Bill > S2295

This bill, titled the National Commission on the Future of the Army Act of 2014, establishes a commission to study and make recommendations on the structure and future of the U.S. Army, while also placing immediate restrictions on the use of fiscal year 2015 funds. Specifically, it prohibits using these funds to reduce the Army's personnel below certain authorized levels for active duty, the Army National Guard, and the Army Reserve. Additionally, the bill prevents the divestment, retirement, or transfer of AH64 Apache aircraft assigned to the Army National Guard as of January 15, 2014, and prohibits reducing personnel associated with these aircraft below September 30, 2014, levels, with a limited exception for transferring up to 72 Apache aircraft to the regular Army under specific conditions and certifications. The National Commission on the Future of the Army will consist of eight members appointed by various congressional leaders and the President, and its duties include a comprehensive study of the Army's structure, force mixture, and policy assumptions, as well as a study on the feasibility of transferring Apache aircraft from the National Guard to the regular Army, with a final report due by February 1, 2016. The commission will have the power to hold hearings, gather information from federal agencies, and use postal services, and its members will be compensated, with staff appointed by the Chair. The commission will terminate 90 days after submitting its final report, and funding for its activities will come from fiscal year 2015 Army operation and maintenance funds.