[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 125 (Thursday, September 23, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1947-E1948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON S. 1059, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR 
                            FISCAL YEAR 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. DUNCAN HUNTER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 15, 1999

  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my strong support 
for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000, S. 
1059, which includes legislation to reform the Department of Energy 
(DOE) to ensure the security of our strategic nuclear defense.
  I rise today to address the concern that by creating the National 
Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) there may be a negative effect 
on Defense Facilities Closure Projects. In fact, the language 
establishing the NNSA is intended to complement the ongoing work at 
Closure Project sites rather than to hinder it.
  Specifically, the NNSA should have a positive effect at Closure sites 
because a greater priority will be placed on the consolidation of 
defense program and material disposition inventories from Closure sites 
to other DOE facilities with an ongoing national security mission. In 
addition, the creation of the NNSA does not impact the funding 
structure of the Environmental Remediation and Waste Management 
activities.
  Part of the reason we have seen progress at the Closure sites has 
been the use of integrated funding under a separate Closure Projects 
line item and the Department should continue this approach in order to 
ensure that Closure sites retain maximum funding flexibility and 
expedited nuclear materials movement.

[[Page E1948]]



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