Global Security Newswire

The House and Senate Armed Services committees this week produced a compromise version of the fiscal 2009 defense authorization bill that addresses a variety of nuclear, missile defense and nonproliferation programs (see GSN, May 23).

The legislation has been sent to both branches of Congress. It would enable $531.4 billion in funding for the Defense Department and for Energy Department national security programs, House panel Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) said in a press release. Actual funding would be provided through separate appropriations legislation.

"Since the Senate approved its version of the defense authorization bill last week, House and Senate Armed Services Committee members and staff have been working to reach agreement so a bill can be considered by both houses and sent to the president before Congress adjourns," Skelton said. "This is an excellent bill and I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to support the agreement."

Congress is expected to go into recess Friday. Fiscal 2009 begins Oct. 1.

The legislation:

--"Includes a Sense of Congress that the safety and security of nuclear weapons could be more easily achieved if greater attention were paid to nuclear matters within the Office of the Secretary of Defense and urges the secretary of defense to clarify lines of responsibility and accountability for nuclear weapons matters" (see GSN, Sept. 15);

--Calls for a multiagency "worldwide review of nuclear weapons including an inventory of nuclear weapons arsenals; a risk assessment and recommendations for improving the security of nuclear weapons; and recommendations for reducing and disposing of nuclear weapons," the bill summary says;

--Mandates yearly reports from the national intelligence director on Iran's nuclear activities and requires that Congress be notified should the Middle Eastern nation restart its suspected weapons activities (see related GSN story, today).

--Shifts $33 million from the Bush administration's Reliable Replacement Warhead program "to other, higher priority activities" (see GSN, Sept. 12);

--Mandates an improvement program for U.S. nuclear forensics capabilities, which would help determine the source of sensitive material seized from smugglers or used in an attack (see GSN, July 22). The legislation also authorizes $300.1 million at the Energy Department for nonproliferation and verification research and development, including money for strengthening nuclear forensics and seismic studies;

--Allows the Army to move forward with a $1.5 billion plan to buy 108 Patriot Advanced Capability 3 missiles, update current Patriot systems and maintain the ongoing development program for the Medium Extended Air Defense System (see GSN, July 15, 2004);

--Supports $1.2 billion for purchasing Standard Missile 3 missiles, boosting capacity for missile production and strengthening "discrimination capabilities" under the sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense program;

--Backs $914.8 million for the purchase of parts for two Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense missile shield fire units (see GSN, Sept. 18);

--Cuts $246.3 million in authorized funds for Bush administration plans to place missile defense sites in Europe, leaving $465.8 million for research and development, military construction and other activities (see GSN, Sept. 22). Missile interceptors planned for Poland must be proven "operationally effective" prior to deployment, the bill states;

--Authorizes $391.7 million for the Airborne Laser program but allows no spending on a second aircraft that would carry the missile defense system (see GSN, Sept. 22); supports spending $341.8 million on the Kinetic Energy Interceptor; cuts $50 million from the Multiple Kill Vehicle program, leaving $304.4 million; and allows no funding for the Space Test Bed.

--Directs $434.1 million toward the Pentagon's Cooperative Threat Reduction programs, including $9 million for halting WMD proliferation and $10 million for new programs (see related GSN story, today);

--Approves $451.7 million in DOE funds for security of nuclear weapons and related material in other nations, along with $339.6 million for Global Threat Reduction Initiative programs to secure, repatriate and eliminate radiological material in the United States and elsewhere (see GSN, July 18);

--Enables full funding, $487 million, for the mixed-oxide fuel facility at the Energy Department's Savannah River Site in South Carolina, which would be used to convert weapon-grade nuclear material to reactor fuel;

--Restricts funding for the DOE Global Nuclear Energy Partnership to $3 million for studies of proliferation threats and related activities; and

--Demands a review of the Energy Department Global Initiative for Proliferation Prevention, along with a program funding report (House Armed Services Committee release, Sept. 23).