“It has been a pleasure building this mark with my friend and the ranking member, Mr. Everett. At this, his last committee mark-up, I want to thank the Ranking Member for his advice and cooperation. They have both been critical to our success.  I would also like to thank the Strategic Forces subcommittee staff, and the members of the subcommittee and their staffs for their hard work.

 “This subcommittee mark includes approximately $51.1 billion dollars in programs in the budget request, including:

• $10.2 billion for ballistic missile defense programs, $8.6 billion of which is for the Missile Defense Agency;
• $8.7 billion for unclassified military space programs; and
• $14.7 billion for Department of Energy Atomic Energy Defense Activities, excluding defense nuclear nonproliferation programs. 

 “Including these authorizations, and a change within the classified Military Intelligence Program budget, the subcommittee mark is $799 million below the fiscal year 2009 budget request for these programs.

 “The Strategic Forces Subcommittee mark reflects three broad themes:

• It emphasizes the need to sustain and modernize the Stockpile Stewardship Program, through which the National Nuclear Security Administration assures the safety, security and reliability of our nuclear deterrent;
• It emphasizes ballistic missile defense systems that address near-term threats to the United States, our deployed troops, and our allies; but slows development of less mature systems designed to counter more long-term threats; and
• It supports significant military space programs that are in critical phases of development, including the Space Based Infrared System.

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

 “The mark emphasizes research designed to facilitate decisions about modernizing the stewardship program and the nuclear weapons complex in coming years. 

 “Specifically, the mark recommends:

• $10 million in additional funding for Advanced Certification that addresses certification issues and other questions raised by the 2007 JASON review of the Reliable Replacement Warhead proposal;
• $14.6 million for full execution of the National Ignition campaign, a critical component of stockpile stewardship; 
• $13 million for research into future stockpile stewardship tools, including enhanced security, enhanced surveillance, and next generation hydro-dynamic tests;
• $20 million for critical infrastructure needs; and
• $5 million for academic fellowships and modernized national lab equipment critical to the National Technical Nuclear Forensics program.  

 “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; and
• A total of $50 million from the Pit Manufacturing and Pit Manufacturing Capability programs, two redundant programs whose requests were inappropriately large given the slowed pace of the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) proposal.

 “The mark also fully funds the request for the Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility at the Savannah River Site, and stresses the committee’s view that the MOX project is a non-proliferation and national security priority. 
 
 “In ballistic missile defense programs, the mark reflects our strong bipartisan support for addressing the short, medium, and intermediate-range missiles threats that our war fighters face. 

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

 “In total, the mark authorizes $10.2 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 $1.5 billion for Army missile defense programs and $55.2 million for the Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization.

 “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 request for RDT&E funding for 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; 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 MDA 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 as well as 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; and

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

 “In military space programs, the mark builds on the bipartisan approach the subcommittee took last year, and pushes DOD to focus on near-term war fighter needs, vulnerabilities in space situational awareness, and 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. 

 “Consequently, the mark makes reductions in the Third Generation Infrared Satellite System and High Integrity GPS. 

 “The mark also reflects our recognition that the Department is working to address congressional concerns on several major space acquisitions.  It 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 Department to prepare an independent system vulnerability assessment for each new or revised space system prior to Key Decision Point.
• 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.

 “The Strategic Forces Subcommittee also worked closely with the Terrorism and Unconventional Threats Subcommittee to direct the Secretary of Defense to submit a plan for the Department’s short and long term bandwidth needs. 

 “As well as is in recommending that the Department identify or create an organization responsible for defense-wide bandwidth management and synchronization.  This provision is contained in the Chairman’s mark.

 “Within non-nuclear strategic programs, the mark supports the request of $117.6 dollars for Prompt Global Strike. 

 “These funds will support research into technologies applicable to a mid-term Air Force Conventional Strike Missile concept as well as 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 Fifteen, to ensure continued operation and maintenance of the U-2 aircraft fleet.

 “In sum, the subcommittee mark squarely addresses the national security challenges across the critical areas within the jurisdiction of this subcommittee. I strongly recommend its adoption today.”