Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009

DUNCAN HUNTER NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 -- (House of Representatives - May 22, 2008)

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Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this proposed amendment. As we have noted, this amendment seeks to increase fiscal year 2009 funding for the Missile Defense Agency by $719 million to the level of the budget request. The administration did in fact request $9.3 billion in fiscal year 2009 for MDA, an increase of $680 million above the 2008 funded level. This bill authorizes $8.6 billion in 2009 for the Missile Defense Agency, roughly equivalent to the 2008 level. Furthermore, this bill provides our warfighters with the capabilities that they need to respond to the real missile threats to our homeland, our deployed forces and our allies.

For example, this bill increases funding for systems geared to near-term threats such as Aegis BMD and THAAD. And to clear up that misunderstanding that I believe we heard on this side of the aisle, this bill actually increases Aegis and THAAD $75 million each above the President's request; not a total of $75 million, but $75 million above the request each for Aegis and THAAD. Also, we improve the missile defense testing program and cooperation with Israel.

I have a number of concerns about the proposed amendment. First, this amendment is an attempt to restore the reduction to the MDA, but this is at a time when we have so many other unmet national security needs that equally meet the standard of providing for the common defense, and the House defeated a similar floor amendment last year.

Second, the proposed offset would come from the RDT&E account, except for the Missile Defense Agency, unfairly placing that agency above all other critical RDT&E priorities.

Third, it is my understanding as well that it is unlikely that the proposed increase in funding for the programs outlined in this amendment are even executable in fiscal year 2009.

Fourth, the amendment is inconsistent with section 223 of the 2008 Defense Authorization Act, which states that RDT&E funding in 2009 may not be used for ``procurement or advance procurement of long-lead items for THAAD firing units 3 and 4, and for Standard Missile-3 Block 1A interceptors.'' Therefore, as written, the amendment would not allow any of the funding to be used for THAAD, additional THAAD, or SM-3 Block 1A.

Mr. Chairman, this bill provides a well-balanced approach to missile defense, and it provides a well-balanced approach when balanced against other key national security needs overall in our defense budget such as readiness, strategic programs and nonproliferation, all of which are well-funded as well.

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Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I too rise in opposition to the Tierney amendment. Just a little bit different focus here. The bill, as it stands, includes provisions to improve oversight and accountability for MDA, including required independent studies of boost phase ballistic missile defense systems, and requires strategy to increase the frequency and rigor of testing for mid course defense systems.

Large increases would undercut the prudent path forward established in this bill, and undermine the accountability provisions. Large additional decreases would undercut deployment of mature systems, and could lead to increased missile defense spending in the future if important demonstrations are postponed from fiscal year 2009 to 2010.

This is already a well-balanced budget within the missile defense budget, and well balanced with other needs, such as readiness, strategic programs and nonproliferation. So I'm asking my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

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