S.Amdt. 1490

SA 1490. Mr. VITTER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military activities
of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to
prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle A of title IV, add the following:

SEC. 403. MINIMUM NUMBER OF ARMY BRIGADE COMBAT TEAMS.

(a) In General.--Section 3062 of title 10, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(e)(1) Effective October 1, 2015, the Secretary of the
Army shall maintain a total number of brigade combat teams
for the regular and reserve components of the Army of not
fewer than 32 brigade combat teams.
``(2) In this subsection, the term ` brigade combat team'
means any unit that consists of--
``(A) an arms branch maneuver brigade;
``(B) its assigned support units; and
``(C) its assigned fire teams''.
(b) Limitation on Elimination of Army Brigade Combat
Teams.--
(1) Limitation.--The Secretary of the Army may not proceed
with any decision to reduce the number of brigade combat
teams for the regular Army to fewer than 32 brigade combat
teams.
(2) Additional limitation on retirement.--The Secretary may
not eliminate any brigade combat team from the brigade combat
teams of the regular Army as of the date of the enactment of
this Act until the later of the following:
(A) The date that is 30 days after the date on which the
Secretary submits the report required under paragraph (3).
(B) The date that is 30 days after the date on which the
Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees
that--
(i) the elimination of Army brigade combat teams will not
increase the operational risk of meeting the National Defense
Strategy; and
(ii) the reduction of such combat teams does not reduce the
total number of brigade combat teams of the Army to fewer
than 32 brigade combat teams.
(3) Report on elimination of brigade combat teams.--The
Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense
committees a report setting forth the following:
(A) The rationale for any proposed reduction of the total
strength of the Army, including the National Guard and
Reserves, below the strength provided in subsection (e) of
section 3062 of title 10, United States Code (as amended by
subsection (a) of this section), and an operational analysis
of the total strength of the Army that demonstrates
performance of the designated mission at an equal or greater
level of effectiveness as the personnel of the Army so
reduced.
(B) An assessment of the implications for the Army, the
Army National Guard of the United States, and the Army
Reserve of the force mix ratio of Army troop strengths and
combat units after such reduction.
(C) Such other matters relating to the reduction of the
total strength of the Army as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
(c) Additional Reports.--
(1) In general.--At least 90 days before the date on which
the total strength of the Army, including the National Guard
and Reserves, is reduced below the strength provided in
subsection (e) of section 3062 of title 10, United States
Code (as amended by subsection (a) of this section), the
Secretary of the Army, in consultation with (where
applicable) the Director of the Army National Guard or Chief
of the Army Reserve, shall submit to the congressional
defense committees a report on the reduction.
(2) Elements.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
(A) A list of each major combat unit of the Army that will
remain after the reduction, organized by division and
enumerated down to the brigade combat team-level or its
equivalent, including for each such brigade combat team--
(i) the mission it is assigned to; and
(ii) the assigned unit and military installation where it
is based.
(B) A list of each brigade combat team proposed for
disestablishment, including for each such unit--
(i) the mission it is assigned to; and
(ii) the assigned unit and military installation where it
is based.
(C) A list of each unit affected by a proposed
disestablishment listed under subparagraph (B) and a
description of how such unit is affected.
(D) For each military installation and unit listed under
subparagraph (B)(ii), a description of changes, if any, to
the designed operational capability (DOC) statement of the
unit as a result of a proposed disestablishment.
(E) A description of any anticipated changes in manpower
authorizations as a result of a proposed disestablishment
listed under subparagraph (B).
______