A nuclear armed B-2 Spirit approaches a KC-10A from McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions.
On August 1, 2014 Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas asked for and was granted a procedural motion to proceed on a House Resolution dealing with the Nuclear Security Administration. This one dealing with appropriations that largely escaped the attention of the entertainment based national media in the United States – even though it deals directly with issues relating to the most serious issues facing the nation and the world today:
Mr. Sessions – “Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order at any time to take from the Speaker’s table the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 76) making continuing appropriations for the National Nuclear Security Administration for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendments thereto, and to consider in the House, without intervention of any point of order, a single motion offered by the chair of the Committee on Appropriations or his designee that the House concur in the Senate amendments; the Senate amendments be considered as read; the previous question be considered as ordered on the motion to adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question; and the Chair may postpone the question of adoption of the motion as though under clause 8 of rule XX.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of today, I call up H.J. Res. 76, with the Senate amendments thereto.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the Senate amendments.
The text of the Senate amendments is as follows:
Senate amendments:
Strike all after the first word, and insert:
the following sum is appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes, namely:
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
PROCUREMENT
Procurement, Defense-wide
For an additional amount for “Procurement, Defense-Wide”, $225,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2015, which shall be for the Secretary of Defense to provide to the Government of Israel for the procurement of the Iron Dome defense system to counter short-range rocket threats: Provided, That such funds shall be transferred immediately only through an exchange of letters to address emergent operations in support of Operation Protective Edge, notwithstanding section 3.1.3.2.1 of the U.S.-Israel Iron Dome Procurement Agreement: Provided further, That nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to apply to previously appropriated funds for the procurement of Iron Dome: Provided further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
This joint resolution may be cited as the “Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Resolution, 2014”.
Amend the title so as to read: “A bill making an emergency supplemental appropriation for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, to provide funding to Israel for the Iron Dome defense system to counter short-range rocket threats.”.
MOTION OFFERED BY MR. ROGERS OF KENTUCKY
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the motion.
The text of the motion is as follows:
Mr. Rogers of Kentucky moves that the House concur in the Senate amendments to House Joint Resolution 76.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the previous question is ordered.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers).
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, proceedings on this question will be postponed.”
Source: Congressional Record http://thomas.loc.gov/
Note:
Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.
- Maintaining the Stockpile
NNSA ensures the Nation sustains a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent through the application of science, technology, engineering, and manufacturing. To deal with the changing face of nuclear deterrence and more-widely dispersed nuclear knowledge, NNSA also ensures the United States maintains excellence in nuclear science and technology that is second to none. Within the Nuclear Security Enterprise, the central mission which includes maintaining the active stockpile, Life Extension Programs (LEPs) and Weapons Dismantlement, is referred to as the Stockpile Stewardship and Management Program.
- Nonproliferation
One of the gravest threats the United States and the international community face is the possibility that terrorists or rogue nations will acquire nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction (WMD). NNSA, through its Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (DNN), works closely with a wide range of international partners, key U.S. federal agencies, the U.S. national laboratories, and the private sector to detect, secure, and dispose of dangerous nuclear and radiological material, and related WMD technology and expertise. Working in close collaboration with DOE laboratories, DNN develops and tests new technologies to advance U.S. capabilities to monitor nonproliferation and arms control treaty and agreement implementation, provides unique training and capacity-building programs, engages internationally to promote nonproliferation norms and best practices through bilateral and multilateral work. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is a core partner in these efforts.Another primary DOE/NNSA mission is to address both state- and non-state-based proliferation of nuclear and radiological materials and associated technology and expertise. Through the Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, DOE and NNSA remove, eliminate, secure, and manage dangerous materials, develop technologies to detect nuclear and radiological proliferation worldwide, and collaborate internationally to ensure the secure and safe expansion of global nuclear energy.
- Counterterrorism and CounterproliferationNNSA provides expertise, practical tools, and technically informed policy recommendations required to advance U.S. nuclear counterterrorism and counterproliferation objectives. It executes a unique program of work focused solely on these missions and builds partnerships with U.S. government agencies and key foreign governments on these issues.
- Emergency ResponseNNSA’s Office of Emergency Operations is the United States government’s primary capability for radiological and nuclear emergency response and for providing security to the nation from the threat of nuclear terrorism. The Office of Emergency Operations maintains a high level of readiness for protecting and serving the U.S. and its allies through the development, implementation and coordination of programs and systems designed to serve as a last line of defense in the event of a nuclear terrorist incident or other types of radiological accident.
- Powering the Nuclear NavyThe Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program provides militarily effective nuclear propulsion plants and ensures their safe, reliable and long-lived operation. NNSA’s Naval Reactors Program provides the design, development and operational support required to provide militarily effective nuclear propulsion plants and ensure their safe, reliable and long-lived operation.
- Oversight and ChangeNNSA’s missions require a secure production and laboratory infrastructure meeting immediate and long term needs. NNSA also requires the people, systems, and processes that we need to succeed in the acquisition of both mission capabilities as well as products and services.
See related video: NNSA Highlights Nonproliferation issues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIHit2WwSm0 and NNSA Adiministrator Presents Gold Medal Service award to Brig. Generakl Harencak http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gXWdQ57B34