Concern for Critical National Security Space Programs Under a Continuing Resolution

Floor Speech

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Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concern that funding for critical national security space programs will be disrupted under a continuing resolution.

Disrupting funding for essential warfighting capabilities for space protection, assured access to space, satellite communications and missile warning will weaken our national security and risk significant delays in development of these important missions.

General John Hyten, commander of U.S. Air Force Space Command, recently stated that a continuing resolution would delay several new classified and unclassified programs aimed at U.S. space protection.

He also expressed concern that failure to pass a budget would delay the development of a new rocket propulsion system prototype intended to end our dependence on the Russian-made RD-180 rocket engine.

Additionally, due to the uncertainty created by the absence of a full-year appropriations bill for the Department of Defense, the Air Force is purportedly prepared to issue stop work orders on two essential satellite communications and missile warning programs under the Space Modernization Initiative (SMI).

The overall SMI strategy is to invest in creating trade space for future decisions through investments to sustain or improve existing capabilities by exploring technology alternatives and architectures. These efforts ensure affordability, capability and resiliency of our space systems.

For example, the Wide Field of View (WFOV) testbed initiative supports affordability and risk reduction efforts for the nation's critical overhead missile warning capability.

Cuts or delays to funding would risk the ability for the WFOV initiative to support current data exploitation efforts and could delay a commercial launch opportunity. A stop work order under a CR places the WFOV effort and other SMI efforts at significant risk despite full support from the Senate Appropriations Committee for the program.

Unfortunately, our inability to pass a budget has created uncertainty that endangers our national security space programs.

I urge the Department of Defense and the Air Force to leverage the funding levels authorized by law under a continuing resolution to sustain development of these critical national security space systems.

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