DEFENSE SPENDING
Spending bill totals $1.1 trillion, includes $85.2 billion in OCO funding
The Pentagon requested only $79 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding, but Congress appropriated an additional $6.2 billion. This spending bill will allow the Pentagon to avoid $20 billion in cuts that would have otherwise been made due to the sequester.
Procurement and R&D appropriations fall below requested figures
The White House requested $99.3 billion for defense procurements and $67.5 billion for research and development. The bill, however, appropriates $93 billion for procurement and $63 billion for R&D.
Planes, tanks, and submarines
Planned purchases of the F-35 will be fully funded, and the bill includes $90 million for upgrades to the M1 tank–upgrades that the Pentagon does not want. Moreover, Congress added $1.2 billion to the Pentagon’s request for procurement of the Virginia-class submarine, bringing the program’s total cost to about $6 billion.
For more on the Omnibus Bill
Follow the link above to explore the full text of the agreement and related reports.
IRAN
Senators voice opposition to new sanctions on Iran
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) signaled their opposition to any new sanctions that could derail the diplomatic process with Iran. Others including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) have expressed similar sentiments. One of the bill’s original co-sponsors, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), has stated that the bill should not come to a vote unless Iran reneges on the deal in place.
