Lawmakers debated nuclear-weapon-related amendments to the fiscal 2018 National Defense Authorization Act Wednesday evening on the House floor, postponing votes for some contentious proposals and adopting one to prohibit funding for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization.
The House Rules Committee approved this week for floor debate 88 of roughly 400 amendments filed on the bill. Among those related to nuclear weapons was one introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and adopted by voice vote, which would prohibit funding for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization’s Preparatory Commission, except for funds that go toward the International Monitoring System.
Lawmakers also considered amendment from Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) that would prevent development of an intermediate-range ground-launched missile system until completion of the new Nuclear Posture Review and assurances from the defense secretary that such a system is the preferred option to maintain strategic stability with Russia, among related requirements.
A recorded vote was requested upon conclusion of floor debate on the matter, postponing adoption of the amendment until a later time.
The House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee in its mark of the bill called for a “program of record” for a system with an Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty flight range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers. The White House said Tuesday in a policy statement that it is against such a move that “unhelpfully ties the Administration to a specific missile system, which would limit potential military response options” to Russia’s violation of the treaty.
The Senate version of the NDAA instead calls for establishment for a research and development program for a dual-capable road-mobile ground-launched missile system with a maximum range of 5,500 kilometers.
Another amendment from Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) requiring the Congressional Budget Office cost estimate review on nuclear weapons modernization to cover a 30-year period instead of the currently required 10-year period was also postponed for a recorded vote.
Yet another from Reps. Blumenauer, John Garamendi (D-Calif.), and Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) that would limit spending on the Long-Range Standoff nuclear cruise missile to $95.6 million until completion of the Nuclear Posture Review was postponed.
The House version of the NDAA would authorize up to $14.2 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration, up from the $13.9 billion requested by the agency for the next fiscal year.
