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By: FEDweek StaffService members would receive a 4.6-percent raise in basic pay Jan. 1, under the 2023 defense-spending bill that cleared the House July 14 by a 329-101 voice vote. Other provisions include:
• Roughly $1 billion to fund sexual assault-mitigation programs.
• Active-duty strength set at 1,328,300 – a decrease of 4,130 compared to fiscal 2022. Reserve strength would be set at 794,000, a decrease of 508 compared to ’22 levels.
• $269.3 billion for operations and maintenance. This would cover a wide array of activities for each service branch, to include combat operations, depot maintenance, and environmental restoration. It also includes: continuing the transition of space activities to the Space Force; removal of Confederate generals’ names from Army bases; funding the Navy’s littoral combat ship program; gender advisors; impact aid for those with disabilities; suicide prevention; and other programs.
• $143.9 for procurement. Numerous programs would be funded, to include: the F-35; B-21 Raider bomber; F-15EX; KC-46 tanker; HH-60W helicopter; KC-130J; MQ-9 Reaper; UH/HH-60M
Blackhawk helicopter; AH-64 Apache helicopter; E2-D Advanced Hawkeye; and CH-53K helicopter. The U.S. Special Operations Command’s Armed Overwatch Program also would be funded. The Navy would receive $27.8 billion to procure eight new ships – two DDG-51 guided missile destroyers, two SSN-774 attack submarines, one frigate, one T-AO fleet oiler, a towing-salvage-and-rescue ship, and one LPD Flight II amphibious transport dock. The Army National Guard’s HMMWV (Humvee) inventory and the active Army’s M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tank each would be modernized. Some 1,528 joint light tactical vehicles (JLTV) and 1,381 companion trailers would be funded, as would more M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers and M992A2 field artillery ammunition support vehicles.
• Health programs would be funded at $38.05 billion. This would include cancer, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, psychological health and warfighter research.
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