In their oversight role, Congress has continually shown interest in ensuring that programs and equipment critical to the RCs are included in the budget. Congress has noted that many RC requirements go unfunded by the parent Services in the President's Budget request.  Congress has routinely appropriated funds through the NGREA above the budget request.

Congress typically appropriates NGREA funding in lump-sum amounts to be used for aircraft and miscellaneous equipment, and requests submission of a detailed assessment of modernization priorities by each of the RC Chiefs. The Assistant Secretary of Defense (Reserve Affairs) (ASD (RA)) forwards the RC acquisition plans to the congressional committees, along with a consolidated equipment requirements list for all RCs, called the Summary NGREA Acquisition Report.

The NGREA is intended for the Army and Air National Guard (ARNG and ANG) and Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy Reserve to enable the RC chiefs and ARNG and ANG Directors to maintain readiness in key weapon systems. The annual appropriations maintain force relevance through key capability upgrades and help close equipment interoperability gaps.

Yearly Appropriations since 1981 (From the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R), Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness (ASD(R)) (Readiness Programming and Resources))

NGREA Funding (Current year dollars in millions)

Obligation rates since 1981

NGREA funds are typically not disbursed to the RCs until several months after the Defense Appropriations Act is signed; usually midway through the first year. The Service RCs submit their buy lists through the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) to the Legislative Defense Committees to review and approve. There is no Continuing Resolution Authority (CRA) for NGREA. Due to NGREA not being programmed and given the year to year variability in the appropriations, Congress has not closely scrutinized first year obligation rates. The RCs have historically executed 99% of NGREA funds by the end of the third year. RCs depend almost entirely on acquisition communities to execute NGREA in a timely fashion.

The Green Book

The National Defense Budget Estimates, commonly referred to as "The Green Book," is a reference source for data associated with the current budget estimates of the DoD. It provides current (nominal) and constant (real) dollar historical data for the department, as well as selected data on all national defense, the total federal budget, and the US economy. It is good source to see NGREA funding at a high level.  

National Guard and Reserve Equipment Report  (NGRER)

The NGRER is submitted to Congress each year NLT March 15 in accordance with Title 10 USC 10541, National Guard and Reserve Component Equipment Annual Report to Congress.  The report outlines the equipment of the National Guard and RCs of the armed forces for each of the three succeeding fiscal years.  It also provides considerable detail on recommendations as to the type and quantity of each major item of equipment which should be in the inventory, details on the current major items of equipment, and what equipment is to be retired.