Subscribe free to our newsletters via your




MILPLEX
US Congress passes $584 billion defense bill
by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) Dec 12, 2014


The US Congress adopted a massive US defense spending bill for 2015 Friday which includes emergency funding for military operations against Islamic jihadists in Iraq and Syria, as requested by President Barack Obama.

The legislation passed 89 votes to 11 in the Senate one week after it sailed through the House. It outlines $584.2 billion in federal military spending for fiscal year 2015, which began on October 1.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was a culmination of months of negotiations. It extends training and equipping for moderate Syrian rebels, a program that had been authorized to last only until December 11, using existing Pentagon money.

It also includes Obama's $5 billion request for funds to battle the Islamic State extremist group, including $3.4 billion for deployment of US forces as part of operation "Inherent Resolve," and $1.6 billion for a program to equip and train Iraqi Kurdish forces for two years.

The authorization includes $63.7 billion for overseas operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere.

"This bill includes a pay raise for members of the Armed Services, it enhances our efforts to keep our warfighters safe on the battlefield, and it authorizes the resources needed to responsibly conclude our combat mission in Afghanistan," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in a statement.

Obama's request for $520 million for the State Department's humanitarian and diplomatic efforts was also included.

But despite opposition from Obama, the bill extends restrictions on closing the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A ban on transferring detainees to the United States, in force since 2011, was renewed.

Republicans fear the detainees might be freed by a judge and thus constitute a threat to national security.

Thirteen prisoners have been sent to other countries this year, and 142 men remain in the prison.

Among the bill's hundreds of provisions, the measure provides for a one percent pay raise for uniformed personnel, expands sexual assault prevention and response provisions, and requires the military to provide annual mental health screenings for servicemembers.

It also protects the fleet of A-10 close-air support aircraft, a measure for which Senator John McCain lobbied hard.

The US Air Force had proposed retiring more than 100 A-10s, but the NDAA would prevent any such retirements in 2015.

Defense spending accounts for just over half of the US government's budget for so-called discretionary spending, which excludes social welfare.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
The Military Industrial Complex at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle




Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News





MILPLEX
US House passes $584 bn defense bill, Senate vote due
Washington (AFP) Dec 04, 2014
The House of Representatives adopted an annual US defense spending bill Thursday which includes emergency funding for military operations against Islamic jihadists in Iraq and Syria, as requested by President Barack Obama. The Senate still must pass the legislation - outlining $584.2 billion in federal military spending for fiscal year 2015, which began on October 1 - before Congress adjou ... read more


MILPLEX
Mayor of deadly French flood village jailed for 4 years

Computer animation of Indian Ocean floor assists search for Flight MH370

17 dead, nearly 100 missing in Indonesian landslide: official

32 dead, 76 missing in Indonesian landslide

MILPLEX
GPS analysts bridge gap between launch, orbit

China to Roll Out Own Global Navigation System by 2020

NIST study 'makes the case' for RFID forensic evidence management

Galileo satellite recovered and transmitting navigation signals

MILPLEX
Commentary calls for new 'science of climate diversity'

Scientists reveal parchment's hidden stories

Ancient engravings rewrite human history

NTU team uncover one of mankind's most ancient lineages

MILPLEX
Renowned photographer Salgado issues environmental call to arms

Norway scraps controversial seal hunting subsidy

Kenya's 'Maasai Olympics' fights dwindling lion numbers

Genes tell story of birdsong and human speech

MILPLEX
Prepare for severe flu season: US health chiefs

Bird flu found at two farms in Canada

Uganda 'HIV nurse' to be released from jail

New Dutch cull ordered after bird flu confirmed as H5N8

MILPLEX
Top Chinese official gets life for $6m bribery: court

US 'slings mud' over human rights, China says

China says veteran Mongol activist released

China to send first anti-graft investigators to parliament

MILPLEX
Nobel protester sought to draw attention to 'murdered Mexican students'

Corruption on rise in Turkey, China: Transparency

MILPLEX
China's November industrial output at three-month low

China November industrial output at three-month low

China November inflation falls to five-year-low 1.4%: govt

Under pressure Swiss banks eye Chinese wealth




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.