Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004

This bill authorized $400.5 billion in funding for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2004 to support military operations, weapon procurement, and personnel programs. It provided a 4.1% average increase in basic pay for service members and significantly increased monthly allowances for those separated from their families or serving in hazardous "imminent danger" zones.

For everyday citizens and military families, the bill expanded healthcare access by allowing National Guard and Reserve members to enroll in the TRICARE system. It also established new protections and support services for military personnel, including a program to provide prepaid phone cards for those stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan and increased death gratuity benefits for survivors of deceased service members. Additionally, the legislation funded environmental cleanup at military sites and authorized the transfer of decommissioned naval vessels to states for use as artificial reefs.