[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 132 (Thursday, August 3, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4885-S4886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 760. Mr. WARNER (for himself and Mr. Sullivan) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 2810, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Strike section 1606 and insert the following:
SEC. 1606. LAUNCH SUPPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE MODERNIZATION.
(a) In General.--In support of the policy outlined in
section 2273 of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary
of Defense shall carry out a program to modernize
infrastructure and improve support activities for processing
and launch of United States national security space missions
from ranges owned or operated by the Federal Government or
State governments.
(b) Elements.--The program required by this section shall
include--
(1) investments in infrastructure to improve operations at
ranges in the United States that may benefit all users, to
enhance the overall capabilities of those ranges, to
[[Page S4886]]
improve safety, and to reduce the long-term cost of
operations and maintenance;
(2) measures to normalize processes, systems, and products
across the ranges described in paragraph (1) to minimize the
burden on launch providers; and
(3) improvements in transparency, flexibility, and
responsiveness for launch scheduling.
(c) Consultation.--In carrying out the program required by
this section, the Secretary should consult with current and
anticipated users of ranges in the United States.
(d) Cooperation.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary should consider partnerships authorized under
section 2276 of title 10, United States Code.
(e) Report.--
(1) Report required.--Not later than 120 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit
to the congressional defense committees a report on the plan
for the implementation of the launch support and
infrastructure modernization program at ranges in the United
States.
(2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall include--
(A) a description of plans and the resources needed to
improve launch support infrastructure, utilities, support
equipment, and range operations;
(B) a description of plans to streamline and normalize
processes, systems, and products at ranges described in
paragraph (1) to ensure consistency for range users; and
(C) recommendations for improving transparency,
flexibility, and responsiveness in launch scheduling.
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