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1 [1] (December 16, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goverrp0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informing theagi sative de~bate since 1914 Defense Spending and Your District Defense spending touches every Member of Congress's district through pay and benefits for military servicemembers and retirees, economic and environmental impact of installations, and procurement of weapons systems and parts from local industry, among other activities. This product is intended to familiarize Members with the scope of federal funding for defense-related activities, and to help prepare them to deliberate on defense policy and funding legislation. Major Activities in Defense Policy Members typically influence defense policy and funding in legislation that addresses three broad categories of national defense-related activities: (1) military and intelligence activities of the Department of Defense (DOD); (2) atomic energy defense activities primarily of the Department of Energy, including development of nuclear weapons and propulsion systems; and (3) other defense-related activities (e.g., FBI counterintelligence activities). In the President's FY2025 budget request to Congress, national defense- related activities accounted for $921 billion (12%) of $7.5 trillion in total federal funding. Of the $921 billion, $895 billion was requested for discretionary budget authority (i.e., funding provided in appropriations acts). Congress can choose to provide lesser, the same, or greater amounts. DOD Budget DOD accounts for $850 billion (95%) of the $895 billion in discretionary funding requested for national defense-related activities. The annual defense budget process provides an opportunity for Members to prioritize funding for various types of military activities. In terms of major categories, or titles, the largest share of funding in DOD's portion of the President's fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget request was $337.9 billion (40%) for Operation and Maintenance (O&M) to operate and maintain the armed services; followed by $181.9 billion (21%) for Military Personnel (MILPERS) to pay for servicemembers; $167.5 billion (20%) for Procurement to buy weapons, equipment, and services; $143.2 billion (17%) for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) to develop new technology; $15.6 billion (2%) for military construction (MILCON) to fund construction projects and land acquisition; $2.0 billion (0.2%) for family housing (FH); and $1.7 billion (0.2%) for revolving funds (see Figure 1). Operation and Maintenance Members and their staff typically express interest in O&M activities, in part because this portion of the DOD budget funds a range of activities occurring in or around congressional districts-and throughout the world. These activities include military recruiting; minor repairs of military installations (e.g., replacing roofs, refinishing wall surfaces, repairing or replacing heating and cooling Updated December 16, 2024 systems); routine maintenance of aircraft, ground vehicles, and ships; headquarters and supply operations; and paying civilian personnel. O&M funding also supports the Military Health System (MHS), which offers health care benefits and services through its TRICARE program to approximately 9.6 million beneficiaries composed of servicemembers, military retirees, and family members. The MHS administers Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs funding to certain medical research programs on a variety of diseases and topics. O&M funding also supports military training exercises and other activities related to readiness (i.e., the ability of military forces to fight and meet the demands of assigned missions). Figure I. FY2025 DOD Budget Request, by Major Appropriation (as Share of Discretionary Funding) Source: CRS analysis of White House Office of Management and Budget, Analytical Perspectives, Budget of the United States Government Fiscal Year 2025, Table 25-1. Notes: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding. Military Personnel Every congressional district has some military-connected constituents, such as active-duty servicemembers, reservists, retirees, DOD employees, contractors, and/or military families. During the legislative cycle, Members may weigh decisions about compensation, benefits (e.g., healthcare, leave time), and other policies that affect these populations. The basic MILPERS spending questions facing Congress on an annual basis typically include How many people? and How much to pay them? Title 10, Section 101, of the United States Code gives Congress the authority to establish end-strengths (the total force size) for the active and reserve components. Elements of military compensation (e.g., basic pay and housing allowances) are specified in law, including formulas tying pay increases to inflation, unless modified by Congress. Factors influencing force size and compensation decisions may include Total: $850 billion MILCON 1.8% Family Housing 01% Revolving Funds 0.2%

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