Brian Bradley
NS&D Monitor
5/15/2015
The Senate Armed Services Committee late this week completed its markup of the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes authorized funding and policy provisions for the National Nuclear Security Administration and Defense Department programs associated with the nuclear triad. Notably, the bill would require the Defense Secretary to make a Milestone A—Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction Phase—decision on the long-range standoff weapon no later than May 31, 2016, according to a Committee press release. The bill would also authorize $786.2 million in funding for research and development on the long-range strike bomber, which is $460 million below the Administration’s FY 2016 budget request. The legislation also would prohibit the retirement of the B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers during a fiscal year prior to initial operating capability of the LRSB, unless the Defense Secretary specially certifies it.
SASC’s version of the FY 2016 NDAA would also add $1.7 billion to accelerate funding for several Navy programs, “in recognition of the looming Ohio-class Replacement Program and the need to increase the size of the Navy,” a release states. Additionally, the legislation would authorize $1.39 billion in funding for Ohio-class replacement R&D, matching the President’s request.
Bill Matches NNSA/Weapons Activities Request
The bill authorizes $19 billion in funding for Department of Energy national security programs and matches the President’s $8.8 billion FY 2016 budget request for NNSA/Weapons Activities. The bill would authorize $1.9 billion for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, $1.4 billion for Naval Reactors and $800 million for “other defense activities.”
Notably, the SASC markup would authorize $20 million to be put toward a net “responsive capabilities program” to permit activities that will reduce the time and costs for future weapons designs if required, according to the press release. The bill would also authorize increases over DOE’s budget request in several areas, including a $120 million boost for deferred maintenance, $30 million more for DOE infrastructure improvements, $10 million over Obama’s $38.7 billion for enhanced stockpile surveillance, and a $5 million increase for studying alternatives in the plutonium disposition program.
The bill also includes several DOE policy provision, including a requirement for DOE “as part of the award fee for the operation of its defense nuclear facilities, to perform an assessment of the adequacy of its emergency preparedness, including the seniority level of Department of Energy Officials that participate in emergency preparedness exercises of the facilities.” It also requires a plan for the transfer of excess facilities at the National Nuclear Security Administration to the Office of Environmental Management for cleanup.
Notably, the bill would also require a Government Accountability Office review of the DoD process of addressing recommendations of the Nuclear Enterprise Review and would require the Defense Secretary to develop a plan concerning possible responses to Russia’s alleged violation of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, including counterforce capabilities, countervailing strike capabilities and active defenses.
