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“Good morning. This hearing of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee will come to order. Today, we will consider the Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2008 budget request. Let me begin by welcoming our distinguished witnesses: The Honorable Tom D’Agostino, Acting Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration; The Honorable James Rispoli, DOE Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management; and Mr. Glenn Podonsky, Director of the DOE Office of Health, Safety and Security.
“I want to thank our witnesses for appearing before the subcommittee. Each of you brings a wealth of experience and talent to your role. The Fiscal Year 2008 budget request for the Department of Energy totals over Twenty Four billion dollars. The Armed Services Committee annually authorizes about two-thirds of this total for Atomic Energy Defense Activities.
“This year, the request of fifteen point eight billion for these programs is basically flat compared to last year’s budget request. It represents an increase of about one-hundred and fifteen million over the last year’s Continuing Resolution appropriation.
“This committee and I have been – and remain – strong supporters of the critical missions embodied in your respective program areas. Between the three of you, your portfolios include responsibility and oversight for;
· Maintaining and ensuring the reliability of our nation’s nuclear deterrent; Conducting the scientific research and production activities necessary to support that deterrent;
· Keeping the arsenal and the complex safe from physical and other threats; Leading the government’s international nuclear non-proliferation efforts;
· and Cleaning up the environmental legacy of decades of nuclear stockpile work.
“Congress is here to help you with these critical tasks, but as you know we also bear a responsibility to scrutinize the policies and spending priorities of the Department and the NNSA. In that spirit, the subcommittee is eager to hear your testimony about the Fiscal Year 2008 budget request. We are especially interested in five areas:
“First, what does the budget indicate about the stewardship of our nuclear weapons stockpile? Are we devoting adequate resources to the Stockpile Stewardship Program, Life Extension and Stockpile maintenance activities, and the dismantlement work that is critical to the down-sizing of our weapons stockpile, which is still too large? How does the proposed Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program fit in?
“Second, how does the budget balance various safety and security priorities? Is NNSA able to bring the Complex into compliance with the 2005 DBT standards, while simultaneously addressing rapidly growing cyber security threats?
“Third, how does the budget support the various commitments the federal government has made within the cleanup program? Are you employing earned value management systems for troubled projects like the WTP?
“How does the budget help speed consolidation of Special Nuclear Materials? How do your consolidation plans affect each of these three broad areas – stockpile stewardship, safety and security, and environmental cleanup? Do the challenges facing the MOX program affect consolidation plans?
“Finally, I would like to know why the defense nuclear nonproliferation budget is cut in a number of areas including verification research and development and nonproliferation and international security. DOE’s nonproliferation programs are some of our most critical national security tools, and I have advocated that they be fully funded for some time.
“I would like to commend you and the NNSA on the outstanding progress over the last several years in the construction of the National Ignition Facility and its campaign for fusion ignition. I am deeply concerned that the President’s 2008 request for the National Ignition Campaign cannot sustain this effort as planned without increased delay or risk.
“Due to your efforts, the U.S. is poised to capitalize on this investment and achieve fusion ignition for the first time in history. Attaining fusion ignition is crucial to the stewardship of our nuclear stockpile and a key capability in the supporting complex, and achieving vital security and nonproliferation goals – ensuring the safety and reliability of our nuclear weapons without live testing. And this is why I will work closely with you to ensure that this schedule is maintained.
“These are the kinds of concerns we hope you will address in your testimony. With that, let me turn to my good friend, our Ranking Member Mr. Everett, for any comments he may have.”
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