Among recent legislation worth noting, the House late last month passed by an overwhelming 417 to 3 vote the Improve Acquisition Act (HR 5013), sponsored by Rep. Rob Andrews (D-N.J.), who co-chaired the House Armed Services Committee’s Panel on Defense Acquisition Reform, which made its final report in March. According to a committee release, the measure would clean up waste, fraud, and abuse, saving potentially $135 billion over five years. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), committee chairman, said in floor remarks that last year’s legislation focused on weapons system, but that’s “only a small piece” of defense acquisition spending. (HR 5013 section analysis) ¦ Congress last month unanimously passed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act (S 1963), authored by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, that would provide support to wounded warrior families. President Obama signed the measure May 5.
U.S. Air Force F-35s and F-22s regularly deploy deep into the Pacific region from Alaska, Utah, and Hawaii. In the future, though, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command would like to see the Air Force permanently station fifth-generation aircraft west of the international date line—closer to China.