Statement of Chairwoman Ellen Tauscher Strategic Forces Subcommittee Mark-Up H.R. 5658, National Defense Authorization Act for FY2009

May 7, 2008

"The Strategic Forces Subcommittee meets today in open session to mark-up H.R. 5658, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009.

"I'd like to begin by saying it has been a pleasure crafting this mark with my friend Mr. Everett. This subcommittee mark-up will unfortunately be Mr. Everett's last. I want to say for the record and for those present, it has been an honor working with you Terry. Since I became Chairman of this subcommittee you have been unfailingly gracious in all our dealings. We don't agree on everything, of course, but you have always been a gentleman. You have helped create a genuine bipartisan partnership on most of the issues we address in this subcommittee, and they are tough issues. Thank you, Mr. Everett.

"I would also like to thank the other members of the subcommittee and their staffs for their contributions and participation in the process; this is a true team product. The product itself would not have been possible without the good work of the subcommittee staff: Rudy Barnes, Kari Bingen, Bob DeGrasse, Eryn Robinson, and Frank Rose. Thank you all for the hard work and long hours involved in putting this mark together.

"Before you is a summary of bill and directive report language related to programs within the subcommittee's jurisdiction.

"The subcommittee mark includes approximately $51.1 billion in programs in the budget request, including:

$10.2 billion for ballistic missile defense programs, including $8.6 billion for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA);

$8.7 billion for unclassified military space programs; and

$14.7 billion for Department of Energy (DOE) Atomic Energy Defense Activities, not including defense nuclear non-proliferation programs.

"Inclusive of these modifications, and a change within the classified Military Intelligence Program budget, the subcommittee mark is $784 million below the fiscal year 2009 budget request for these programs.

"The subcommittee received 100 member requests for adds totaling just over $800 million. The mark accommodates 46 of these adds via $220 million dollars in funding.

"The subcommittee mark reflects three broad themes:

First, the mark emphasizes the need to sustain and modernize the Stockpile Stewardship Program, through which the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) assures the safety, security and reliability of our nuclear deterrent;

Second, it emphasizes ballistic missile defense systems that address near-term threats to the United States, our deployed troops, and our allies, while slowing development of less mature systems designed to counter more long-term threats;

Third, the mark supports significant military space programs that are in critical phases of development, including the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS).

"For Department of Energy national security programs, the mark recommends a net increase of $13.6 million, excluding defense nuclear non-proliferation programs. The mark includes $6.6 billion for nuclear weapons activities and $5.3 billion for defense environmental cleanup programs.

"The mark for DOE weapons activities comes at a transitional period for the National Nuclear Security Administration.

"First, after proposing almost $90 million for the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) in fiscal year 2008, the NNSA request this year did not include sufficient funds to complete RRW design and cost study.

"Second, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 authorized an independent commission to assess U.S. strategic posture, which will issue a report this December. It also requires a new Nuclear Posture Review from the next administration in December 2009.

"In this context, the mark stresses support for the Stockpile Stewardship Program, and emphasizes research designed to facilitate decisions on how to modernize the stewardship program and the nuclear weapons complex in the coming years.

"Specifically, the mark recommends:

$10 million in additional funding for Advanced Certification addressing certification issues and other questions raised by the 2007 JASON review of RRW;

$14.6 million for execution of the National Ignition campaign;

$13 million for into research into future Stockpile Stewardship tools, included enhanced security, enhanced surveillance, and next generation hydro-dynamic tests;

$20 million for critical infrastructure maintenance and improvements at the Pantex and Y-12 plants; and

$5 million for fellowships in disciplines critical to National Technical Nuclear Forensics as well as for modernizing forensics tools in the national labs, both key recommendations of the recent AAAS-American Physical Society report on strengthening our nuclear forensics capabilities.

"The mark makes several reductions to accommodate these priorities, including:

$10 million from the RRW line in the NNSA budget request, and $23 million from the Navy's request for RRW, each of which is re-directed to higher priority nuclear weapons research;

$50 million from the Pit Manufacturing and Pit Manufacturing Capability programs, whose objectives are redundant and to some degree premature given the slowed pace of the Reliable Replacement Warhead proposal; and

$10 million from the Tritium Readiness activity, which had large unobligated, un-costed balances at the outset of this fiscal year.

"The mark also fully funds the request for the Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility at the Savannah River Site, South Carolina. The mark stresses that this committee views the MOX project as an important non-proliferation and national security priority.

"As a reminder, nuclear non-proliferation programs are covered at the full committee level. As such, I remind the subcommittee that any amendments relating to DOE non-proliferation programs will be addressed at the full committee mark-up.

"In ballistic missile defense programs, the mark reflects our strong bipartisan support for addressing the short, medium, and intermediate-range missiles threats that face our war fighters.

"The mark also reduces proposed investments in both high-risk and immature programs.

"In total, the mark authorizes $10.1 billion dollars for missile defense programs, $719 million below the request, but $212.6 million dollars above the current level.

"The mark provides $8.6 billion dollars for the Missile Defense Agency, a reduction of $719 million from the request, but roughly equal to current year funding.

The mark also provides the amount of the budget request for Army missile defense programs, $1.5 billion, and for the Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization, $55.2 million.

"The mark recommends the following program increases:

$75 million dollars for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense;

$75 million for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense;

$25 million for missile defense target development; and

$10 million for the joint U.S.-Israel short-range missile defense program.

"The mark recommends the following reductions:

$232 million from the European Missile Defense Sites;

$100 million from the Multiple Kill Vehicle;

$100 million from the Kinetic Energy Interceptor;

$150 million from MDA Special Programs;

$50 million from Ballistic Missile Sensors; and

$42.6 million from Airborne Laser.

"The mark includes the following legislative provisions relating to missile defense: it requires an independent study of boost phase missile defense options; and extends FY 2008 limitations on the availability of funds for the procurement, construction, and deployment of missile defenses in Europe.

"The mark also includes the following directive report language provisions:

Directs the MDA Director and the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation to submit a jointly agreed plan for the testing of the European GMD component;

Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop a comprehensive plan for setting future missile defense force structure and inventory requirements;

Directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to submit a report on the ability of the Missile Defense Executive Board to address concerns raised by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council;

Directs MDA to submit a report to the congressional defense committees on improving GMD testing and the missile defense targets program;

Directs MDA to provide criteria and a path for down-selecting between vendors as the Multiple Kill Vehicle program meets its established knowledge points; and

Directs MDA to establish separate program element numbers for each terminal missile defense system and sensor element.

"In military space programs, the mark builds on the bipartisan approach the subcommittee took last year, and pushes the Department of Defense to focus on near-term war fighter needs and to address vulnerabilities in space situational awareness as well as space protection.

"The subcommittee remains concerned about whether certain programs can be executed on the schedules and within the cost estimates included in the budget.

"But the mark also reflects the subcommittee's recognition that the Department is working to address congressional concerns on several major space acquisitions. Consequently, the mark makes reductions in the Third Generation Infrared Satellite System and High Integrity GPS.

"The mark provides increased funding for several programs, including:

$5 million for Modernized GPS user equipment;

$10 million for space control and test capabilities; and

$10 million for Operational Responsive Space capabilities.

"The mark includes the following legislative provisions in military space programs:

Directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report outlining the Department's bandwidth needs in the near and longer term, and recommends the Department consider identifying or creating an organization responsible for defense-wide bandwidth management and synchronization (this provision will be marked up at the full committee mark-up next week);

Directs the Department to prepare an independent system vulnerability assessment for each new or revised space system prior to Key Decision Point; and

Directs the Secretary of Defense to analyze the industrial base that supports the development and production of space systems, and to provide a report with plans for monitoring the industrial base in the future.

"Within strategic programs, the mark supports the request of $117.6 million dollars for Prompt Global Strike. This funds research into technologies applicable to a mid-term Air Force Conventional Strike Missile concept and a longer-term Navy Sea-Launched Global Strike Missile concept. No funds were requested or authorized for Conventional Trident Modification.

"In the area of intelligence, the mark makes a significant change to one classified space program in the DOD military intelligence program that has been coordinated with the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

"The mark also provides sufficient resources, within Title XV, to ensure continued operation and maintenance of the U-2 aircraft fleet.

"In short, I believe our mark addresses our national security priorities across the critical areas within the jurisdiction of this subcommittee. It represents a good faith effort to address Member priorities in a bipartisan fashion and I strongly recommend its adoption. Let me now recognize my friend and colleague, Mr. Everett, the Ranking Member of the subcommittee."

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