Strategic Forces Subcommittee Chairman Releases Details of National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012

Press Release

The chairman and ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces today unveiled details of the portion (insert link) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 which will be marked up by the subcommittee on Wednesday. In releasing his mark, Subcommittee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) pointed to the balance struck in the legislation between providing the resources needed to provide a robust homeland defense and spending American taxpayer dollars more efficiently.

"I'm proud to announce that the House's Strategic Forces Subcommittee has crafted a Mark that contains many sound measures and budget recommendations that will provide key capabilities for our warfighters and strengthens our nation's strategic forces," said Chairman Turner. "Through a bipartisan effort we have been able to invest in our nuclear deterrent by fully funding the National Nuclear Security Administration's $7.6 billion request to support its modernization plans. Furthermore, we will strengthen our missile defense initiative through an increase of $109.7 million above the President's request of $10.1 billion for ballistic missile defense. Maintaining this deterrent is important for the security of our homeland and our allies."

"In addition, this Mark requires accountability, identifies opportunities for cost savings and efficiencies, focuses on enhancing and evolving existing capabilities, and seeks to foster competition while also sustaining the industrial base and intellectual capital which supports our national security infrastructure. I appreciate working with Ranking Member Sanchez, other Members of the Committee and their staffs, and I recognize their efforts in putting together this important legislation for our nation's defense," concluded Turner.

"I would like to thank Chairman Turner, our Subcommittee members and our staff for their hard work in shaping this legislation to support US strategic forces" said Ranking Member Loretta Sanchez. "I am pleased that we were able to support in a bipartisan way many important provisions, including measures that advance national security and that also promote fiscal responsibility, such as improving satellite acquisition and operations, increasing efficiencies at nuclear sites, and implementing New START reductions."

"The Subcommittee mark also recommends full funding for atomic energy defense programs to support nuclear nonproliferation efforts, sustain a reliable, safe and effective nuclear deterrent, and make much-needed progress on nuclear environmental clean-up at Hanford, WA and other contaminated sites. While we agree on the need for effective and proven missile defenses, we disagree on the need for a $100 million funding increase to Ground-based Midcourse missile defense which was included in the mark. I look forward to having engaging debates with my colleagues on missile defense provisions and on nuclear weapons policy at full committee next week," concluded Sanchez.

As part of its efforts to bring a new level of transparency to this once closed process, the House Armed Services Committee under the leadership Chairman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-Calif.) will make the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 available to media, interested parties and the general public prior to consideration by the full committee or one of its subcommittees.

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