The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV), the top Air Force launch vehicle program, received $395.6 million from the conference to fund the new budget year beginning October 1. This was the same amount as requested by the Clinton Administration. The Space-Based Infrared Satellite (SBIRS) project received $229 million, also identical to the White House request. The Milstar satellite account received $364.3 million, $3 million more than Clinton wanted. The Space-based Laser project was funded at $148.8 million, a $10 million boost from the request.

National Missile Defense went up from $836.6 million requested to $851.6 million approved in committee. The Navy Upper Wide theater missile defense project was raised to $419.8 million from the White House’s $329.8 request. The Army THAAD missile defense system, which has scored two consecutive intercepts, the last in space, received $527.9 million, down from the request of $611.6 million The project is moving toward completion of its flight test program. The Patriot interceptor missile defense system was boosted to $542 million from the $330 million request. A series of small space research projects at the Air Force and Army research and battle labs also received full funding. Overall, the conference added a whopping $1.9 billion to the White House R&D budget of $34.4 billion and added another $2.7 billion for procurement programs above the $53 billion requested. Overall, Congress added $8.2 billion to the $280.5 billion defense budget request.

Work on the appropriations bill will resume when Congress returns in September. The authorization bill authorizes the spending of money; the appropriations bill provides the actual spending of the funds by the different accounts. Early work on the authorization bill may mean that Congress will quickly come to agreement on the contents of the remaining appropriations legislation.