The Senate approved a $310 billion fiscal 2001 Defense authorization bill Thursday that increases procurement spending and addresses a host of civilian and military personnel issues.
The bill, which was approved 97 to 3, would increase military spending by $19 billion over fiscal 2000.
The Senate added $4.5 billion to President Clinton's Defense budget request, mainly for procurement spending. Defense procurement under the bill totals $64 billion.
The bill contains a 3.7 percent pay raise for military personnel, and also gives military members the right to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan. The TSP is current only open to civilian federal employees.
The Senate rejected a proposal to close additional military bases in 2003 and 2005.
The House recently passed a similar defense authorization package. Lawmakers will work out differences in the bills when they confer later this year.
The bill also would:
- Extend DoD's authority to offer employee buyouts of up to $25,000 from fiscal 2003 to 2005.
- Restrict the Navy from awarding a multi-billion contract for the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet until it completes a detailed report on the cost and impact for Congress.
- Direct the Comptroller General to create a panel of government, industry and labor representatives to review and recommend possible changes to federal privatization policy.
- Direct DoD to hold pilot public-private competitions to determine whether civilian personnel services should be outsourced.
- Order DoD to pursue increased partnerships with the commercial sector at its depots and other manufacturing facilities.
- Require Pentagon procurement rules to be revised to state a preference for performance-based service contracting.
- Allow Defense agency heads to maintain their performance and appraisal systems electronically.
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