H.R. 6395: William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

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H.R. 6395: William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

116th Congress · introduced 2020-03-26 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Message on Senate action sent to the House.

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Official title

William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

Plain summary

William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 This bill authorizes FY2021 appropriations and sets forth policies for the Department of Defense (DOD) and other programs and activities. It does not provide budget authority, which is provided in subsequent appropriations legislation. The bill authorizes appropriations to DOD for Procurement, including aircraft, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, shipbuilding and conversion, and missiles; Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation; Operation and Maintenance; Working Capital Funds; Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction; Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities; the Defense Inspector General; the National Defense Sealift Fund; the Defense Health Program; the Armed Forces Retirement Home; the Space Force; Overseas Contingency Operations; and Military Construction. The bill also authorizes the FY2021 personnel strengths for active duty and reserve forces and sets forth policies regarding military personnel; acquisition policy and management; international programs; National Guard and Reserve Force facilities; compensation and other personnel benefits; health care; matters relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019); DOD organization and management; civilian personnel matters; matters relating to foreign nations; and strategic programs, space activities, cyber operations, and intelligence matters. The bill authorizes appropriations for base realignment and closure activities, and maritime matters. The bill authorizes appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Energy national security programs, including the National Nuclear Security Administration. The bill also sets forth policies regarding certain federal activities related to artificial intelligence, including implementation by the President of a National Artificial Intelligence Initiative to support research and development, education, and training programs. The bill establishes measures related to financial intelligence, anti-money laundering, and countering the financing of terrorism. These include expanding information sharing requirements among agencies that are tasked with administering efforts to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism, as well as authorizing training and technical assistance to facilitate these measures. The bill reauthorizes and sets forth policies for the Coast Guard, including measures related to its personnel and organization. It also addresses other maritime matters such as navigation, shipping, and ports. Further, the bill sets forth policies for and addresses additional matters related to homeland security; veterans affairs; communications; intelligence; science, space, and technology; natural resources; oversight and reform; financial services; and semiconductor production. For more detailed information, see Congressional Research Service Report R46714 , FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act: Context and Selected Issues for Congress ; Congressional Research Service In Focus IF10515 , Defense Primer: The NDAA Process ; and Congressional Research Service In Focus IF10516 , Defense Primer: Navigating the NDAA .

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 6395, the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (2020-07-09); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 6395, the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (2020-07-16); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 6395, the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (2020-11-02); CBO cost estimate: Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Effects of H.R. 6395, the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (2020-12-07); CBO cost estimate: Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Effects of H.R. 6395, the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (2020-12-07)

Cosponsors on this site

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9] reported raising $2.2 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

• House roll call 141 (2020): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR6395 (2020-07-20): Agreed to
• House roll call 142 (2020): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR6395 (2020-07-20): Agreed to
• House roll call 143 (2020): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR6395 (2020-07-20): Agreed to
• House roll call 144 (2020): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR6395 (2020-07-21): Failed
• House roll call 145 (2020): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR6395 (2020-07-21): Failed
• House roll call 146 (2020): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR6395 (2020-07-21): Agreed to
• House roll call 147 (2020): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR6395 (2020-07-21): Agreed to
• House roll call 148 (2020): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR6395 (2020-07-21): Failed
• House roll call 149 (2020): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR6395 (2020-07-21): Agreed to
• House roll call 150 (2020): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR6395 (2020-07-21): Agreed to
• House roll call 151 (2020): On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, HR6395 (2020-07-21): Failed
• House roll call 152 (2020): On Passage, HR6395 (2020-07-21): Passed
• House roll call 222 (2020): On Closing Portions of the Conference, HR6395 (2020-11-18): Passed
• House roll call 238 (2020): On Agreeing to the Conference Report, HR6395 (2020-12-08): Passed
• Senate vote 263 (2020): On the Cloture Motion, HR6395 (2020-12-11): Cloture Motion Agreed to
• Senate vote 264 (2020): On the Conference Report, HR6395 (2020-12-11): Conference Report Agreed to
• House roll call 253 (2020): On Passage, Objections of the President to the Contrary Notwithstanding, HR6395 (2020-12-28): Passed
• Senate vote 290 (2020): On the Motion to Proceed, HR6395 (2020-12-30): Motion to Proceed Agreed to
• Senate vote 291 (2020): On the Cloture Motion, HR6395 (2021-01-01): Cloture Motion Agreed to
• Senate vote 292 (2020): On Overriding the Veto, HR6395 (2021-01-01): Veto Overridden

Sources

• Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
• Congress.gov
• Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116hr6395.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/hr>

Record fed-us-cong116-hr6395 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116