NNSA Administrator Highlights President’s Investment in Nuclear Security Agenda during Senate Energy and Water Development Subcommittee Hearing | National Nuclear Security Administration

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In testimony before the Senate Energy and Water Development Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Administrator Thomas D'Agostino today outlined the President’s Budget Request for FY2012. 

Calling it “a critical investment in the infrastructure, the people, and the science, technology and engineering required to fulfill our missions,” Administrator D’Agostino said the FY2012 Budget Request provides the resources required to implement the president’s nuclear security agenda and improve the way the NNSA does business. 

Submitted to Congress in mid-February, the budget request includes $11.8 billion for NNSA, an increase of 5.1 percent from the $11.2 billion requested for FY 2011. It includes $7.6 billion for NNSA’s defense programs, $2.5 billion for its nuclear nonproliferation program and $1.1 billion for NNSA’s naval reactors program.

The following are excerpts of Administrator D’Agostino’s opening remarks as prepared for delivery during this afternoon’s hearing:  

• ON NNSA’S ONGOING RESPONSE TO THE SITUATION IN JAPAN:  “Our ability to respond to this crisis is the latest example of the vital and diverse role we play in implementing the President’s nuclear security agenda, and of the need to continue invest in the future of our enterprise.  This budget request seeks the funds required to make those investments.”
  
  
• ON THE W78 AND INVESTING IN THE FUTURE: “Consistent with the policies outlined in the President’s Nuclear Posture Review, we have submitted a request to this Committee and the House Energy and Water Development Subcommittee to begin studying the requirements for the W78 LEP, including options for interoperability of the nuclear explosive package with the Navy’s W88 warhead.   I strongly encourage this committee to approve that request as soon as possible.”
  
  
• ON PREVENTING PROLIFERATION AND NUCLEAR TERRORISM: “As President Obama said in his speech in Prague in April 2009, the threat of a terrorist acquiring and using a nuclear weapons is the most immediate and extreme threat we face…  Preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and keeping dangerous nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists is a vital national security priority.  To address that threat, we are requesting $2.5 billion in 2012 and more than $14.2 billion over the next five years for our nuclear nonproliferation programs.”
  
  
• ON IMPROVING THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS: “I realize that this committee has many competing requirements, and that this request comes at a time of acute financial stress for our entire country.  While I believe nothing is more important than ensuring our nation’s security, it is my responsibility to assure you that we can manage these increased resources wisely.” 

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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 in the nation’s national security enterprise. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability, and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; reduces the 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.