[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 17, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4103-S4105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DOMENICI:
  S. 2573. A bill to coordinate and facilitate the development by the 
Department of Defense of directed energy technologies, systems, and 
weapons, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services.


       directed energy coordination and consolidation act of 2000

 Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to offer the 
Directed Energy Coordination and Consolidation Act of 2000. While 
enactment of the provisions in this bill will greatly enhance and 
accelerate some of the research, development, test and evaluation 
activities in my home state of New Mexico, I firmly believe taking this 
action is also in our national interest.
  Last year's Defense Authorization Act required the Defense Department 
to convene the High Energy Laser Executive Review Panel (HELERP). This 
Panel was to make recommendations on a management structure for all 
defense high energy laser weapons programs. The authorization language 
also instructed the Panel to address issues in science and technology 
funding, the industrial base for these technologies, and possible 
cooperation with other agencies.
  Mr. President, let me briely outline some conclusions and 
recommendations made by the Panel. The findings include the following:
  Laser systems are ready for some of today's most challenging weapons 
applications, both offensive and defensive; laser weapons would offer 
the U.S. an asymmetric technological edge over adversaries for the 
foreseeable future; funding for laser Science and Technology programs 
should be increased to support acquisition programs and develop new 
technologies for future applications; the laser industrial supplier 
base is fragile in several critical laser technologies and lacks an 
adequate incentive to make investments required to support current and 
anticipated defense needs; DoD should leverage relevant research being 
supported by the Department of Energy and other agencies, as well as 
the private sector and academia; and, lastly, as in other critical high 
tech areas, it is increasingly difficult to attract and retain people 
with the skills necessary for directed energy technology development.
  In sum, the Panel found that these technologies have matured 
sufficiently to offer solutions to some of the most daunting defense 
challenges the U.S. currently confronts. However, other findings 
indicated that science and technology funding is inadequate to realize 
these aims, the industrial base is steadily eroding, and this field 
cannot recruit and retain adequate talent to remain viable. We have the 
means, but we're not making the investments required to achieve our 
goals.
  As requested by Congress last year, the High Energy Laser Master Plan 
approved by the Defense Department in March of this year proposes a 
different management structure. The Services all approved of this 
defense-wide management structure for making decisions regarding the 
specific technologies to pursue for specific defense applications and 
resource allocation.
  Mr. President, this legislation echoes the findings of the High 
Energy Laser Executive Review Panel and codifies the proposed 
management structure outlined by the Panel. Furthermore, in accordance 
with the Panel's findings, the bill authorizes $150 million in defense-
wide research and development funding for directed energy technologies. 
Up to $50 million of those funds can be utilized to leverage the 
directed energy expertise and technologies developed within our DOE 
laboratories. Lastly, this legislation requires that microwave 
technology investment decisions also be coordinated within this 
management structure.

[[Page S4104]]

  The bill would relocate the Joint Technology Office (JTO) proposed in 
the Master Plan from the Pentagon to Albuquerque, New Mexico, by 
January 1, 2001. This Office is currently being established at the 
Pentagon. However, the Pentagon is not a focal point for technology 
developments in directed energy. Albuquerque offers a sensible location 
for the JTO.
  Support for Albuquerque as a location is offered by the findings of 
the 912c Tri-Service Armament Panel Report. This Panel Report was an 
outgrowth of the July 1999 DoD ``Plan to Streamline DoD's Science and 
Technology, Engineering, and Test and Evaluation Infrastructure.'' This 
Army, Navy and Air Force Senior Steering Group proposed that all DoD 
Directed Energy Science and Technology and Test and Evaluation be 
consolidated at Kirtland Air Force Base. The Steering Group recommended 
creation of a DoD Directed Energy Center of Excellence at Kirtland that 
would be responsible for identifying, advocating, developing, and 
transitioning directed energy technology to meet all DoD requirements.
  Now that the High Energy Laser Master Plan has proposed an 
appropriate management structure, the time is right to take action. New 
Mexico is already a focal point for a lot of the research, development, 
test and evaluation activities in this field. Kirtland boasts 
tremendous assets to facilitate this research. White Sands is the 
premiere directed energy testing range. Co-locating the Joint 
Technology Office among a critical mass of directed energy activities--
both Army and Air Force--is not only sensible, it should also serve to 
facilitate this work.
  No doubt that the activities of the Air Force's Directed Energy 
Directorate at Kirtland will be enhanced by this legislation. However, 
each of the Services will be required to compete within this management 
structure.
  Let me be clear. Implementation of this management structure, 
regardless of the location of the Joint Technology Office will have no 
impact on the existing laser programs, such as the Tactical High Energy 
Laser (THEL), Airborne Laser (ABL) or Space-based Laser (SBL). The 
objective is to grow all directed energy programs desired by any one of 
the Services, depending on specific applications pursued.
  Any new programs will be competed--with one exception. The 
legislation includes a $20 million allocation for the Advanced Tactical 
Laser program under the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Program Office in 
order to take a first initial step in addressing some of the industrial 
base concerns.
  American dominance relies heavily on our technological superiority. 
Unlike other instances where the Department of Defense is using 
outsourcing or privatization to reduce costs, the attrition within the 
research community will require significant renewed investments over a 
long period of time to rebuild in the future. We are steadily 
approaching this situation in the field of directed energy. The lack of 
emphasis on and investment in revolutionary technologies, such as 
directed energy, unnecessarily limits the myriad possibilities for 
effective, surgical defense against a range of missile threats and vast 
potential for numerous defense applications.
  Mr. President, in order to better leverage the federal Government's 
investment, ensure adequate stability in the industrial base, and 
promote educational opportunities in directed energy technologies, the 
Directed Energy Coordination and Consolidation Act of 2000 will take a 
critical first step. I ask my colleagues to join me in ensuring that we 
rigorously pursue directed energy solutions to our nation's defense 
needs.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2573

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Directed Energy Coordination 
     and Consolidation Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 2. COORDINATION AND FACILITATION OF DEVELOPMENT OF 
                   DIRECTED ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, SYSTEMS, AND 
                   WEAPONS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Directed energy systems are available to address many 
     current challenges with respect to military weapons, 
     including offensive weapons and defensive weapons.
       (2) Directed energy weapons offer the potential to maintain 
     an asymmetrical technological edge over adversaries of the 
     United States for the foreseeable future.
       (3) It is in the national interest that funding for 
     directed energy science and technology programs be increased 
     in order to support priority acquisition programs and to 
     develop new technologies for future applications.
       (4) It is in the national interest that the level of 
     funding for directed energy science and technology programs 
     correspond to the level of funding for such large-scale 
     demonstration programs in order to ensure the growth of 
     directed energy science and technology programs and to ensure 
     the successful development of other weapons systems utilizing 
     directed energy systems.
       (5) The industrial base for several critical directed 
     energy technologies is in fragile condition and lacks 
     appropriate incentives to make the large-scale investments 
     that are necessary to address current and anticipated 
     Department of Defense requirements for such technologies.
       (6) It is in the national interest that the Department of 
     Defense utilize and expand upon directed energy research 
     currently being conducted by the Department of Energy, other 
     Federal agencies, the private sector, and academia.
       (7) It is increasingly difficult for the Federal Government 
     to recruit and retain personnel with skills critical to 
     directed energy technology development.
       (8) The implementation of the recommendations contained in 
     the High Energy Laser Master Plan of the Department of 
     Defense will address these critical issues and is in the 
     national interest.
       (9) Implementation of the management structure outlined in 
     the Master Plan will facilitate the development of 
     revolutionary capabilities in directed energy weapons by 
     achieving a coordinated and focused investment strategy under 
     a new management structure featuring a joint technology 
     office with senior-level oversight provided by a technology 
     council and a board of directors.
       (b) Coordination and Oversight Under High Energy Laser 
     Master Plan.--(1) Subchapter II of Chapter 8 of title 10, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 204. Joint Technology Office

       ``(a) Establishment.--(1) There is in the Department of 
     Defense a Joint Technology Office (in this section referred 
     to as the `Office').
       ``(2) The Office shall be part of the National Directed 
     Energy Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.
       ``(3) The Office shall be under the authority, direction, 
     and control of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for 
     Science and Technology.
       ``(b) Staff.--(1) The head of the Office shall be a 
     civilian employee of the Department of Defense in the Senior 
     Executive Service who is designated by the Secretary of 
     Defense for that purpose. The head of the Office shall be 
     known as the `Director of the Joint Technology Office'.
       ``(2) The Secretary of Defense shall provide the Office 
     such civilian and military personnel and other resources as 
     are necessary to permit the Office to carry out its duties 
     under this section.
       ``(c) Duties.--The duties of the Office shall be to--
       ``(1) develop and oversee the management of a Department of 
     Defense-wide program of science and technology relating to 
     directed energy technologies, systems, and weapons;
       ``(2) serve as a point of coordination for initiatives for 
     science and technology relating to directed energy 
     technologies, systems, and weapons from throughout the 
     Department of Defense;
       ``(3) develop and manage a program (to be known as the 
     `National Directed Energy Technology Alliance') to foster the 
     exchange of information and cooperative activities on 
     directed energy technologies, systems, and weapons between 
     and among the Department of Defense, other Federal agencies, 
     institutions of higher education, and the private sector; and
       ``(4) carry out such other activities relating to directed 
     energy technologies, systems, and weapons as the Deputy Under 
     Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology considers 
     appropriate.
       ``(d) Coordination Within Department of Defense.--(1) The 
     Director of the Office shall assign to appropriate personnel 
     of the Office the performance of liaison functions with the 
     other Defense Agencies and with the military departments.
       ``(2) The head of each military department and Defense 
     Agency having an interest in the activities of the Office 
     shall assign personnel of such department or Defense Agency 
     to assist the Office in carrying out its duties. In providing 
     such assistance, such personnel shall be known collectively 
     as `Technology Area Working Groups'.
       ``(e) Technology Council.--(1) There is established in the 
     Department of Defense a council to be known as the 
     `Technology Council' (in this section referred to as the 
     `Council').
       ``(2) The Council shall be composed of 7 members as 
     follows:

[[Page S4105]]

       ``(A) The Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Science and 
     Technology, who shall be chairperson of the Council.
       ``(B) The senior science and technology executive of the 
     Department of the Army.
       ``(C) The senior science and technology executive of the 
     Department of the Navy.
       ``(D) The senior science and technology executive of the 
     Department of the Air Force.
       ``(E) The senior science and technology executive of the 
     Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
       ``(F) The senior science and technology executive of the 
     Ballistic Missile Defense Organization.
       ``(G) The senior science and technology executive of the 
     Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
       ``(3) The duties of the Council shall be--
       ``(A) to review and recommend priorities among programs, 
     projects, and activities proposed and evaluated by the Office 
     under this section;
       ``(B) to make recommendations to the Board regarding 
     funding for such programs, projects, and activities; and
       ``(C) to otherwise review and oversee the activities of the 
     Office under this section.
       ``(f) Technology Board of Directors.--(1) There is 
     established in the Department of Defense a board to be known 
     as the `Technology Board of Directors' (in this section 
     referred to as the `Board').
       ``(2) The Board shall be composed of 8 members as follows:
       ``(A) The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and 
     Technology, who shall serve as chairperson of the Board.
       ``(B) The Director of Defense Research and Engineering, who 
     shall serve as vice-chairperson of the Board.
       ``(C) The senior acquisition executive of the Department of 
     the Army.
       ``(D) The senior acquisition executive of the Department of 
     the Navy.
       ``(E) The senior acquisition executive of the Department of 
     the Air Force.
       ``(F) The Director of the Defense Advanced Research 
     Projects Agency.
       ``(G) The Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense 
     Organization.
       ``(H) The Director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
       ``(3) The duties of the Board shall be--
       ``(A) to review and make funding recommendations regarding 
     the programs, projects, and activities proposed and evaluated 
     by the Office under this section; and
       ``(B) to otherwise review and oversee the activities of the 
     Office under this section.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of subchapter II 
     of chapter 8 of such title is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new section:

``204. Joint Technology Office.''.
       (3) The Secretary of Defense shall locate the Joint 
     Technology Office under section 204 of title 10, United 
     States Code (as added by this subsection), at the National 
     Directed Energy Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, New 
     Mexico, not later than January 1, 2001.
       (c) Technology Area Working Groups under High Energy Laser 
     Master Plan.--(1) The Secretary of Defense shall provide for 
     the implementation of the portion of the High Energy Laser 
     Master Plan relating to technology area working groups.
       (2) In carrying out activities under this subsection, the 
     Secretary of Defense shall require the Secretary of the 
     military department concerned to provide within such 
     department, with such department acting as lead agent, 
     technology area working groups as follows:
       (A) Within the Department of the Army--
       (i) a technology area working group on solid state lasers; 
     and
       (ii) a technology area working group on advanced 
     technology.
       (B) Within the Department of the Navy, a technology area 
     working group on free electron lasers.
       (C) Within the Department of the Air Force--
       (i) a technology area working group on chemical lasers;
       (ii) a technology areas working group on beam control;
       (iii) a technology area working group on lethality/
     vulnerability; and
       (iv) a technology area working group on high power 
     microwaves.
       (d) Enhancement of Industrial Base.--(1) The Secretary of 
     Defense shall develop and undertake initiatives, including 
     investment initiatives, for purposes of enhancing the 
     industrial base for directed energy technologies and systems.
       (2) Initiatives under paragraph (1) shall be designed to--
       (A) stimulate the development by institutions of higher 
     education and the private sector of promising directed energy 
     technologies and systems; and
       (B) stimulate the development of a workforce skilled in 
     such technologies and systems.
       (3) Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by 
     subsection (h), $20,000,000 shall be available for the 
     initiation of development of the Advanced Tactical Laser (L) 
     under the direction of the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons 
     Directorate.
       (e) Enhancement of Test and Evaluation Capabilities.--(1) 
     The Secretary of Defense shall evaluate and implement 
     proposals for modernizing the High Energy Laser Test Facility 
     at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, in order to enhance 
     the test and evaluation capabilities of the Department of 
     Defense with respect to directed energy weapons.
       (2) Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated or 
     otherwise made available to the Department of Defense for 
     each of fiscal years 2001 and 2002, not more than $2,000,000 
     shall be made available in each such fiscal year for purposes 
     of the deployment and test at the High Energy Laser Test 
     Facility at White Sands Missile Range of free electron laser 
     technologies under development at Los Alamos National 
     Laboratory, New Mexico.
       (f) Cooperative Programs and Activities.--(1) The Secretary 
     of Defense shall evaluate the feasibility and advisability of 
     entering into cooperative programs or activities with other 
     Federal agencies, institutions of higher education, and the 
     private sector, including the national laboratories of the 
     Department of Energy, for the purpose of enhancing the 
     programs, projects, and activities of the Department of 
     Defense relating to directed energy technologies, systems, 
     and weapons.
       (2) The Secretary shall enter into any cooperative program 
     or activity determined under the evaluation under paragraph 
     (1) to be feasible and advisable for the purpose set forth in 
     that paragraph.
       (3) Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by 
     subsection (h), $50,000,000 shall be available for 
     cooperative programs and activities entered into under 
     paragraph (2).
       (g) Participation of Joint Technology Council in 
     Activities.--The Secretary of Defense shall, to the maximum 
     extent practicable, carry out activities under subsections 
     (c), (d), (e), and (f), through the Joint Technology Council 
     established pursuant to section 204 of title 10, United 
     States Code (as added by subsection (b) of this section).
       (h) Funding for Fiscal Year 2001.--(1)(A) There is hereby 
     authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Defense 
     for fiscal year 2001, $150,000,000 for science and technology 
     activities relating to directed energy technologies, systems, 
     and weapons.
       (B) Amounts authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 
     2001 by subparagraph (A) are in addition to any other amounts 
     authorized to be appropriated for such fiscal year for the 
     activities referred to in that subparagraph.
       (2) The Director of the Joint Technology Office established 
     pursuant to section 204 of title 10, United States Code, 
     shall allocate amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
     authorization of appropriations in paragraph (1) among 
     appropriate program elements of the Department of Defense in 
     accordance with such procedures as the Director shall 
     establish.
       (3) In establishing procedures for purposes of the 
     allocation of funds under paragraph (2), the Director shall 
     provide for the competitive selection of programs, projects, 
     and activities to be the recipients of such funds.
       (i) Directed Energy Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``directed energy'', with respect to technologies, systems, 
     or weapons means technologies, systems, or weapons that 
     provide for the directed transmission of energies across the 
     energy and frequency spectrum, including high energy lasers 
     and high power microwaves.
                                 ______