The House of Representatives passed the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (NDAA; H.R. Some issues discussed in this report were previously addressed in the FY18 NDAA ( P.L. Congress halted further reductions in Army and Marine Corps end-strength in FY2017, providing slight end-strength increases that year and more substantial increases in FY2018. Discussion: Relative to FY2018 authorized end-strengths, the Administration's FY2019 budget proposed increases for the Navy Reserve (+100), Air Force Reserve (+200), and Air National Guard (+500); and no change for the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve. Section 411 of the enacted bill specified end-strengths identical to the Administration request. §1073c. In the FY2018 NDAA, Congress authorized $1.4 billion for commissary operations and an additional $40 million for the construction of a new commissary in Stuttgart, Germany. Section 621 of the enacted bill adopts House Section 629, which extends eligibility of certain MWR and commissary privileges to certain veterans and their caregivers. It shall contain the following: (1) details of the internal and external organizational structures of a consolidated defense resale system; (2) recommendations of the Secretaries of each of the military departments regarding the plan to consolidate the military resale entities; (3) the costs and associated plan for the merger of technologies or implementation of new technology from a third-party provider to standardize financial management and accounting processes of a consolidated defense resale system; (4) best practices to maximize reductions in costs associated with back-office retail payment processing for a consolidated defense resale system; (5) a timeline for converting DeCA into a NAF under Section 2484(j) of Title 10, United States Code; (6) a determination whether the business case analysis supports consolidation of the military resale entities; (7) recommendations of the SECDEF for legislation related to consolidation of the military resale entities; and (8) any other elements the SECDEF determines are necessary for a successful evaluation of a consolidation of the military resale entities. Domestic Violence and Child Abuse

Background : The Family Advocacy Program (FAP) is the congressionally-mandated program within DOD devoted to "clinical assessment, supportive services, and treatment in response to domestic abuse and child abuse and neglect in military families." 545), and expedited transfer eligibility for servicemember victims (Sec. This provision was not adopted in the enacted bill; however, the conferees noted concern "about the lack of State or local criminal jurisdiction over offenses committed on those portions of military installations with exclusive Federal jurisdiction by individuals not subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice," and directed the service secretaries to seek to relinquish jurisdiction (pursuant to 10 U.S.C. Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI)

Background: In accordance with 10 U.S.C. DOD established new security screening requirements for MAVNI personnel in a memorandum published on September 30, 2016. Between 2012 and 2018, DOD took a number of steps to implement its own strategic initiatives as well as dozens of congressionally mandated actions related to sexual assault prevention and response, victim services, reporting and accountability, and military justice. Section 1009 of Title 37 of the U.S. Code provides a permanent formula for an automatic annual increase in basic pay that is indexed to the annual increase in the Employment Cost Index (ECI). Increases in basic pay are typically effective at the start of the calendar year, rather than the fiscal year. The enacted bill includes provisions that seek to improve training, as well as qualification standards and processes for Navy watchstanders. Some DOD programs are the Transition Assistance Program (TAP); Credentialing Opportunities Online (COOL); and the DOD Skillbridge program, which is also known as the Job Training, Employment Skills Training, Apprenticeships, and Internships (JTEST-AI) program. This benefit is called the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA). References: CRS In Focus IF10530, Defense Primer: Military Health System , by Bryce H. P. Mendez; CRS Insight IN10922, TRICARE Modernization: Eligibility for the Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program , by Bryce H. P. Mendez.
Each year, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) provides authorization of appropriations for a range of Department of Defense (DOD) and national security programs and related activities. New or clarified defense policies, organizational reform, and directed reports to Congress are often included. For FY2019, the John S. McCain NDAA (H.R. 5515) contains several high-profile military personnel issues. Some are required annual authorizations, such as end-strengths; some are updates or modifications to existing programs; and some changes in response to problems identified in certain military personnel programs.
In this year's NDAA, Congress authorized end-strengths identical to the Administration's FY2019 budget proposal, which are slightly higher than in FY2018. The authorized active duty end-strength increased by 1% to 1,338,100. The authorized Selected Reserves end-strength increased by <1% to 824,700. With regards to military pay, a 2.6% increase will take effect in calendar year 2019. Congress considered the increase as requested by the Administration; however, an authorization was not required since 37 U.S.C. §1009 provides for automatic annual increases in basic pay that is indexed to increases in the Employment Cost Index.
Congress also directed modifications to several existing programs, including
development of criteria for internment at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as a $30 million authorization to expand the cemetery; clarified military health system reform requirements outlined in 10 U.S.C. §1073c and revised the implementation date from October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2021; expanded eligibility for TRICARE beneficiaries to access the Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP); extended eligibility for commissary and morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) privileges to certain veterans and veterans' caregivers, as well as a $1.26 billion authorization for commissary operations; expanded availability of Military OneSource services, enhanced Transition Assistance Program (TAP) counseling requirements, and broadened educational opportunities for servicemembers desiring professional credentials; and corrected technical calculations for automatic annual adjustments to the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance.
As part of the oversight process, additional provisions were incorporated to address selected congressional items of interest, such as
added punitive articles on domestic violence in the Uniform Code of Military Justice and directed clarifying policy, support programs, and further study on services for victims of domestic violence and child abuse; stricter eligibility requirements for enlistees of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) program; standardized processes for reporting and accountability, military justice and investigations, and victim services relating to military sexual assault and sexual harassment; increased transparency in Navy watchstander training programs and standards; and enhanced data-sharing between DOD and states to prevent opioid abuse or misuse.