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HR 3616 114th Congress House Armed Forces and National Security Appropriations Budget deficits and national debt Coast guard Defense spending Department of Defense Department of Homeland Security Executive agency funding and structure Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management Military personnel and dependents Military procurement, research, weapons development National Guard and reserves Public contracts and procurement

Defending Our Defenders Act

Introduced: September 25, 2015 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 25, 2015
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sep 25, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Defending Our Defenders Act

This bill provides appropriations for pay and allowances for the military and supporting civilian and contractor personnel during a funding gap in which interim or full-year appropriations for the personnel accounts of the Armed Forces have not been enacted for the fiscal year.

The bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from furloughing any employee funded by a working-capital fund unless: (1) the fund is insolvent, or (2) the fund has insufficient funds to pay the employee. DOD may waive this restriction for national security.

If the public debt reaches the statutory limit, the following obligations must have equal priority over all other U.S. obligations:

  • principal and interest on debt held by the public,
  • pay and allowances for members of the Armed Forces on active duty,
  • salaries for DOD civilian employees, and
  • salaries for DOD contractors.

The funds and authorities provided by this bill are available until the earliest of January 1, 2016, or enactment of specified appropriations legislation.

What's happening now September 25, 2015

Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 103 Related bill Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Republican 3
R
Rouzer, David
North Carolina · Oct 7, 2015
 R
Turner, Michael R.
Ohio · Oct 7, 2015
 R
Wittman, Robert J.
Virginia · Oct 7, 2015
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3616: Defending Our Defenders Act. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3616/
MLA
"H.R. 3616: Defending Our Defenders Act." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3616/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3616, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3616/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3616: Defending Our Defenders Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3616/)
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