National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 authorized $400.5 billion in funding for the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy’s national security programs. For service members and their families, the bill provided a 4.15% average increase in basic military pay, expanded health care access for National Guard and Reserve members, and increased the family separation allowance and "imminent danger" special pay. The legislation also funded the procurement of advanced military technology, such as the Virginia-class submarine and F/A-18 aircraft, while establishing new oversight for missile defense systems and the reconstruction of infrastructure in Iraq. Additionally, the bill addressed environmental concerns by requiring studies on perchlorate contamination at military sites and streamlining the management of defense-related lands.