehicles and new MRAP All Terrain Vehicles (known as the M-ATV).

• Adds $325 million to purchase an additional six F/A-18E/F aircraft to help address a looming shortfall in strike fighter aircraft.
• Provides $184.5 million for the FY 2011 Chief of Staff of the Army’s unfunded procurement priorities including: Line of Communication Bridge, Light Weight Counter-Mortar Radar, Defense Advanced Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver, Tactical Local Area Network, and Forward Entry Device for the artillery tactical data system.
• Provides additional funding for operationally responsive space to meet urgent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) needs of combatant commanders.
• Includes multiple legislative provisions relating to cybersecurity, including requirements to: (1) resolve longstanding policy issues relating to the conduct of military operations in cyberspace; (2) develop a tailored cyber acquisition process; (3) conduct major commercial technology demonstrations; and (4) report annually on losses and damages from cyber attacks and cyberwar “net assessments.”
• Adds funding for various Navy programs to expand the capability of our forces to conduct new missions and survive in higher threat situations, including such programs as Phalanx self defense system, the NULKA decoy system, and the program to expand the capability for our submarines to carry new payloads.

 For more information, click here  to download the bill summary or visit the defense budget library.