A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to codify in that title certain defense-related permanent free-standing provisions of law.

(Measure passed House, amended)

Amends title 10 (Armed Forces) of the U.S. Code to codify defense-related statutes, including provisions relating to: (1) enlistment qualifications for armed forces personnel; (2) the limitation on the number of general officers and flag officers permitted on active duty; (3) commissary and exchange benefit eligibility with respect to dependent survivors of certain Reserve and Guard members and certain unremarried former spouses of military personnel; (4) an exemption of military appropriations funds and contract authorization from the apportionment requirement if deemed by the President to be necessary for the national defense; (5) exceptions from appropriations limitations for costs of airborne alerts and for increased armed forces personnel on active duty under certain circumstances; (6) accounting procedures, rulemaking mandates, and required budget documents with respect to contracted advisory and assistance services; (7) required contents of the Secretary of Defense's annual defense budget in connection with common procurement weapon systems; (8) miscellaneous authorities, prohibitions, limitations, and availability with respect to various funds appropriated to the Department of Defense; (9) defense procurement, both generally and in connection with specific items, such as milk; (10) research and development; (11) cost-free transfers of vessels to and from other military departments or the Department of Transportation; (12) the required annual report of the Secretary to specified congressional committees on the cost of stationing U.S. forces outside the United States; (13) contracting for performance of civilian commercial- or industrial-type functions; and (14) Buy American requirements in the context of defense procurement.

Describes principles of statutory construction to be applied in connection with the codifications effected by this Act.