National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 is a federal law that was enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by Barack Obama, the President of the United States, on January 7, 2011. The law authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for Department of Defense activities, including military construction and Department of Energy defense activities. The law also prescribes military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2011 and addresses other defense-related matters, such as the war in Afghanistan and the Iraq War. The law was influenced by the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and the Quadrennial Defense Review.

● Introduction

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 builds upon previous defense authorization laws, including the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. The law reflects the defense priorities of the Obama administration, including the counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan and the drawdown of troops in Iraq. The law also addresses emerging security challenges, such as cybersecurity and missile defense, and provides funding for defense modernization initiatives, including the F-35 Lightning II and the Littoral Combat Ship. The law was shaped by the input of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen, and other senior defense officials, including Admiral Gary Roughead and General George Casey.

● Legislative History

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 was introduced in the House of Representatives on May 21, 2010, by Representative Ike Skelton, the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. The bill was referred to the House Armed Services Committee, which marked up the bill on May 26, 2010. The bill passed the House of Representatives on May 28, 2010, by a vote of 229-186, with support from Representative Nancy Pelosi, Representative Steny Hoyer, and other Democratic leaders. The bill was then sent to the Senate, where it was referred to the Senate Armed Services Committee. The committee marked up the bill on June 17, 2010, and the bill passed the Senate on June 22, 2010, by a vote of 67-29, with support from Senator Carl Levin, Senator John McCain, and other Senate Armed Services Committee members.

● Provisions

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 includes a range of provisions related to defense policy and funding. The law authorizes $725 billion in funding for Department of Defense activities, including $159 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The law also provides funding for defense acquisition programs, including the F-35 Lightning II and the Littoral Combat Ship, and supports the development of new defense technologies, such as hypersonic vehicles and advanced sensors. The law includes provisions related to military personnel policy, including the Troop Support and Military Family Support provisions, which were championed by Senator Barbara Boxer and Representative Susan Davis. The law also addresses veterans' benefits, including the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act and the Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010, which were supported by Senator Daniel Akaka and Representative Bob Filner.

● Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 includes a provision that repeals the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, which prohibited LGBT individuals from serving openly in the United States Armed Forces. The repeal was championed by Representative Patrick Murphy, Senator Joe Lieberman, and other LGBT rights advocates, including the Human Rights Campaign and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. The repeal was supported by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen, who testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee in favor of the repeal. The repeal was also supported by President Barack Obama, who signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act into law on December 22, 2010, with the support of Vice President Joe Biden and other senior administration officials.

● Impact and Implementation

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 has had a significant impact on United States defense policy and national security. The law has supported the drawdown of troops in Iraq and the surge in Afghanistan, and has provided funding for defense modernization initiatives, including the F-35 Lightning II and the Littoral Combat Ship. The law has also implemented reforms to the military personnel system, including the Troop Support and Military Family Support provisions, which have improved support for military families and veterans. The law has been implemented by the Department of Defense, with support from the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other senior defense officials, including Admiral Jonathan Greenert and General Martin Dempsey. The law has also been subject to oversight by the Congressional Budget Office and the Government Accountability Office, which have monitored the law's implementation and provided recommendations for improvement.

● Congressional Response and Voting Record

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 was supported by a majority of Democrats and Republicans in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 229-186, with 148 Democrats and 81 Republicans voting in favor of the bill. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 67-29, with 54 Democrats and 13 Republicans voting in favor of the bill. The law was opposed by some conservative lawmakers, including Representative John Boehner and Senator Mitch McConnell, who expressed concerns about the law's provisions related to LGBT rights and defense spending. The law was also supported by liberal lawmakers, including Representative Nancy Pelosi and Senator Harry Reid, who praised the law's provisions related to veterans' benefits and military personnel policy. Category:United States federal defense and national security legislation