The legislation proposed by the Appropriations Committee on Thursday tracks the funding levels for Pentagon procurement, operation and maintenance, and research and development programs authorized by the annual defense policy bill that former President Barack Obama signed into law in December. The defense authorization bill signed by Obama totaled $611 billion, while the appropriations package is roughly $33 billion less because the defense spending bill doesn't include money for military construction and nuclear weapons research. "From radical Islamic terrorism to resurgent adversaries testing American leadership and resolve, we must ensure we have the strongest, most effective military to keep us safe," Rep.