US Defence Bill 2107: US President Barack Obama has signed US $ 618 billion defence budget for the year 2017. The bill lays down provision for enhancing security cooperation with India.
The National defence Authorisation Act was signed by Barack Obama on Friday in Honolulu, Hawaii.
US Defence Bill 2017 signed by US President Barack Obama
“I remain deeply concerned about the Congress’s use of the National Defence Authorisation Act to impose extensive organisational changes on the Department of Defence, disregarding the advice of the Department’s senior civilian and uniformed leaders.”
-US President Barack Obama
“The extensive changes in the bill are rushed, the consequences poorly understood, and they come at a particularly inappropriate time as we undertake a transition between administrations. These changes not only impose additional administrative burdens on the Department of Defence and make it less agile, but they also create additional bureaucracies and operational restrictions that generate inefficiencies at a time when we need to be more efficient.”
The bill “enhances security cooperation between the United States and India” as told by Arizona Senator and Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee John McCain.
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As per the highlights of the bill, it focuses on security assistance to Pakistan on the activities that directly support US National security interests and conditions a specific portion of funding on a certification from the Secretary of Defence that Pakistan continues to take up requisite steps against the Haqqani network in the country.
After signing the bill he said that the bill authorises the fiscal year 2017 appropriations for the Department of Defence and the Department of Energy, national security programmes, provision of vital benefits for the military personnel and their families, provides for carrying on the ongoing operations around the globe by the authorities.
