National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 was a comprehensive piece of legislation authorizing Department of Defense programs and Department of Energy national security activities. Enacted during the Clinton administration, it addressed post-Cold War military priorities, including military pay raises, missile defense policy, and oversight of nuclear weapons laboratories. The bill was named in honor of its principal sponsor, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Floyd Spence.

Overview and Legislative History

The legislation originated as H.R. 1401, introduced by Representative Floyd Spence of South Carolina. It moved through the House Armed Services Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee during the first session of the 106th United States Congress. The bill passed the House in June 1999 and the Senate in July, with final agreement reached in September. President Bill Clinton signed the act into law on October 5, 1999, at a ceremony attended by members of Congress including John Warner and Carl Levin. The law's enactment followed debates over the national missile defense program and responses to the Cox Report on technology transfers to the People's Republic of China.

Major Provisions and Authorizations

The act authorized approximately $288.8 billion in budget authority for Department of Defense programs and Department of Energy atomic energy defense activities. A key provision mandated the deployment of a National Missile Defense system as soon as technologically possible, a significant shift in policy influenced by the Rumsfeld Commission. It also repealed the obsolete 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty compliance provision. Other major authorizations included funding for the F-22 fighter, the New Attack Submarine, and the DDG-51 destroyer program. The act placed restrictions on the use of funds for implementing the Kyoto Protocol without Senate advice and consent.

Military Personnel and Compensation

Addressing concerns over military recruitment and retention, the act authorized the largest pay raise for the armed forces in a generation, increasing basic pay by 4.8 percent. It also improved housing allowances and expanded educational benefits under the Montgomery G.I. Bill. Provisions reformed the military health care system, known as TRICARE, and established special pay for dental officers and veterinarians. The legislation modified personnel policies affecting the National Guard and Reserve components and addressed issues related to veterans' employment rights under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

Acquisition Reform and Nuclear Security

The act contained significant reforms to Department of Defense acquisition policies, extending the Nunn–McCurdy Act unit cost reporting requirements. It established the position of Director of Operational Test and Evaluation as a presidential appointee. In response to espionage concerns at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the act transferred security oversight of the nuclear weapons laboratories from the Department of Energy to a new semi-autonomous agency within the DOE, the National Nuclear Security Administration. This reorganization was directly influenced by the findings of the Cox Report and investigations led by Christopher Cox and Frank Wolf.

Impact and Subsequent Developments

The act's mandate on National Missile Defense deployment significantly influenced the defense policy of the subsequent George W. Bush administration, leading to the withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002. The creation of the National Nuclear Security Administration established a lasting framework for managing the nuclear weapons complex. The military pay raises helped improve morale during ongoing operations in the Balkans and the Middle East. Many of its acquisition reform provisions were built upon in later National Defense Authorization Acts, shaping Pentagon procurement for decades. The act is formally cited as the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000.

Category:United States federal defense and national security legislation Category:106th United States Congress Category:1999 in American law