text: Fund the Force
  Figure 2-2. Distribution of funds
  THE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL PROCESS IN SUPPORT OF
  CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS
  2-17. During the conduct of contingency operations, complexities in both the OE and the nature of the
  mission may require additional flexibility with respect to the use of fiscal resources by commanders to
  accomplish their assigned missions and achieve the desired end state. Operating with our multinational
  partners may necessitate providing logistic or other support to their forces beyond what a current
  acquisition and cross-servicing agreement (ACSA) can provide. However, there must be specific legal
  authorities that allow the expenditure of appropriated funds to provide for that support. Whenever there is
  no clear statutory authority, the SJA should be consulted (see fiscal triad, figure 1-3 on page 1-7). Statutory
  limitations on spending certain types of appropriations to satisfy unforeseen requirements could restrict the
  commander's ability to legally apply fiscal resources toward the successful execution of his mission. In
  some instances, the requirement may be of such a unique nature that no existing fiscal authority provides
  legal means to satisfy it. In all these cases, legislative relief of some kind may be necessary to provide
  commanders with the requisite fiscal flexibility to fund emergent requirements that fall outside the bounds
  of existing fiscal law.
  2-18. Combatant commanders at all levels may seek legislative relief through legislative proposals to
  change existing legislation or create new legislation to legally apply fiscal resources to emergent mission
  requirements. Coordination with the servicing SJA is highly recommended. Financial managers, whether
  positioned within the strategic, operational or tactical levels of command, assist their commanders in
  identifying, drafting, submitting and coordinating legislative proposals through senior level command
  channels to the Service Component Command and subsequently the Department of the Army. Legislative
  proposals may also be submitted through a Joint Task Force headquarters to a CCDR for subsequent
  submission to the Joint Staff. The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) then consolidates legislative
  proposals from all Services and the Joint Staff on a timeline to meet the Congressional schedule for that
  fiscal year. Once OSD approves the packages, they submit them to OMB for approval. OMB will submit
  all proposals to Congress in time for Congress to enter the proposal language into either an appropriation or
  authorization bill. Proposals become official once the bill is signed into law by the President. The
  legislative proposal process requires continual coordination and time. Financial managers should ensure
  that commanders understand that this remedy is not a quick fix nor guaranteed. Few legislative proposals
  are successful and must survive the legislative process before becoming a fiscal authority available to
  commanders.