Bush Signs Fiscal 2008 Defense Budget Legislation Into Law

American Forces Press Service ^ | Donna Miles

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2008 – President Bush signed the long-delayed and sometimes-contentious fiscal 2008 National Defense Authorization Act into law today.

The Senate passed a $696 billion 2008 defense authorization bill Jan. 22. It includes a 3.5 percent military pay raise and provisions to improve health care and benefits for wounded troops and veterans.

“Today, I have signed into law H.R. 4986, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008,” Bush said in a statement released by the White House. “The act authorizes funding for the defense of the United States and its interests abroad, for military construction, and for national security-related energy programs.”

The fiscal 2008 defense budget has been laden with challenges, from Congress’ inclusion of non-defense-related earmarks to its insertion of controversial language regarding Iraq. Bush announced Dec. 28 that he wouldn’t sign the bill until it was revised.

Instead, the president signed an executive order authorizing a 3 percent military pay raise. The amount was 0.5 percent lower than the 3.5 percent rate provided for in the authorization act, but took effect Jan. 1.

All pays and incentives included in the authorization act will be retroactive to Jan. 1, a defense official said.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino told reporters today Bush was gratified that Congress moved forward with the budget bill.

“He appreciates the cooperation of both House and Senate leaders to quickly address the concerns raised by the president over the Christmas holiday,” she said at the White House. “Congress passed the legislation swiftly, and that is a very good thing for our troops and the Iraqi people.”

The bill became law just a week before the next budget cycle begins as Bush sends his fiscal 2009 request to Capitol Hill. That budget proposal, along with a requested $70 billion in emergency war spending, is expected to be delivered to Congress Feb. 4.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters today the president plans to ask for $70 billion to fund the global war on terror, including operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, for the first months of fiscal 2009.

Related Sites:
Text of President's Statement

[SandRat]

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[Sola Veritas]

Good, it took way too long to get the NDAA passed this year.

For those of you that are drilling reservists there is a provision in this that will affect your potential retirement pay at age 60. Before this was signed, you could only earn 90 “soft points” (weekend drills, corresspondence course points, membership points, etc.) per retirement year. That cap has been raised by this legislation to 130 per year (retroactive back to 1 OCT 07). So, for those not mobilization but still drilling, it is important that you take as many corresspondence courses or additional drill for points only. If you get the full amount of soft points plus any active duty (usually 14 days of AT), you could conceivably earned 144 points per year as a drilling reservist. That adds up quickly, and will affect the size of your reserve retirment check at age 60.

Thought I should pass that along to the Reserve Warriors.