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Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act

Public Law 100-526 · S. 2749 · 100th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 24, 1988 · Armed Forces and National Security

Sponsor: Sen. John Stennis (D-MS)

Cosponsors (2): Sen. Samuel Nunn,

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 370 yea, 31 nay370–31
  • SenateRecorded vote: 82 yea, 7 nay82–7
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act - Title I: Additional Fiscal Year 1989 Authorization Provisions - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1989 for the following purposes: (1) barracks modernization at Fort Bliss, Texas; (2) the construction of defense access roads at the New Cumberland Army Depot, Pennsylvania; (3) military construction projects at Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas; and (4) family housing at Helemano Military Reservation in Hawaii.

Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years beginning after FY 1988 for National Guard and Reserve military construction and land acquisition projects in specified amounts at specified locations.

Limits the obligation of funds for the Army Air Defense system.

Revises provisions relating to multiyear procurement authority to allow the President to request from the Congress relief from the requirement of a certain cost savings that must occur before such a contract is authorized to be entered into.

Amends the National Defense Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1989 to require a certain report under such Act to be submitted to the Appropriations Committees of the Congress in addition to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees.

Authorizes the President to extend the term of office for the officer serving as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff until June 1, 1989.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct an independent assessment of Army and Air Force studies and analyses of close air support aircraft alternatives for meeting U.S. military requirements for the period between the assessment and the year 2000, and beyond. Outlines administrative provisions concerning: (1) an operational test plan for a competitive fly-off of aircraft for the close air support mission; (2) the transfer from the Air Force to the Army of the close air support mission; and (3) reports required from the Secretary to the Armed Services and Appropriations Committees on such close air support alternatives.

Amends the National Defense Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1989 to extend until March 15, 1989, the deadline for a report on the implications of a potential Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty for alternative U.S. forces postures in the 1990's. Requires the President to submit an interim report on such subject as of December 15, 1988.

Waives certain congressional review periods otherwise applicable in the case of the transfer of two specified obsolete submarines.

Title II: Closure and Realignment of Military Installations - Directs the Secretary of Defense to: (1) close or realign all military installations as recommended by the Commission on Base Realignment and Closure; and (2) initiate and complete all such closures and realignments by specified dates. Outlines administrative provisions relating to the following: (1) conditions required of the Secretary and the Commission with regard to such closures and realignments; (2) Commission membership and duties; (3) the implementation of such closures or realignments by the Secretary; (4) the applicability of certain current Federal laws to these provisions; (5) the waiver of certain restrictions in order to carry out these provisions; (6) studies and reports required of the Secretary; (7) funding (through the establishment and deposit of funds into the Department of Defense Base Closure Account); and (8) congressional procedures to be followed with regard to the consideration by both Houses of the Congress of the Commission's report.

Who voted for it

Every senator of the 100th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 87 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

87 yea8 nay5 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(46)

  • Sen. William ProxmireD-WI
  • Sen. Kent ConradD-ND
  • Sen. Tom HarkinD-IA
  • Sen. Barbara MikulskiD-MD
  • Sen. Ted KennedyD-MA
  • Sen. Alan CranstonD-CA
  • Sen. Howard MetzenbaumD-OH
  • Sen. Spark MatsunagaD-HI
  • Sen. Carl LevinD-MI
  • Sen. Brock AdamsD-WA
  • Sen. Paul SarbanesD-MD
  • Sen. Quentin BurdickD-ND
  • Sen. Albert GoreD-TN
  • Sen. Patrick LeahyD-VT
  • Sen. James SasserD-TN
  • Sen. John KerryD-MA
  • Sen. Donald RiegleD-MI
  • Sen. Claiborne PellD-RI
  • Sen. James SanfordD-NC
  • Sen. Frank LautenbergD-NJ
  • Sen. Daniel InouyeD-HI
  • Sen. John MelcherD-MT
  • Sen. Jay RockefellerD-WV
  • Sen. Tom DaschleD-SD
  • Sen. Max BaucusD-MT
  • Sen. Christopher DoddD-CT
  • Sen. Daniel MoynihanD-NY
  • Sen. Robert ByrdD-WV
  • Sen. Joseph BidenD-DE
  • Sen. Wendell FordD-KY
  • Sen. John GlennD-OH
  • Sen. Timothy WirthD-CO
  • Sen. Wyche FowlerD-GA
  • Sen. John JohnstonD-LA
  • Sen. Harry ReidD-NV
  • Sen. Bill BradleyD-NJ
  • Sen. John BreauxD-LA
  • Sen. James ExonD-NE
  • Sen. Jeff BingamanD-NM
  • Sen. Bob GrahamD-FL
  • Sen. John StennisD-MS
  • Sen. Fritz HollingsD-SC
  • Sen. Samuel NunnD-GA
  • Sen. Dennis DeConciniD-AZ
  • Sen. Richard ShelbyD-AL
  • Sen. Howell HeflinD-AL

Republicans who voted yea(41)

  • Sen. Lowell WeickerR-CT
  • Sen. Robert StaffordR-VT
  • Sen. John ChafeeR-RI
  • Sen. Henry HeinzR-PA
  • Sen. Mark HatfieldR-OR
  • Sen. David DurenbergerR-MN
  • Sen. Robert PackwoodR-OR
  • Sen. John DanforthR-MO
  • Sen. Nancy KassebaumR-KS
  • Sen. William RothR-DE
  • Sen. Alfonse D’AmatoR-NY
  • Sen. Pete DomeniciR-NM
  • Sen. Ted StevensR-AK
  • Sen. Daniel EvansR-WA
  • Sen. John WarnerR-VA
  • Sen. Thad CochranR-MS
  • Sen. Rudy BoschwitzR-MN
  • Sen. Chuck GrassleyR-IA
  • Sen. Warren RudmanR-NH
  • Sen. Larry PresslerR-SD
  • Sen. Richard LugarR-IN
  • Sen. Paul TribleR-VA
  • Sen. Robert DoleR-KS
  • Sen. Alan SimpsonR-WY
  • Sen. Robert KastenR-WI
  • Sen. Mitch McConnellR-KY
  • Sen. Kit BondR-MO
  • Sen. David KarnesR-NE
  • Sen. Pete WilsonR-CA
  • Sen. Strom ThurmondR-SC
  • Sen. Frank MurkowskiR-AK
  • Sen. Jacob HechtR-NV
  • Sen. Jake GarnR-UT
  • Sen. Don NicklesR-OK
  • Sen. James McClureR-ID
  • Sen. William ArmstrongR-CO
  • Sen. Gordon HumphreyR-NH
  • Sen. Phil GrammR-TX
  • Sen. Malcolm WallopR-WY
  • Sen. Jesse HelmsR-NC
  • Sen. Steven SymmsR-ID
Data notes

The Senate’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 787 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The record shows no committee referral for this bill.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 26 actions.

  1. Oct 24, 1988Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 100-526.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 18, 1988PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 12, 1988Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 82-7. Record Vote No: 367.Senate roll call 367
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 82-7. Record Vote No: 367.Senate roll call 367
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report considered in Senate.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Conference Report by Yea-Nay Vote: 370 - 31 (Record Vote No: 443).House roll call 443
  8. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House Agreed to Conference Report by Yea-Nay Vote: 370 - 31 (Record Vote No: 443).House roll call 443
  9. FloorFloor · Committee on Rules Granted a Rule Waiving All Points of Order Against Consideration of the Conference Report.
  10. Oct 11, 1988Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference Report 100-1071 Filed in House.
  11. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference Report 100-1071 Filed in House.
  12. Oct 6, 1988Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: Senate report and managers' statement and official papers held at the desk in Senate.
  13. Oct 5, 1988Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conferees agreed to file conference report.
  14. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
  15. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to request for conference. Appointed conferees. Nunn; Stennis; Exon; Levin; Kennedy; Bingaman; Dixon; Glenn; Gore; Wirth; Shelby; Warner; Thurmond; Humphrey; Cohen; Quayle; Wilson; Gramm; Symms; McCain.
  16. FloorFloor · Senate disagreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.
  17. FloorFloor · Message on House action received in Senate and held at desk: House amendments to Senate bill and House requests a conference.
  18. Oct 3, 1988Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Requested a Conference and Speaker Appointed Conferees: Aspin, Dellums, Montgomery, Hutto, Skelton, Leath (TX), McCurdy, Foglietta, Hertel, Ortiz, Robinson, Dickinson, Martin (IL), Martin (NY), Ravenel, Weldon, Studds, Young (AK).
  19. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Requested a Conference and Speaker Appointed Conferees: Brooks, Conyers, Collins, Horton, Walker, Jones (NC), Davis (MI), Young (AK), Pepper, Moakley, Derrick, Beilenson, Frost, Quillen, Taylor, Foley, Armey.
  20. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Insisted on its Amendments by Voice Vote.
  21. FloorFloor · Other Measure H.R.4481 Passed House in Lieu.
  22. FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  23. Sep 30, 1988FloorFloor · Rule Passed House.
  24. Sep 29, 1988FloorFloor · Committee on Rules Granted a Rule Providing for a Motion to Strike Out All After the Enacting Clause of the Bill and Insert in Lieu Thereof the Provisions of H.R.4481 (Base Closure) as Passed by the House on July 12, 1988; Waiving All Points of Order.
  25. Aug 11, 1988FloorFloor · Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote.
  26. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.