CRS Issue Statement on Defense Authorization and Appropriations

Pat Towell, Coordinator
Specialist in U.S. Defense Policy and Budget

Stephen Daggett
Specialist in Defense Policy and Budgets

Amy Belasco
Specialist in U.S. Defense Policy and Budget

Daniel H. Else
Specialist in National Defense

Thomas J. Nicola
Legislative Attorney

Mari-Jana "M-J" Oboroceanu
Information Research Specialist


Defense spending is a major focus of attention in Congress every year, initially in action on the congressional budget resolution, which recommends overall spending for national defense, and later when Congress considers annual defense authorization and appropriations bills. Congress also regularly considers supplemental appropriations for military operations abroad, often early in the agenda of a new legislative session. 

In the Second Session of the 111th Congress, supplemental appropriations for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for the remainder of FY2010 are again expected to be considered early in the year. A supplemental appropriations bill may become a vehicle for debate about U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan and their mission and about the metrics by which to determine the degree to which U.S. goals in that country are being achieved.


Date of Report: January 13, 2010
Number of Pages: 2
Order Number: IS40465
Price: $7.95

Document available electronically as a pdf file or in paper form.
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