National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 is a federal law that authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense and sets military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2013. The law was enacted by the 112th United States Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama on January 2, 2013, following the United States Senate's approval on December 21, 2012, and the United States House of Representatives' approval on December 20, 2012, with the support of Leon Panetta, the United States Secretary of Defense at the time, and Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The law also received input from the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

● Introduction

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 is a critical piece of legislation that outlines the Department of Defense's budget and priorities for the fiscal year. The law is the result of a collaborative effort between the United States Congress, the Executive Branch, and the Department of Defense, including the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, and the United States Marine Corps. The law's provisions are informed by the National Defense Strategy, the Quadrennial Defense Review, and the National Military Strategy, which are developed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The law also takes into account the United States' foreign policy objectives, as outlined by the United States Department of State and the National Security Council.

● Legislative History

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on March 29, 2012, by Buck McKeon, the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, with the support of Howard McKeon and Mac Thornberry. The bill was referred to the House Armed Services Committee, where it was marked up and reported out of committee on May 9, 2012, with input from the Senate Armed Services Committee and its Chairman, Carl Levin. The bill passed the United States House of Representatives on May 18, 2012, with a vote of 299-120, and was sent to the United States Senate for consideration, where it was debated by John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Kelly Ayotte. The United States Senate passed its own version of the bill on December 4, 2012, with a vote of 98-0, and the two versions were reconciled in a conference committee, which included John Boehner, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid.

● Provisions

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense's operations and maintenance, including funding for the War in Afghanistan, the Iraq War, and other Overseas Contingency Operations, as well as support for NATO and United Nations peacekeeping missions. The law also sets military personnel strengths for the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, and the United States Marine Corps, and provides funding for the Defense Health Program, the TRICARE health insurance program, and the Veterans Administration. Additionally, the law includes provisions related to cybersecurity, including the establishment of the United States Cyber Command and the development of a national cybersecurity strategy, with input from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Department of Homeland Security. The law also addresses issues related to counterterrorism, including the use of drones and the detention of enemy combatants, with guidance from the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

● Controversies

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 was the subject of controversy due to its provisions related to the detention of enemy combatants and the use of drones in counterterrorism operations, which were criticized by American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Watch. The law's provisions on cybersecurity were also criticized by some, including Google and Facebook, who argued that they could lead to increased government surveillance and censorship, with concerns raised by Edward Snowden and Julian Assange. Additionally, the law's funding for the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War was criticized by some, including Code Pink and Veterans for Peace, who argued that it was excessive and that the funds could be better spent on domestic priorities, such as Medicare and Social Security, with input from the Congressional Budget Office and the Government Accountability Office.

● Enactment and Implementation

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 was signed into law by President Barack Obama on January 2, 2013, following its passage in the United States Congress. The law's implementation was overseen by the Department of Defense, including the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with support from the White House and the National Security Council. The law's provisions were implemented through a series of executive orders and regulations, including those related to cybersecurity and counterterrorism, with guidance from the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The law's funding provisions were also implemented through the appropriations process, with the support of the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee.

● Impact and Reactions

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 has had a significant impact on the United States' national security posture and its relationships with other countries, including China, Russia, and Iran. The law's provisions on cybersecurity and counterterrorism have been particularly influential, with many countries, including Canada and Australia, following the United States' lead in developing their own cybersecurity strategies and counterterrorism policies, with input from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union. The law's funding provisions have also had a significant impact on the United States' defense industry, with many companies, including Lockheed Martin and Boeing, benefiting from the law's funding for defense contracts and research and development, with support from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the National Science Foundation. Overall, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 has played an important role in shaping the United States' national security policy and its relationships with other countries, with ongoing implications for the United States' foreign policy and its global leadership, as discussed by Henry Kissinger, Madeleine Albright, and Condoleezza Rice.

Category:United States federal defense and national security legislation