WASHINGTON, D.C. – In testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development today, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Administrator Thomas D’Agostino outlined President Obama’s FY 2013 budget request, which gives NNSA the resources it needs to achieve the President’s nuclear security objectives, shape the future of nuclear security, and continuously improve the way it does business.
Administrator D’Agostino was joined by Dr. Don Cook, NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, and Brig. Gen. Sandra E. Finan (USAF), Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application. Submitted to Congress earlier this month, the President’s request includes $11.5 billion for NNSA, an increase of $536 million over the FY12 appropriation. It includes $7.58 billion for NNSA’s defense programs, $2.46 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 morning’s hearing. Full opening remarks are available online here [1].
- ON THE PRESIDENT’S FY2013 BUDGET REQUEST: “In April 2009 in Prague, President Obama shared his vision for a world free from the threat of nuclear terrorism and united in our approach to our shared nuclear security goals. His FY13 request for NNSA is $11.5 billion, an increase of $536 million over the FY12 appropriation. The request reaffirms our commitment to building a 21st century nuclear security enterprise through innovative approaches to some of our greatest nuclear security challenges and key investments in our infrastructure.”
- ON THE BUDGET CLIMATE: “As you know, due in part to the constraints established by the Budget Control Act, this is a time of fiscal austerity. I want to assure you that NNSA is being thoughtful, pragmatic, and efficient in how we achieve the President’s nuclear security objectives and shape the future of nuclear security. We’ve continuously improved the way we operate, and we’re committed to doing our part in this constrained budget environment.”
- ON NNSA’S TOOLS AND CAPABILITIES: “For over a decade, we have been building the tools and capabilities needed to take care of the stockpile. We are now entering a time when NNSA will fully utilize these analytical tools and capabilities towards the mission of maintaining a safe, secure, and effective stockpile and performing the necessary life extension work. These capabilities also provide the critical base for nonproliferation and counter-terrorism work, allowing us to apply our investments to the full scope of our mission.”
- ON NNSA’S INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: “To support our stockpile and provide us with the world-class capabilities, we need to modernize our Cold War-era facilities and maintain the Nation’s expertise in uranium processing and plutonium research. This budget includes $2.24 billion to maintain our infrastructure, and execute our construction projects.”
- ON CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AT NNSA: “We are improving everywhere, from our governance model to our network infrastructure, from our contracting processes to leadership and development programs. We are improving business processes by implementing the ISO 9001 standard, looking toward the future through a workforce analysis, and improving efficiency through consolidated contracts.”
Follow NNSA News on our Blog [2] and on Facebook [3], Twitter [4], YouTube [5], and Flickr [6].
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.
