Thursday, May 23, 2013

H.R. 1960—FY14 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL


 A lot of interesting parts.  The HASC is happy with SOCOM education initiatives (page 68)  but appears unhappy with regional SOF Coordination centers (page 59) as it has limited funding to only those authorized by statute.  I wonder if this is a signal of displeasure with the Global SOF Network?  Note also I have been told that the Defense News article got the SOCOM budget numbers wrong.  The SOCOM budget will not be $12 billion but instead $9.9 billion with a $7.7 billion base and $2.2 billion for OCO.  Will be interesting to see what actually becomes law.

Excerpt:

a) LIMITATION.—None of the funds authorized to
5 be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available
6 for fiscal year 2014 for the Department of Defense may
7 be obligated or expended to plan, prepare, establish, or
8 implement any ‘‘Regional Special Operations Forces Co9
ordination Center’’ (RSCC) or similar regional coordina10
tion entities.
11 (b) EXCLUSION.—The limitation contained in sub12
section (a) shall not apply with respect to any RSCC or
13 similar regional coordination entity authorized by statute,
14 including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Special
15 Operations Headquarters authorized under section 1244
16 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
17 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 2541).

Here is the language that was referenced in the Defense News report yesterday regarding the SECDEF review and assessment  of US Special Operations Command.

1 SEC. 10ll[Log 50976]. REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF
2 UNITED STATES SPECIAL OPERATIONS
3 FORCES AND UNITED STATES SPECIAL OPER
4 ATIONS COMMAND.

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall
6 conduct a review of the United States Special Operations
7 Forces organization, capabilities, and structure.

8 (b) REPORT.—Not later than the date on which the
9 budget of the President is submitted to Congress under
10 section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, for fiscal
11 year 2015, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the
12 congressional defense committees a report on the review
13 conducted under subsection (a). Such report shall include
14 an analysis of each of the following:

15 (1) The organizational structure of the United
16 States Special Operations Command and each subor
17 dinate component, as in effect as of the date of the
18 enactment of this Act.

19 (2) The policy and civilian oversight structures
20 for Special Operations Forces within the Depar
t21ment of Defense, as in effect as of the date of the
22 enactment of this Act, including the statutory struc
23tures and responsibilities of the Office of the Sec-

retary of Defense for Special Operations and Low
2 Intensity Conflict within the Department.

3 (3) The roles and responsibilities of United
4 States Special Operations Command and Special
5 Operations Forces under section 167 of title 10,
6 United States Code.

7 (4) Current and future special operations pecu8
liar requirements of the commanders of the geo9
graphic combatant commands, Theater Special Op10
erations Commands, and command relationships be11
tween United States Special Operations Command
12 and the geographic combatant commands.

13 (5) The funding authorities, uses, and oversight
14 mechanisms of Major Force Program–11.
15 (6) Changes to structure, authorities, oversight
16 mechanisms, Major Force Program–11 funding,
17 roles, and responsibilities assumed in the 2014

18 Quadrennial Defense Review.
19 (7) Any other matters the Secretary of Defense
20 determines are appropriate to ensure a comprehen21
sive review and assessment.

22 (c) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the
23 date on which the report required by subsection (b) is sub24
mitted, the Comptroller General of the United States shall
25 submit to the congressional defense committees a review

1 of the report. Such review shall include an assessment of
2 United States Special Operations Forces organization, ca3
pabilities, and force structure with respect to conventional
4 force structures and national military strategies.




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