Senate Report 109-69 - NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006

[Senate Report 109-69]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

109th Congress
1st Session SENATE Report
109-69
_______________________________________________________________________

Calendar No. 102

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006

----------

R E P O R T

[to accompany S. 1042]

AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006 FOR MILITARY ACTIVITIES
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, FOR MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AND FOR
DEFENSE ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, TO PRESCRIBE PERSONNEL
STRENGTHS FOR SUCH FISCAL YEAR FOR THE ARMED FORCES, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
UNITED STATES SENATE

May 17, 2005.--Ordered to be printed

(Star Print)
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006

109th Congress
1st Session SENATE Report
109-69
_______________________________________________________________________

Calendar No. 102

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006

__________

R E P O R T

[to accompany S. 1042]

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

UNITED STATES SENATE

May 17, 2005.--Ordered to be printed
COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
(109th Congress, 1st Session)

JOHN WARNER, Virginia, Chairman
JOHN McCAIN, Arizona CARL LEVIN, Michigan
JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma EDWARD M. KENNEDY, Massachusetts
PAT ROBERTS, Kansas ROBERT C. BYRD, West Virginia
JEFF SESSIONS, Alabama JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut
SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine JACK REED, Rhode Island
JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii
JAMES M. TALENT, Missouri BILL NELSON, Florida
SAXBY CHAMBLISS, Georgia E. BENJAMIN NELSON, Nebraska
LINDSEY O. GRAHAM, South Carolina MARK DAYTON, Minnesota
ELIZABETH DOLE, North Carolina EVAN BAYH, Indiana
JOHN CORNYN, Texas HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, New York
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
Judith A. Ansley, Staff Director
Richard D. DeBobes, Democratic Staff Director

C O N T E N T S

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Page
Purpose of the Bill.............................................. 1
Committee overview and recommendations........................... 2
Explanation of funding summary............................... 8
Division A--Department of Defense Authorizations................. 17
Title I--Procurement............................................. 17
Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations.................. 17
Explanation of tables.................................... 17
Subtitle B--Army Programs.................................... 19
Multiyear procurement authority for AH-64D Apache attack
helicopter block II conversions (sec. 111)............. 38
Multiyear procurement authority for modernized target
acquisition designation/pilot night vision sensors for
AH-64D Apache attack helicopters (sec. 112)............ 38
Multiyear procurement authority for utility helicopters
(sec. 113)............................................. 38
Missile Procurement, Army.................................... 39
Advanced precision kill weapon system.................... 39
Weapons and Tracked Vehicles................................. 39
Lightweight 155 millimeter Howitzer...................... 39
Army Ammunition.............................................. 39
M1028 120mm tank cartridge............................... 39
Modern demolition initiator.............................. 39
Rapid wall breaching kit................................. 40
Ammunition peculiar equipment outloading modules......... 40
Provision of industrial facilities....................... 40
Conventional ammunition demilitarization................. 40
Other Procurement, Army...................................... 41
Movement tracking system................................. 41
Night vision devices..................................... 42
Modular causeway system.................................. 42
Subtitle C--Navy Programs.................................... 42
Prohibition on acquisition of next generation destroyer
(DD(X)) through a single naval shipyard (sec. 121)..... 66
Split funding authorization for CVN-78 aircraft carrier
(sec. 122)............................................. 66
LHA replacement (LHA(R)) ship (sec. 123)................. 67
Refueling and complex overhaul of the USS ``Carl Vinson''
(sec. 124)............................................. 67
Navy Aircraft................................................ 68
C-40A procurement........................................ 68
Advanced targeting pods.................................. 68
Night targeting system upgrade........................... 68
H-53 modifications....................................... 68
SH-60 armed helicopter................................... 69
EP-3 aircraft electronic attack.......................... 69
P-3 aircraft modifications............................... 69
Navy Weapons................................................. 70
AIM-9X captive air training missile...................... 70
Weapons industrial facilities............................ 70
Gun mount modifications.................................. 70
Navy and Marine Corps Ammunition............................. 70
M795 155mm high explosive cartridge...................... 70
Time fuze blasting igniter............................... 70
Shipbuilding................................................. 71
DD(X) destroyer program.................................. 71
DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer modernization
program................................................ 71
Other Procurement, Navy...................................... 72
High performance metal fiber brushes for shipboard motors
and generators......................................... 72
Items less than 5.0 million.............................. 72
Littoral combat ship mission modules..................... 72
Submarine acoustic modernization installation............ 73
Surface sonar dome window................................ 73
Surface electronic warfare improvement program........... 73
Weapons range support equipment.......................... 73
Maritime domain awareness................................ 73
Rolling airframe missile launcher system................. 74
NULKA anti-ship missile decoy............................ 74
Submarine training device modifications.................. 74
Command support equipment................................ 74
Navy medical automated information technology insertion.. 75
Marine Corps Procurement..................................... 75
Modification kits........................................ 75
Rapid deploying interoperable shelter systems............ 75
United Stated Marine Corps continuity of operations...... 76
Subtitle D--Air Force Programs............................... 76
Multiyear procurement authority for C-17 aircraft (sec.
131)................................................... 91
Prohibition on retirement of KC-135E aircraft (sec. 132). 91
Use of Tanker Replacement Transfer Fund for modernization
of aerial refueling tankers (sec. 133)................. 91
Prohibition on retirement of F-117 aircraft (sec. 134)... 92
Prohibition on retirement of C-130E/H tactical airlift
aircraft (sec. 135).................................... 92
Procurement of C-130J/KC-130J aircraft after fiscal year
2005 (sec. 136)........................................ 92
Aircraft for performance of aeromedical evacuations (sec.
137)................................................... 93
Air Force Aircraft........................................... 93
F-15E procurement........................................ 93
C-130J/KC-130 multiyear procurement restoration.......... 94
B-1 digital communication improvements................... 94
C-5 aircraft avionics modernization program.............. 95
C-130E/H aircraft modifications.......................... 95
KC-135 global air traffic management..................... 95
E-8C joint surveillance and target attack radar system
reengining............................................. 95
Advanced targeting pods.................................. 96
Air Force Missiles........................................... 96
Minuteman III mods for propulsion replacement program.... 96
Other Air Force Procurement.................................. 96
Halvorsen loader......................................... 96
Distributed common ground system components.............. 97
Joint threat emitters.................................... 97
Subtitle E--Other Matters.................................... 97
Advanced SEAL Delivery System (sec. 151)................. 104
Defense-wide Programs........................................ 105
MH-47 infrared engine exhaust suppressor................. 105
Time delayed firing device/sympathetic detonators........ 106
Multi-band inter/intra team radio........................ 106
Multi-band multi-mission radio........................... 106
Joint threat warning system.............................. 107
Rucksack portable unmanned aerial vehicle................ 107
Military mail screening equipment........................ 107
Automatic Chemical Agent Detector and Alarm.............. 108
Items of Special Interest.................................... 108
Army multi-band inter/intra team radio system............ 108
Cooperative engagement capability........................ 108
F/A-22 aircraft.......................................... 109
Intra-theater airlift.................................... 109
Littoral combat ship..................................... 110
Maritime prepositioning force, future.................... 110
Transmission enterprise program.......................... 111
Title II--Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation............ 113
Explanation of tables.................................... 113
Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations.................. 115
Science and Technology................................... 115
Subtitle B--Program Requirements, Restrictions, and
Limitations................................................ 116
Contract for the procurement of Future Combat System
(sec. 211)............................................. 116
Joint field experiment on stability and support
operations (sec. 212).................................. 116
Subtitle C--Ballistic Missile Defense........................ 117
One-year extension of Comptroller General assessments of
ballistic missile defense programs (sec. 221).......... 117
Fielding of Ballistic Missile Defense Capabilities (sec.
222)................................................... 117
Plans for test and evaluation of operational capability
of the ballistic missile defense system (sec. 223)..... 118
Subtitle D--High-Performance Defense Manufacturing Technology
Research and Development................................... 118
High performance defense manufacturing technology
research and development (sec. 230).................... 118
Subtitle E--Other Matters.................................... 119
Expansion of eligibility for leadership of Department of
Defense Test Resource Management Center (sec. 241)..... 119
Technology transition (sec. 242)......................... 119
Prevention, mitigation, and treatment of blast injuries
(sec. 243)............................................. 120
Additional Matters of Interest............................... 121
Army..................................................... 121
Army basic research.................................. 135
Document exploitation................................ 135
Army university research............................. 135
Advanced mine detection and blast mitigation......... 136
Army small airship................................... 136
Detection and neutralization of improved explosive
devices............................................ 136
Real-time laser threat warning development........... 137
Army unmanned systems initiative..................... 137
Technology enhancement for area protection........... 137
Multifunctional robot platform....................... 137
Combat vehicle and automotive technology............. 137
Gun barrel coatings.................................. 138
Active coatings technology........................... 138
Sonic rarefaction wave gun technology................ 138
Ultra wide band sensors.............................. 138
Army man-portable power.............................. 139
Flexible Display Initiative.......................... 139
Ultra wideband chipset............................... 139
Biosecurity research for food safety................. 140
Army medicine for mitigation and treatment of blast
injuries........................................... 140
Bio-defense detection and treatment.................. 141
Posttraumatic stress disorder diagnostic tools....... 141
Surgical safety system............................... 142
Human operator performance research.................. 142
Wireless and digital medical improvements............ 142
Reconfigurable tooling systems....................... 142
Rotorcraft system monitoring......................... 142
Unmanned tactical combat vehicles.................... 143
Midrange Munition.................................... 143
Nanotechnology manufacturing......................... 143
Abrams track improvement............................. 143
Combat vehicle advanced development.................. 144
Coordinated training................................. 144
Advanced simulated training.......................... 144
Explosive demilitarization........................... 144
Alternative fuel supplies............................ 145
Stryker vehicle active protection system
demonstration...................................... 145
Advanced structures and composites................... 145
Army command and control visualization system........ 146
Interactive modeling and simulation management....... 146
Next generation interceptor materials................ 146
Long loiter sensor and communications platform....... 146
Architecture Analysis Program........................ 147
Single Integrated Space Picture...................... 147
Casting Emission Reduction Program................... 147
Advanced Army medical systems........................ 148
Joint tactical radio system.......................... 148
Tactical vehicle modifications....................... 149
Future tactical truck system......................... 149
Protected simulation and test link................... 150
Unmanned aerial vehicle ice protection............... 150
High performance computing research.................. 150
Retinal/iris multimodal biometrics technology for
secure identification.............................. 150
Army manufacturing technologies...................... 151
Navy..................................................... 151
Navy university research............................. 163
Navy science and technology outreach................. 163
Free electron laser.................................. 163
Littoral and undersea security....................... 164
Nanomagnetic materials............................... 164
Polymeric aircraft components........................ 164
Small watercraft propulsion demonstrator............. 164
Advanced combat headborne system..................... 164
Critical area protection systems..................... 165
SensorNet............................................ 165
Space research....................................... 165
Automated video threat recognition................... 165
Multifunctional composite structures................. 165
Portable water bio-defense........................... 166
Seabasing research................................... 166
Gallium nitride radio frequency power................ 166
Integrated littoral sensor network................... 166
Coordination and integration of unmanned system teams 166
Information sharing for intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance................................. 167
Force protection advanced technology................. 167
Improved shipboard combat information center......... 168
Warfighter sustainment advanced technology........... 168
Navy persistent surveillance......................... 169
Armored patrol vehicle............................... 169
Laser integrated target engagement system............ 169
Water purification system............................ 169
Modeling and simulation for urban operations......... 170
Surface Navy integrated undersea tactical technology. 170
Shipboard system component development............... 170
Improved surface vessel torpedo launcher............. 171
Guided missile submarine conversion.................. 171
Advanced submarine system development................ 171
Regenerative filtration technology................... 172
Marine Corps ground and supporting arms systems...... 172
Marine mammal detection and mitigation............... 174
Navy logistics common operating picture.............. 174
Automatic radar periscope detection and
discrimination..................................... 174
DD(X) destroyer integrated propulsion system......... 174
Affordable towed array construction.................. 175
New Design SSN....................................... 175
Submarine tactical warfare system.................... 175
Autonomous unmanned surface vessel................... 176
NULKA anti-ship missile decoy development............ 176
Navy medical research................................ 176
Shared Reconnaissance Pod logistics support.......... 177
Marine Corps communications systems.................. 177
Marine Corps ground combat and supporting arms
systems............................................ 178
Battlefield management system........................ 178
RQ-8B Firescout vertical takeoff and landing unmanned
aerial vehicle..................................... 179
Distributed common ground system--Navy............... 179
National shipbuilding research program--advanced
shipbuilding enterprise............................ 179
Air Force................................................ 180
Air Force basic science.............................. 194
Secure, assured information sharing.................. 194
Blast resistant barriers............................. 194
Air Force materials research......................... 194
Nano-technologies for chemical and biological defense 195
Hypersonics engine research and integration.......... 195
Space technology..................................... 195
Adaptive optics research............................. 196
Integrated spacecraft engineering tool............... 196
Laser eye protection................................. 196
Metals affordability initiative...................... 197
Aerospace propulsion and power technologies.......... 197
Versatile affordable advanced turbine engines........ 197
Ballistic missile technology......................... 197
AC coupled interconnect.............................. 198
Energy cells for defense and intelligence
applications....................................... 198
Radically Segmented launch vehicle................... 198
Thin film amorphous solar arrays..................... 198
High Accuracy Network Determination System........... 199
Laser threat warning attack reporting................ 199
Enable network centric warfare....................... 199
Military satellite communications.................... 200
Space Radar.......................................... 200
Tactical satellite demonstrations.................... 201
Robust nuclear earth penetrator...................... 202
Space control test capabilities...................... 202
FPS-16 radar mobilization and upgrade................ 203
Ballistic missile range safety technology............ 203
A-10 aircraft propulsion improvements................ 203
Information systems security research................ 203
Viper Strike munition for Predator................... 204
S-band radar......................................... 204
Space-Based Space Surveillance....................... 204
Nano-materials manufacturing......................... 204
Air Force support systems............................ 205
Personnel and pay information technology systems..... 205
Defense-wide............................................. 206
Focus center research program........................ 220
Superstructural particle evaluation.................. 220
Chemical and biological defense applied research..... 220
Mustard gas antidote................................. 221
Tactical technology.................................. 221
Human performance in hazardous environments.......... 221
Technology Support Working Group..................... 221
Radiation detection technology....................... 222
Ballistic missile defense reductions................. 222
Massively parallel optical interconnects............. 223
Missile technology................................... 223
Anthrax and plague oral vaccine research and
development........................................ 223
Miniaturized RAMAN chemical identification system.... 223
Diminishing manufacturing sources.................... 224
Vehicle fuel cell program............................ 224
Advanced electronics................................. 224
Small scale systems packaging........................ 224
Advanced ferrite antenna............................. 225
Communications and control alert framework........... 225
Flexible JP-8 military fuel certification............ 225
Prevention and detection of cyber threats............ 225
Simulation center upgrade............................ 226
Land warfare technology.............................. 226
Network centric warfare technology................... 226
Sensor technology.................................... 226
Advanced tactical laser.............................. 227
Mark V patrol boat replacement craft prototype....... 227
Special operations portable power source program..... 227
Voice activated handheld translator.................. 228
Aegis ballistic missile defense...................... 228
Ground-based midcourse ballistic missile defense..... 229
Miniaturized carbon monoxide oxidation technology.... 229
Airborne Infrared System............................. 230
Kinetic Energy Interceptor........................... 230
Military mail screening system development and
demonstration...................................... 231
UAV systems and operations validation program........ 231
Foreign supplier assessment center................... 231
Operationally responsive space payloads.............. 231
Industrial preparedness.............................. 232
Special operations wireless management and control
project............................................ 232
Maritime unmanned aerial vehicle sensor.............. 233
Lightweight portable solar panels.................... 233
Items of Special Interest.................................... 233
Canopy hard-coats........................................ 233
CH-53X helicopter development............................ 234
Construction of Navy Research Vessels.................... 234
Department of Defense computer science research.......... 235
Unmanned aerial vehicles for resupply missions........... 235
Title III--Operation and Maintenance............................. 237
Explanation of tables.................................... 237
Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations.................. 275
Subtitle B--Environmental Provisions......................... 275
Elimination and simplification of certain items required
in the annual report on environmental quality programs
and other environmental activities (sec. 311).......... 275
Payment of certain private cleanup costs in connection
with the Defense Environmental Restoration Program
(sec. 312)............................................. 275
Subtitle C--Other Matters.................................... 276
Aircraft carriers (sec. 321)............................. 276
Limitation on transition of funding for east coast
shipyards from funding through Navy working capital
fund to direct funding (sec. 322)...................... 277
Use of funds from National Defense Sealift Fund to
exercise purchase options on maritime prepositioning
ship vessels (sec. 323)................................ 277
Purchase and destruction of weapons overseas (sec. 324).. 278
Increase in maximum contract amount for procurement of
supplies and services from exchange stores outside the
United States (sec. 325)............................... 278
Extension of authority to provide logistics support and
services for weapon systems contractors (sec. 326)..... 278
Army training strategy (sec. 327)........................ 279
Limitations on financial management improvement and audit
initiatives within the Department of Defense (sec. 328) 279
Study on use of ethanol fuel (sec. 329).................. 280
Budget Items................................................. 281
Other Defense Programs................................... 281
Enhanced vision...................................... 281
Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives Program...... 281
Army..................................................... 282
Advanced combat helmet with modular integrated
communications headset............................. 282
Army training........................................ 283
Corrosion prevention and control..................... 284
Facility sustainment, restoration, and modernization
for the Army....................................... 285
Quadruple specialty containers....................... 285
Department of Defense foreign language training...... 285
Army civilian intern program......................... 286
Unattended ground sensors............................ 286
Information assurance vulnerability alert cell....... 286
Aviation and missile life cycle management pilot
program............................................ 286
Army excess carryover................................ 287
Audits of Department of Defense financial statements. 287
Civilian personnel pay in excess of requirements..... 288
Defense Information System Network................... 288
Working capital funds................................ 288
Navy..................................................... 289
NULKA decoy cartridge................................ 289
Stainless steel sanitary spaces...................... 289
Manufacturing Technical Assistance and Production
Program............................................ 289
Electric start system................................ 290
Marine gas turbine photonic sensors.................. 290
Mark-45 gun system overhauls......................... 290
Facility sustainment, restoration, and modernization
for the Navy....................................... 290
Marine Corps............................................. 291
Acclimate high performance undergarments............. 291
Combat casualty care equipment upgrades.............. 291
Family of mountain cold weather clothing and
equipment.......................................... 291
Portable tent lighting............................... 291
Ultra-light Camouflage Net System.................... 291
Supplemental communications and electrical utility
support to U.S. Marine Corps Network Operations
Center............................................. 292
Air Force................................................ 292
Bomber deployable phase maintenance kits............. 292
Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator...................... 292
Joint protection enterprise network.................. 292
Joint task force north............................... 293
Mobile consolidated command center................... 293
Mobility Air Force depot maintenance................. 293
Homeland Security/Homeland Defense Education
Consortium......................................... 294
Defense-Wide............................................. 295
Counseling and assistance to military families....... 295
Increased support for child care for military
families........................................... 295
Funding for Office of Economic Adjustment............ 296
Capital Security Cost Sharing........................ 296
Information assurance scholarship program............ 296
Increased funding for conservation buffer zones...... 297
Citizen-Soldier Support Program...................... 297
Parents as Teachers.................................. 298
Military to civilian conversions..................... 298
Army Reserve............................................. 299
Army Reserve components cold weather clothing........ 299
Air Force Reserve........................................ 299
Air Force Reserve mobility Air Force depot
maintenance........................................ 299
Army National Guard...................................... 299
Communicator Automated Emergency Notification System. 299
Virtual battlefield system one....................... 299
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High
Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package
Teams.............................................. 300
Air National Guard....................................... 301
Air National Guard mobility Air Force depot
maintenance........................................ 301
Transfer Accounts........................................ 301
Funding for Formerly Used Defense Sites.............. 301
Item of Special Interest..................................... 301
Defense Information System Network Access Transport
Services............................................... 301
Test to improve the quality of agricultural produce
available in commissary stores......................... 302
Title IV--Military Personnel Authorizations...................... 303
Subtitle A--Active Forces.................................... 303
End strengths for active forces (sec. 401)............... 303
Revision of permanent active duty end strength minimum
levels (sec. 402)...................................... 304
Subtitle B--Reserve Forces................................... 304
End strengths for Selected Reserve (sec. 411)............ 304
End strengths for Reserves on active duty in support of
the Reserves (sec. 412)................................ 305
End strengths for military technicians (dual status)
(sec. 413)............................................. 305
Fiscal year 2006 limitations on non-dual status
technicians (sec. 414)................................. 305
Subtitle C--Authorizations of Appropriations................. 306
Authorization of appropriations for military personnel
(sec. 421)............................................. 306
Armed Forces Retirement Home (sec. 422).................. 306
Title V--Military Personnel Policy............................... 309
Subtitle A--Officer Personnel Policy......................... 309
Exclusion of general and flag officers on leave pending
separation or retirement from computation of active
duty officers for general and flag officer distribution
and strength limitations (sec. 501).................... 309
Expansion of joint duty assignments for Reserve component
general and flag officers (sec. 502)................... 309
Deadline for receipt by promotion selection boards of
correspondence from eligible officers (sec. 503)....... 309
Furnishing to promotion selection boards of adverse
information on officers eligible for promotion to
certain senior grades (sec. 504)....................... 310
Grades of the Judge Advocates General (sec. 505)......... 310
Temporary extension of authority to reduce minimum length
of commissioned service for voluntary retirement as an
officer (sec. 506)..................................... 310
Modification of strength in grade limitations applicable
to Reserve flag officers in active status (sec. 507)... 311
Uniform authority for deferment of separation of Reserve
general and flag officers for age (sec. 508)........... 311
Subtitle B--Enlisted Personnel Policy........................ 311
Uniform citizenship or residency requirements for
enlistment in the Armed Forces (sec. 521).............. 311
Subtitle C--Reserve Component Personnel Matters.............. 312
Requirements for physical examinations and medical and
dental readiness for members of the Selected Reserve
not on active duty (sec. 531).......................... 312
Repeal of limitation on amount of financial assistance
under Reserve Officers' Training Corps scholarship
program (sec. 532)..................................... 312
Procedures for suspending financial assistance and
subsistence allowance for senior ROTC cadets and
midshipmen on the basis of health-related conditions
(sec. 533)............................................. 312
Increase in maximum number of Army Reserve and Army
National Guard cadets under Reserve Officers' Training
Corps (sec. 534)....................................... 313
Modification of educational assistance for Reserves
supporting contingency and other operations (sec. 535). 313
Repeal of limitation on authority to redesignate the
Naval Reserve as the Navy Reserve (sec. 536)........... 313
Performance by reserve component personnel of operational
test and evaluation and training relating to new
equipment (sec. 537)................................... 314
Subtitle D--Military Justice and Related Matters............. 314
Modification of periods of prosecution by courts-martial
for murder, rape, and child abuse (sec. 551)........... 314
Establishment of offense of stalking (sec. 552).......... 315
Clarification of authority of military legal assistance
counsel (sec. 553)..................................... 315
Administrative censures of members of the Armed Forces
(sec. 554)............................................. 316
Reports by officers and senior enlisted personnel of
matters relating to violations or alleged violations of
criminal law (sec. 555)................................ 316
Subtitle E--Military Service Academies....................... 317
Authority to retain permanent military professors at the
Naval Academy after more than 30 years of service (sec.
561)................................................... 317
Subtitle F--Administrative Matters........................... 317
Clarification of leave accrual for members assigned to a
deployable ship or mobile unit or other duty (sec. 571) 317
Limitation on conversion of military medical and dental
billets to civilian positions (sec. 572)............... 318
Subtitle G--Defense Dependents Education Matters............. 318
Expansion of authorized enrollment in Department of
Defense dependents schools overseas (sec. 581)......... 318
Assistance to local educational agencies with significant
enrollment increases in military dependent students due
to troop relocations, creation of new units, and
realignments under BRAC (sec. 582)..................... 318
Assistance to local educational agencies that benefit
dependents of members of the Armed Forces and
Department of Defense civilian employees (sec. 583).... 319
Impact aid for children with severe disabilities (sec.
584)................................................... 319
Subtitle H--Other Matters.................................... 319
Policy and procedures on casualty assistance to survivors
of military decedents (sec. 591)....................... 319
Modification and enhancement of mission and authorities
of the Naval Postgraduate School (sec. 592)............ 320
Expansion and enhancement of authority to present
recognition items for recruitment and retention
purposes (sec. 593).................................... 320
Requirement for regulations on policies and procedures on
personal commercial solicitations on Department of
Defense installations (sec. 594)....................... 321
Federal assistance for State programs under the National
Guard Youth Challenge program (sec. 595)............... 322
Items of Special Interest................................ 322
Air Force Future Total Force Planning................ 322
Opportunity for general or flag officer review of
involuntary administrative separation of victims of
sexual assault and protection against reprisals for
victim advocates................................... 323
Premium conversion/flexible spending account options
for service members................................ 323
Western Governors University......................... 324
Title VI--Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits.............. 325
Subtitle A--Pay and Allowances............................... 325
Eligibility for additional pay of permanent military
professors at United States Naval Academy with over 36
years of service (sec. 601)............................ 325
Enhanced authority for agency contributions for members
of the Armed Forces participating in the Thrift Savings
Plan (sec. 602)........................................ 325
Permanent authority for supplemental subsistence
allowance for low-income members with dependents (sec.
603)................................................... 325
Modification of pay considered as saved pay upon
appointment of an enlisted member as an officer (sec.
604)................................................... 326
Subtitle B--Bonuses and Special and Incentive Pays........... 326
One-year extension of certain bonus and special pay
authorities for Reserve forces (sec. 611).............. 326
One-year extension of certain bonus and special pay
authorities for certain health care professionals (sec.
612)................................................... 326
One-year extension of special pay and bonus authorities
for nuclear officers (sec. 613)........................ 326
One-year extension of other bonus and special pay
authorities (sec. 614)................................. 326
Payment and repayment of assignment incentive pay (sec.
615)................................................... 327
Increase in amount of selective reenlistment bonus for
certain senior supervisory nuclear qualified enlisted
personnel (sec. 616)................................... 327
Consolidation and modification of bonuses for affiliation
or enlistment in the Selected Reserve (sec. 617)....... 327
Expansion and enhancement of special pay for enlisted
members of the Selected Reserve assigned to certain
high priority units (sec. 618)......................... 328
Retention incentive bonus for members of the Selected
Reserve qualified in a critical military skill or
specialty (sec. 619)................................... 328
Termination of limitation on duration of payment of
imminent danger special pay during hospitalization
(sec. 620)............................................. 328
Authority for retroactive payment of imminent danger
special pay (sec. 621)................................. 328
Authority to pay foreign language proficiency pay to
members on active duty as a bonus (sec. 622)........... 329
Incentive bonus for transfer between the Armed Forces
(sec. 623)............................................. 329
Subtitle C--Travel and Transportation Allowances............. 329
Transportation of family members in connection with the
repatriation of service members or civilian employees
held captive (sec. 631)................................ 329
Subtitle D--Retired Pay and Survivor Benefits................ 330
Enhancement of death gratuity and life insurance benefits
for deaths from combat-related causes or causes
incurred in combat operations or areas (sec. 641)...... 330
Subtitle E--Other Matters.................................... 330
Payment of expenses of members of the Armed Forces to
obtain professional credentials (sec. 651)............. 330
Pilot program on contributions to Thrift Savings Plan for
initial enlistees in the Armed Forces (sec. 652)....... 331
Title VII--Health Care........................................... 333
Subtitle A--Benefits Matters................................. 333
Clarification of eligibility of Reserve officers for
health care pending active duty following issuance of
orders to active duty (sec. 701)....................... 333
Limitation on deductible and copayment requirements for
nursing home residents under the pharmacy benefits
program (sec. 702)..................................... 333
Eligibility of surviving active duty spouses of deceased
members for enrollment as dependents in a TRICARE
dental plan (sec. 703)................................. 333
Increased period of continued TRICARE Prime coverage of
children of members of the uniformed services who die
while serving on active duty for a period of more than
30 days (sec. 704)..................................... 333
Subtitle B--Planning, Programming, and Management............ 334
TRICARE Standard coordinators in TRICARE regional offices
(sec. 711)............................................. 334
Report on delivery of health care benefits through
military health care system (sec. 712)................. 334
Comptroller General report on differential payments to
children's hospitals for health care for children
dependents under TRICARE (sec. 713).................... 335
Repeal of requirement for Comptroller General reviews of
certain Department of Defense-Department of Veterans
Affairs projects on sharing of health care resources
(sec. 714)............................................. 335
Surveys on TRICARE standard (sec. 715)................... 335
Modification of health care quality information and
technology enhancement report requirements (sec. 716).. 336
Modification of authorities relating to patient care
reporting and management system (sec. 717)............. 336
Subtitle C--Other Matters.................................... 336
Report on adverse health events associated with use of
anti-malarial drugs (sec. 731)......................... 336
Pilot projects on early diagnosis and treatment of Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health
conditions (sec. 732).................................. 336
Items of Special Interest.................................... 337
Active-duty medical extension............................ 337
Comptroller General study of adequacy of TRICARE
reimbursement for obstetrical, gynecological, and
pediatric services..................................... 338
Increased awareness for families of TRICARE mental health
benefits and the need for appropriate mental health
services for families overseas......................... 338
Specialty health care services referrals and
authorizations......................................... 339
Title VIII--Acquisition Policy, Acquisition Management, and
Related Matters................................................ 341
Overview................................................. 341
Subtitle A--Acquisition Policy and Management................ 349
Internal controls for procurements on behalf of the
Department of Defense (sec. 801)....................... 349
Contract Support Acquisition Centers (sec. 802).......... 349
Authority to enter into acquisition and cross-servicing
agreements with regional organizations of which the
United States is not a member (sec. 803)............... 350
Requirement for authorization for procurement of major
weapon systems as commercial items (sec. 804).......... 351
Report on service surcharges for purchases made for
military departments through other Department of
Defense agencies (sec. 805)............................ 351
Review of defense acquisition structures (sec. 806)...... 351
Subtitle B--Defense Industrial Base Matters.................. 352
Clarification of exception from Buy American requirements
for procurement of perishable food for establishments
outside the United States (sec. 811)................... 352
Conditional waiver of domestic source or content
requirements for certain countries with reciprocal
procurement agreements with the United States (sec.
812)................................................... 352
Consistency with United States obligations under trade
agreements (sec. 813).................................. 353
Identification of areas of research and development
effort for purposes of the Small Business Innovative
Research program (sec. 814)............................ 353
Subtitle C--Defense Contractor Matters....................... 353
Requirements for defense contractors relating to certain
former Department of Defense officials (sec. 821)...... 353
Review of certain contractor ethics matters (sec. 822)... 354
Contract fraud risk assessment (sec. 823)................ 355
Subtitle D--Defense Acquisition Workforce Matters............ 356
Availability of funds in Acquisition Workforce Training
Fund for defense acquisition workforce improvements
(sec. 831)............................................. 356
Limitation and reinvestment authority relating to
reduction of the defense acquisition and support
workforce (sec. 832)................................... 356
Technical amendments relating to defense acquisition
workforce improvements (sec. 833)...................... 356
Subtitle E--Other Matters.................................... 357
Extension of contract goal for small disadvantaged
business and certain institutions of higher education
(sec. 841)............................................. 357
Codification and modification of limitation on
modification of military equipment within five years of
retirement or disposal (sec. 842)...................... 357
Clarification of rapid acquisition authority to respond
to combat emergencies (sec. 843)....................... 357
Modification of authority to carry out certain prototype
projects (sec. 844).................................... 357
Extension of certain authorities on contracting with
employers of persons with disabilities (sec. 845)...... 358
Items of Special Interest...................................... 358
Commercial satellite bandwidth........................... 358
Defense trade data....................................... 359
Department of Defense anti-tamper program................ 359
Industrial base issues................................... 360
Implementation of authority to enter energy savings
performance contracts.................................. 360
National technology and industrial base considerations... 361
Title IX--Department of Defense Organization and Management...... 363
Subtitle A--Duties and Functions of Department of Defense
Officers and Organizations................................. 363
Directors of small business programs (sec. 901).......... 363
Executive agent for acquisition of capabilities to defend
the homeland against missiles and other low-altitude
aircraft (sec. 902).................................... 363
Subtitle B--Space Activities................................. 364
Advisory committee on Department of Defense requirements
for space control (Sec. 911)........................... 364
Subtitle C--Other Matters.................................... 365
Acceptance of gifts and donations for Department of
Defense regional centers for security studies (sec.
921)................................................... 365
Operational files of the Defense Intelligence Agency
(sec. 922)............................................. 365
Prohibition on implementation of certain orders and
guidance on functions and duties of the General Council
and the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force (sec.
923)................................................... 365
Title X--General Provisions...................................... 367
Subtitle A--Financial Matters................................ 367
Transfer authority (sec. 1001)........................... 367
Incorporation of classified annex (sec. 1002)............ 367
United States contribution to NATO common-funded budgets
in fiscal year 2006 (sec. 1003)........................ 367
Reduction in certain authorizations due to savings
relating to lower inflation (sec. 1004)................ 367
Authorization of supplemental appropriations for fiscal
year 2005 (sec. 1005).................................. 367
Increase in fiscal year 2005 transfer authority (sec.
1006).................................................. 368
Monthly disbursement to States of state income tax
voluntarily withheld from retired or retained pay (sec.
1007).................................................. 368
Reestablishment of limitation on payment of facilities
charges assessed by Department of State (sec. 1008).... 368
Subtitle B--Naval Vessels and Shipyards...................... 368
Transfer of battleship (sec. 1021)....................... 368
Conveyance of Navy Drydock, Jacksonville, Florida (sec.
1022).................................................. 369
Subtitle C--Counterdrug Matters.............................. 369
Use of unmanned aerial vehicles for United States border
reconnaissance (sec. 1031)............................. 369
Use of counterdrug funds for certain counterterrorism
operations (sec. 1032)................................. 370
Support for counterdrug activities through bases of
operation and training facilities in Afghanistan (sec.
1033).................................................. 370
Subtitle D--Reports and Studies.............................. 371
Modification of frequency of submittal of Joint
Warfighting Science and Technology Plan (sec. 1041).... 371
Review and assessment of Defense Base Act insurance (sec.
1042).................................................. 371
Comptroller General report on corrosion prevention and
mitigation programs of the Department of Defense (sec.
1043).................................................. 371
Subtitle E--Technical Amendments............................. 372
Technical amendments relating to certain provisions of
environmental defense laws (sec. 1051)................. 372
Subtitle F--Military Mail Matters............................ 372
Safe delivery of mail in the military mail system (sec.
1061).................................................. 372
Delivery of mail addressed to any service member (sec.
1062).................................................. 374
Subtitle G--Other Matters.................................... 374
Policy on role of military medical and behavioral science
personnel in interrogation of detainees (sec. 1071).... 374
Clarification of authority to issue security regulations
and orders under Internal Security Act of 1950 (sec.
1072).................................................. 375
Items of Special Interest.................................... 375
Strategic Seaports....................................... 375
Title XI--Department of Defense Civilian Personnel Policy........ 377
Extension of authority for voluntary separations in
reductions in force (sec. 1101)........................ 377
Compensatory time off for certain nonappropriated fund
employees (sec. 1102).................................. 377
Extension of authority to pay severance payments in lump
sums (sec. 1103)....................................... 377
Continuation of Federal Employee Health Benefits program
eligibility (sec. 1104)................................ 377
Permanent and enhanced authority for Science,
Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART)
defense education program (sec. 1105).................. 378
Item of Special Interest..................................... 378
Comptroller General Report on policy concerning
Department of Defense civilians deployed in support of
contingency operations................................. 378
Title XII--Matters Relating to Other Nations..................... 381
Commanders' Emergency Response Program (sec. 1201)....... 381
Enhancement and expansion of authority to provide
humanitarian and civic assistance (sec. 1202).......... 381
Modification of geographic limitation on payment of
personnel expenses under bilateral or regional
cooperation programs (sec. 1203)....................... 382
Payment of travel expenses of coalition liaison officers
(sec. 1204)............................................ 382
Title XIII--Cooperative Threat Reduction with States of the
Former Soviet Union............................................ 383
Specification of Cooperative Threat Reduction programs
and funds (sec. 1301).................................. 383
Funding allocations (sec. 1302).......................... 383
Permanent waiver of restrictions on use of funds for
threat reduction in states of the former Soviet Union
(sec. 1303)............................................ 383
Modification of authority to use Cooperative Threat
Reduction funds outside the former Soviet Union (sec.
1304).................................................. 383
Repeal of requirement for annual Comptroller General
assessment of annual Department of Defense report on
activities and assistance under Cooperative Threat
Reduction programs (sec. 1305)......................... 384
Title XIV--Authorization for Supplemental Appropriations for
Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Global War on Terrorism............. 385
Overview................................................. 385
Summary table of authorization........................... 385
Purpose (sec. 1401)...................................... 392
Designation as emergency amounts (sec. 1402)............. 392
Army procurement (sec. 1403)............................. 392
Navy and Marine Corps procurement (sec. 1404)............ 393
Air Force procurement (sec. 1405)........................ 393
Operation and Maintenance (sec. 1406).................... 393
Defense Health Program (sec. 1407)....................... 393
Military personnel (sec. 1408)........................... 393
Iraq Freedom Fund (sec. 1409)............................ 393
Transfer authority (sec. 1410)........................... 394
Budget Items................................................. 394
UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters............................. 394
UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter modifications................ 395
M107 sniper rifle........................................ 395
Rapid fielding initiative................................ 395
Night vision enhancements................................ 395
Lightweight laser designation rangefinder................ 396
Mounted battle command on the move....................... 396
UH-1Y helicopters........................................ 397
EA-6B ICAP III........................................... 397
Low band transmitters for EA-6B aircraft................. 397
CH-53E Helicopter Night Vision Systems................... 398
Hellfire missiles........................................ 398
Small arms............................................... 398
Pioneer tactical unmanned aerial vehicle................. 398
Dual mode laser guided training bombs.................... 399
Small arms and landing party ammunition.................. 399
M80/M62 7.62mm cartridge................................. 399
.50 caliber link armor piercing cartridge with tracer.... 399
M430 40mm high explosive dual purpose.................... 400
M830A1 120mm high explosive with tracer cartridge........ 400
XM1028 120mm tank cartridge.............................. 400
M72A7 66mm high explosive rocket......................... 400
MK154 non-electric detonator............................. 400
M762A1 electronic time fuze.............................. 401
M782 multi-option fuze for artillery..................... 401
Explosive ordnance disposal equipment allowance for naval
coastal warfare units.................................. 401
Amphibious equipment allowance for naval coastal warfare
units.................................................. 401
Equipment and trainer for maritime interdiction
operations............................................. 402
High mobility artillery rocket system.................... 402
AN/TPS-59(V3) radar system array rebuild................. 402
Enhanced position location reporting system.............. 403
Explosive ordnance disposal equipment.................... 403
C-5 aircraft missile warning system upgrade.............. 403
C-17 aircraft infrared countermeasures................... 404
Mobile approach control system........................... 404
Body armor............................................... 404
Expanded maritime interdiction operations training and
outfitting............................................. 405
Small caliber weapons and mounts repair and replacement.. 405
Field medical equipment.................................. 405
M1A1 tank depot maintenance.............................. 406
Division B--Military Construction Authorizations................. 407
Explanation of funding tables............................ 407
Short title (sec. 2001).................................. 429
Title XXI--Army.................................................. 431
Summary.................................................. 431
Authorized Army construction and land acquisition
projects (sec. 2101)................................... 431
Family housing (sec. 2102)............................... 431
Improvements to military family housing units (sec. 2103) 431
Authorization of appropriations, Army (sec. 2104)........ 431
Items of Special Interest.................................... 432
Report on permanent facilities for new Army units........ 432
Title XXII--Navy................................................. 435
Summary.................................................. 435
Authorized Navy construction and land acquisition
projects (sec. 2201)................................... 435
Family housing (sec. 2202)............................... 435
Improvements to military family housing units (sec. 2203) 436
Authorization of appropriations, Navy (sec. 2204)........ 436
Modification of authority to carry out certain fiscal
year 2004 project (sec. 2205).......................... 436
Modification of authority to carry out certain fiscal
year 2005 projects (sec. 2206)......................... 436
Hockmuth Hall, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia...... 436
Title XXIII--Air Force........................................... 437
Summary.................................................. 437
Authorized Air Force construction and land acquisition
projects (sec. 2301)................................... 437
Family housing (sec. 2302)............................... 438
Improvements to military family housing units (sec. 2303) 438
Authorization of appropriations, Air Force (sec. 2304)... 438
Items of Special Interest.................................... 438
Planning and design, Air Force........................... 438
Title XXIV--Defense Agencies..................................... 439
Summary.................................................. 439
Authorized defense agencies construction and land
acquisition projects (sec. 2401)....................... 439
Energy conservation projects (sec. 2402)................. 439
Authorization of appropriations, defense agencies (sec.
2403).................................................. 440
Title XXV--North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment
Program........................................................ 441
Summary.................................................. 441
Authorized NATO construction and land acquisition
projects (sec. 2501)................................... 441
Authorization of appropriations, NATO (sec. 2502)........ 441
Title XXVI--Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities.................. 443
Summary.................................................. 443
Authorized Guard and Reserve construction and land
acquisition projects (sec. 2601)....................... 443
Items of Special Interest.................................... 443
Unspecified minor construction, Army National Guard...... 443
Unspecified minor construction, Air National Guard....... 443
Planning and design, Army National Guard................. 443
Title XXVII--Expiration and Extension of Authorizations.......... 445
Expiration of authorizations and amounts required to be
specified by law (sec. 2701)........................... 445
Extension of authorizations of certain fiscal year 2003
projects (sec. 2702)................................... 445
Extension of authorizations of certain fiscal year 2002
projects (sec. 2703)................................... 445
Effective date (sec. 2704)............................... 445
Title XXVIII--General Provisions................................. 447
Subtitle A--Military Construction Program and Military Family 447
Housing Changes.......................................... 447
Increase in thresholds for unspecified minor military
construction projects (sec. 2801)...................... 447
Modification of cost variation authority (sec. 2802)..... 447
Department of Defense housing funds (sec. 2803).......... 447
Temporary authority to use minor military construction
authority for construction of child development centers
(sec. 2804)............................................ 448
Inapplicability to child development centers of
restriction on authority to acquire or construct
ancillary supporting facilities (sec. 2805)............ 448
Authority to carry out exchanges of facilities including
associated utilities, equipment, and furnishings (sec.
2806).................................................. 449
Increase in number of family housing units in Korea
authorized for lease by the Army at maximum amount
(sec. 2807)............................................ 449
Subtitle B--Real Property and Facilities Administration...... 449
Authority to lease non-excess property of Department of
Defense field activities (sec. 2821)................... 449
Modified criteria for agreements to limit encroachments
and other constraints on military training, testing and
operations (sec. 2822)................................. 449
Subtitle C--Land Conveyances................................. 450
Part I--Army Conveyances................................. 450
Land conveyance, Helena, Montana (sec. 2841)............. 450
Land conveyance, Army Reserve center, Bothell, Washington
(sec. 2842)............................................ 450
Part II--Air Force Conveyances........................... 451
Acquisition of build-to-lease family housing at Eielson
Air Force Base, Alaska (sec. 2861)..................... 451
Subtitle D--Other Matters.................................... 451
Reorganization and technical improvement of codified laws
applicable to real property of the Department of
Defense (sec. 2881).................................... 451
Report on application of force protection an anti-
terrorism standards to leased facilities (sec. 2882)... 451
Construction at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, for Reserve
components (sec. 2883)................................. 452
Authority to use Papago Park Military Reservation,
Arizona, for general military purposes (sec. 2884)..... 452
One-year extension of Department of Defense laboratory
revitalization program (sec. 2885)..................... 452
Sense of Congress on establishment of Bakers Creek
memorial (sec. 2886)................................... 453
Items of Special Interest.................................... 453
Report on host nation agreements for overseas
installations.......................................... 453
Training facilities for military operations in urban
terrain................................................ 454
Relocation of Reserve component military units at Lambert
International Airport, St. Louis, Missouri............. 454
Division C--Department of Energy National Security Authorizations
and Other Authorizations....................................... 457
Title XXXI--Department of Energy National Security Programs...... 457
Overview................................................. 457
Subtitle A--National Security Programs Authorizations........ 478
National Nuclear Security Administration (sec. 3101)..... 478
Weapons activities....................................... 478
Directed stockpile work.................................. 478
Campaigns................................................ 478
Readiness in the technical base.......................... 478
Secure transportation asset.............................. 479
Safeguards and security.................................. 479
Facilities and infrastructure............................ 479
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Program................. 480
Naval Reactors........................................... 481
Office of Administrator.................................. 481
Environmental Projects and Operations.................... 481
Reliable replacement warhead............................. 482
Robust nuclear earth penetrator.......................... 482
Defense environmental management (sec. 3102)............. 483
Defense site acceleration completion..................... 483
Defense environmental services........................... 483
Other defense activities(sec. 3103)...................... 484
Security and Safety Performance Assurance................ 484
Environment, Safety and Health........................... 484
Office of Legacy Management.............................. 484
Nuclear Energy........................................... 484
Defense Related Administrative Support................... 485
Office of Hearings and Appeals........................... 485
Energy security and assurance............................ 485
Defense nuclear waste disposal (sec. 3104)............... 485
Subtitle B--Other Matters.................................... 485
Report on compliance with design basis threat (sec. 3105) 485
Cost estimate for Waste Treatment and Immobilization
Plant project, Hanford Site, Richland, Washington (sec.
3106).................................................. 486
Report on international border security programs (sec.
3107).................................................. 486
Items of Special Interest.................................... 487
National security implications of the Rare Isotope
Accelerator............................................ 487
Role of the Kansas City Plant............................ 488
Title XXXII--Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board............. 489
Authorization (sec. 3201)................................ 489
Title XXXIII--National Defense Stockpile................. 491
Revisions to required receipt objectives for previously
authorized disposals from the National Defense
Stockpile (sec. 3301).................................. 491
Legislative Requirements......................................... 491
Departmental Recommendations............................. 491
Committee Action......................................... 491
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate................ 491
Regulatory Impact........................................ 491
Changes in Existing Law.................................. 491
Calendar No. 102
109th Congress Report
SENATE
1st Session 109-69

======================================================================

_______

May 17, 2005.--Ordered to be printed

_______

Mr. Warner, from the Committee on Armed Services, submitted the
following

R E P O R T

[To accompany S. 1042]

The Committee on Armed Services reports favorably an
original bill to authorize appropriations during the fiscal
year 2006 for military activities of the Department of Defense,
for military construction, and for defense activities of the
Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such
fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes, and
recommends that the bill do pass.

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

This bill would:
(1) authorize appropriations for (a) procurement, (b)
research, development, test and evaluation, (c)
operation and maintenance and the revolving and
management funds of the Department of Defense for
fiscal year 2006;
(2) authorize the personnel end strengths for each
military active duty component of the Armed Forces for
fiscal year 2005;
(3) authorize the personnel end strengths for the
Selected Reserve of each of the Reserve components of
the Armed Forces for fiscal year 2006;
(4) impose certain reporting requirements;
(5) impose certain limitations with regard to
specific procurement and research, development, test
and evaluation actions and manpower strengths; provide
certain additional legislative authority, and make
certain changes to existing law;
(6) authorize appropriations for military
construction programs of the Department of Defense for
fiscal year 2006; and
(7) authorize appropriations for national security
programs of the Department of Energy for fiscal year
2006.

Committee overview and recommendations

The past three and one-half years have been a time of great
successes and enormous challenges for the U.S. Armed Forces.
The mission of the men and women in uniform to defend the
nation has never been executed with better skill or dedication
on the battlefield. The rapid successes of Operation Enduring
Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom have evolved
into the hard work of counter-insurgency, reconstruction, and
stability operations necessary to achieve peace and security in
these troubled regions. Such important work brings new
challenges associated with the extraordinarily high operational
tempo on people and equipment, the technological challenges of
countering asymmetric threats such as improvised explosive
devices, the demands of transforming the Armed Forces for
future threats, and the responsibility of the nation to
properly care for those who volunteer to serve--Active,
Reserve, National Guard, and retired--and their families.
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006
addresses these challenges. This bill is being considered by
the committee at a time when the United States continues to
lead a coalition of nations to defeat terrorism globally and to
defend freedom and democracy. Hundreds of thousands of
soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen--
Active, Reserve, and National Guard--countless civilians who
support military, diplomatic, and humanitarian operations have
served, and more are serving valiantly in Iraq, Afghanistan,
and other locations to secure hard-won military successes and
to preserve peace and freedom. Successful elections in Iraq and
Afghanistan in the past year are testament to the yearning of
the people of those nations for a voice in their own destiny,
the willingness of the United States to assist, and the
professionalism of the brave Americans who volunteer to serve
in uniform. The U.S. Armed Forces, serving around the world,
are truly the first line of defense in the security of the U.S.
homeland.
The committee is ever mindful of the risks members of the
U.S. Armed Forces face every day, and of the many sacrifices
made by the families and communities that support them. Our men
and women in uniform have been asked to do much in the past
year, and they have responded in the finest traditions of the
generations of Americans that preceded them. Tragically, many
members of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as a number of
civilian employees and contractors of the Department of Defense
have been killed in service to their country, and many more
have been wounded. On behalf of a grateful nation, the
committee is committed to ensuring that those who have
sacrificed so much will not be forgotten and will receive the
care and support that they deserve. The American people are
proud of their Armed Forces for what they have accomplished,
for their selfless sacrifices, and for the manner in which they
represent American values and the generosity of America.
While recent successes have proven the value of past
investment in the people and the equipment of the U.S. Armed
Forces, there is no room for complacency. A recurring lesson of
history is that national security threats are ever-changing and
persistent. Victory and success must be accompanied by
vigilance. Such vigilance takes the form of readiness of
today's forces and preparation for future threats to the
security of the United States, its interests, and its allies.
Since the beginning of the 109th Congress, the Committee on
Armed Services of the Senate has conducted 35 hearings and
received numerous policy and operational briefings on the
President's budget request for fiscal year 2006 and related
defense issues. As a result of these deliberations, the
committee identified seven priorities to guide its work on the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006:
(1) Provide our men and women in uniform with the
resources, training, technology, equipment, and
authorities they need to win the global war on
terrorism, with particular focus on supporting the
conduct of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
(2) Enhance the ability of the Department of Defense
to fulfill its homeland defense responsibilities by
providing the resources and authorities necessary for
the Department to assist in protecting our nation
against all current and anticipated forms of attack.
(3) Provide the resources and authorities needed to
rapidly acquire the full range of force protection
capabilities for deployed forces.
(4) Continue the committee's commitment to improve
the quality of life for those who serve--Active,
Reserve, National Guard, and retired--and their
families; enhance incentives to recruit and retain
those who volunteer to serve in the Armed Forces;
provide the best possible care and rehabilitation
services for those who bear the wounds of combat; and
ensure generous support for the survivors of those
military personnel killed in defense of our Nation.
(5) Sustain the readiness of our Armed Forces to
conduct military operations against all current and
anticipated threats.
(6) Support the Department's efforts to develop the
innovative, forward-looking capabilities necessary to
modernize and transform the Armed Forces to
successfully counter current and future threats,
particularly by enhancing our technology in areas such
as unmanned systems, personal protection systems, and
measures to counter improvised explosive devices.
(7) Continue active committee oversight of Department
programs and operations, particularly in the areas of
acquisition reform and contract management, to ensure
proper stewardship of taxpayers' dollars.
In order to fund these priorities, the committee recommends
$441.6 billion in budget authority for defense programs for
fiscal year 2006, an increase of $21.0 billion--or 3.1 percent
in real terms--above the amount authorized by the Congress for
fiscal year 2005. The committee's recommendations include:
$78.2 billion in procurement funding, a $1.5 billion increase
above the President's budget request; $69.8 billion in funding
for research, development, test, and evaluation, a $0.4 million
increase over the requested level; and $109.2 billion for
military personnel, a $237 million increase over the requested
level. The committee's recommendation also includes budget
authority for $50.0 billion in emergency supplemental funding
in fiscal year 2006 to cover costs of military operations in
Iraq, Afghanistan, and the global war on terrorism.
The committee's first priority was to provide the
Department of Defense with the resources and authorities it
needs to win the global war on terrorism. In these areas, the
committee authorizes an increase of almost $600.0 million over
the budget request. Funding highlights for ground forces
include: $2.9 billion for new helicopters and helicopter
modifications, in order to get needed lift and attack
helicopters to troops in the field and $878.4 million to
continue procuring the Stryker armored vehicles that are
proving so valuable in military operations in Iraq. To improve
the ability of special operations forces, a major component of
the war on terror, the committee authorized an increase of
$84.5 million above the President's budget request to
accelerate the availability of important new capabilities. For
naval forces, the committee authorized an increase of $336.7
million to the Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy, account for a
total of $9.1 billion to accelerate development of the CVN-78
aircraft carrier, the LHA(R) amphibious ship, and the second
DD(X) destroyer of the class, as well as authorizing the four
ships in the President's budget request. For air forces, the
committee supported the President's budget request funding
levels for major aircraft acquisition programs. The committee
provided for the continued funding of the C-130J aircraft
multiyear contract and added $37.7 million for the procurement
of center wing box assemblies for C-130E/H aircraft to improve
the availability of these important intra-theater lift assets.
To enhance the Department's homeland defense capabilities,
the committee added $48.8 million above the President's budget
request including: an additional $19.8 million to provide
expanded capabilities for the Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil
Support teams that provide the Department support to local and
regional first responders in every State and territory of the
United States and an additional $20.0 million for cybersecurity
research. The committee also authorized an additional $60.0
million for development and fielding of chemical and biological
agent detection and protection technologies, that have
application for both homeland defense and for protection of
deployed forces. To protect America from missile threats, the
committee authorized $8.8 billion for ballistic missile
defense, and reemphasized the need to develop defenses against
cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other low-
altitude air threats.
To address the force protection needs of deployed U.S.
forces, the committee authorized over $1.4 billion for various
programs to protect personnel, vehicles, and installations,
including: $344.2 million for up-armored HMMWV's and armor kits
for other wheeled vehicles, an increase of $120.0 million above
the requested amount; and an additional $500.0 million for
research, development, and fielding of technologies to counter
improvised explosive devices; and added $117.8 million for
individual body armor. The committee is fully supportive of the
Department of Defense efforts to improve the force protection
capabilities available to deployed forces and will work closely
with the Department of Defense and the military services to
ensure that all requirements to improve force protection are
fully funded.
The committee is committed to continuing to improve the
quality of life of the men and women in uniform--Active,
Reserve, National Guard, and retired--and their families. The
proposed bill would authorize a 3.1 percent across-the-board
pay raise for all uniformed service personnel. The committee
has increased the death gratuity payable to survivors of
military decedents to $100,000 when the death occurs under
combat-related conditions or in designated combat zones.
Additionally, the committee authorized an increase in the
maximum Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance benefit from
$250,000 to $400,000.
The committee has authorized full funding for the defense
health program, and is committed to ensuring that there is no
erosion in quality health care for all beneficiaries. To this
end, the committee authorizes an additional $82.2 million to
ensure the medical readiness of the Reserve components. The
committee is pleased that the Department has taken steps to
implement the full range of health care benefits for members of
Reserve components and their families--both before and after
deployment--that was authorized in the Ronald W. Reagan
National Defense Authorization Act for 2005 (Public Law 108-
375).
An important aspect of quality of life for service members
are the benefits and services available to family members. The
committee recognizes the tremendous dedication and sacrifices
of military family members who share in every way in the
successes, accomplishments, and hardships of the members of the
Armed Forces. The committee supports all of the benefits for
family members contained in the President's budget request and
authorizes an increase of $70.0 million to further enhance
support for military families, particularly with regard to
additional child care services.
The quality of combat medicine has improved dramatically
since World War II, the Korean Conflict, and Vietnam. More
service members now survive the initial wounds of war, and it
is important that the best possible care and rehabilitative
services are available for those wounded in combat. The bill
would authorize various provisions that recognize the evolving
nature of battlefield medicine, the long-term needs of
seriously wounded survivors and combat veterans, and the social
and fiscal support responsibilities of the nation to the
survivors of those who make the ultimate sacrifice.
The committee is concerned about the challenges of
recruiting and retaining volunteers for the Active and Reserve
component force in a wartime environment. In addition to the
quality of life improvements already discussed, the committee
has authorized a variety of incentives and bonuses for Active
Duty and Reserve component personnel, and will continue to work
closely with the Department of Defense and the military
services to ensure that they have the resources and authorities
they need to recruit and retain a high quality volunteer force.
The committee recognizes that U.S. ground forces in
general, and the U.S. Army in particular, have experienced a
high operational tempo for an extended period. The bill
recommended by the committee authorizes an increase in active-
duty end strength for the Army of 20,000 personnel in fiscal
year 2006, for an end strength level of 522,400. The active-
duty end strength for the U.S. Marine Corps is maintained at
178,000, equal to the end strength authorized for fiscal year
2005, and 3,000 above the President's budget request. The bill
supports the end strength levels of the other military services
for both Active and Reserve components recommended by the
President, and includes an increase of 85 National Guard
personnel to man augmentation elements to the Weapons of Mass
Destruction--Civil Support Teams. The committee supports the
initiatives by the Army to reorganize their combat formations
into modular brigade sized units to provide more combat
formations and a more deployable, flexible force.
The administration requested $12.1 billion for military
construction and family housing, including $1.9 billion to
initiate activities required to carry out the results of the
2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations.
The committee recommendations include certain adjustments to
provide prudent investment in overseas locations and increased
investment in installations in the United States. Among the
funding adjustments made by the committee are increases of over
$120.0 million in critical unfunded projects identified by the
military services, and an additional $187.0 million to fund
improvements to facilities supporting National Guard and
reserve forces needs.
Over the past several years, the committee has worked with
the Department to ensure that necessary modernization,
transformation, and long-range research were maintained, even
in times of high operational tempo. The committee continues its
support for these transformational activities, authorizing $3.4
billion for the Army's Future Combat System development; $115.4
million for tactical UAV's that have proven so valuable in
recent military operations; and $10.9 billion for defense
science and technology programs, an increase of over $400.0
million above the President's budget request, that are the
foundation for future capabilities. The committee remains
committed to the goals it set for the Department five years ago
to have one-third of deep strike aircraft unmanned combat
systems by the year 2010, and one-third of the ground combat
vehicles unmanned by the year 2015.
The committee takes its oversight responsibilities over the
Department of Defense and defense related activities of the
Department of Energy very seriously. The bill contains several
provisions designed to improve management and oversight of
Department of Defense acquisition programs. These provisions
would increase the size and quality of the acquisition
workforce, strengthen defense ethics programs, and reduce the
risk of contract fraud. In addition, the bill would expand the
authority of the Secretary of Defense to rapidly acquire
capabilities to ensure that our deployed troops can quickly get
needed equipment.
The committee is particularly concerned about the state of
the current shipbuilding program. The committee does not
believe that the current or projected level of funding for
shipbuilding is adequate to build the numbers of ships that
will allow the Navy to perform its global missions or to
sustain an increasingly fragile industrial base. The founding
fathers were specific in the United States Constitution that it
is the duty of Congress to ``maintain'' a Navy. They had the
foresight to realize that a Navy cannot be quickly constituted,
or reconstituted. That is as true today as it was over two
centuries ago. If the United States is to remain a global
power, it must have a global presence. As a maritime nation,
that presence is often displayed in the form of naval ships,
not only through ensuring open sea lines of communication and
trade in international waters, but also through the inherently
diplomatic mission of visiting foreign ports and ``showing the
flag''.
The Navy currently has only 288 ships in the fleet. This is
the smallest number of ships in the Navy since before the start
of the Second World War. It is true that these ships possess
capabilities far greater than those of the past, but global
presence demands sufficient numbers of ships as well as the
capabilities possessed by those ships.
Numerous officials have testified before this committee
that shipbuilding must become a subject of national debate.
They have testified that the Department of Defense, the
Congress, and the shipbuilders need to engage in this debate.
Low shipbuilding rates have resulted in increased costs for
ships, as recently documented by the Government Accountability
Office. These increased costs have translated into even lower
shipbuilding rates. The committee believes this downward spiral
needs to be reversed. To accomplish this, the committee
believes that significantly higher funding is required in the
shipbuilding budget. That funding must be stable, and some
degree of flexibility is required in the funding mechanisms for
shipbuilding to allow for efficient management while visibility
remains to allow for sufficient oversight.
The committee believes that the shipbuilding budget must be
reviewed by the administration as a matter of the utmost
urgency in the coming year. The committee recommends that the
President consider establishing a special shipbuilding fund,
which would be funded apart from the normal give and take
within the Department of Defense budget process, to dedicate a
sustained amount of funding for the construction of naval
ships. The Congressional Budget Office estimates, based on
testimony before the committee, that the amount of funding
necessary to maintain a Navy of appropriate size and capability
to deter any potential adversaries and meet U.S. global
commitments is at least $15.0 billion a year, and that it needs
to be sustained at that level for a period of 10 to 15 years.
America has much to be thankful for in terms of the
patriotic young Americans who volunteer to serve and who have
individually and collectively performed with such
professionalism and distinction in defense of the United
States. The efforts of the U.S. Armed Forces have been
remarkable, but they are not without cost--the loss of
priceless lives that must be honored and remembered; the
responsibility to care for the survivors and their families;
the cost of ongoing operations and related refurbishment or
replacement of heavily used equipment; and the responsibility
to ensure that those who serve, and their families, receive the
quality of life and benefits they have earned and deserve. As a
nation at war against enemies who have attacked our homeland
and who seek to impose the tyranny of their beliefs on others,
Americans understand their responsibility to defeat the scourge
of terrorism at any cost to ensure the security of America.
The U.S. Armed Forces are the best trained, best equipped,
and most experienced military force in the world today. To
ensure the security of America, the excellence of this force
must be sustained, modernized, and transformed. The committee
believes that the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2006 prudently addresses the defense needs of the United
States, recognizes the service and sacrifice of our men and
women in uniform and their families, provides the resources
needed to win the global war on terrorism, and makes the
necessary investments to provide for the security of the nation
in the future.

Explanation of funding summary

The administration's budget request for the national
defense function of the federal budget for fiscal year 2006 was
$435.9 billion. According to the estimating procedures used by
the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the budget implication
of the amount requested was $441.6 billion. The funding summary
table that follows uses the budget authority as calculated by
CBO.
The following table summarizes both the direct
authorizations and equivalent budget authority levels for
fiscal year 2006 defense programs. The columns relating to the
authorization request do not include funding for the following
items: Concurrent Receipt Accrual Payments to the Military
Retirement Fund; military construction authorizations provided
in prior years; and other portions of the defense budget that
are not within the jurisdiction of this committee, or that do
not require an annual authorization.
Funding for all programs in the national defense function
is reflected in the columns related to the budget authority
request and the total budget authority implication of the
authorizations in this report.
The committee recommends funding for national defense
programs totaling $441.6 billion in budget authority. This
funding level is consistent with the budget authority level of
$441.6 billion for the national defense function recommended in
the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2006
(H. Con. Res. 95), which was adopted on April 28, 2005.

DIVISION A--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATIONS

TITLE I--PROCUREMENT

Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations

Explanation of tables
The following tables provide the program-level detailed
guidance for the funding authorized in title I of this Act. The
tables also display the funding requested by the administration
in the fiscal year 2006 budget request for procurement
programs, and indicate those programs for which the committee
either increased or decreased the requested amounts. As in the
past, the administration may not exceed the authorized amounts
(as set forth in the tables or, if unchanged from the
administration request, as set forth in budget justification
documents of the Department of Defense), without a
reprogramming action in accordance with established procedures.
Unless noted in this report, funding changes to the budget
request are made without prejudice.

Subtitle B--Army Programs

Multiyear procurement authority for AH-64D Apache attack helicopter
block II conversions (sec. 111)

The committee recommends a provision that would provide
authority to the Secretary of the Army to enter into a
multiyear contract for AH-64 Apache attack helicopter Block II
Conversions. The committee commends the Army for its commitment
to Army aviation modernization by reinvesting the resources
made available by the Comanche termination.
This provision provides authorization for the third
multiyear procurement for the conversion of AH-64A Apache
helicopters to the ``D'' model Apache. Multiyear one delivered
232 AH-64D helicopters from fiscal years 1996 through 2002 and
a second multiyear will complete delivery of an additional 269
AH-64D helicopters in fiscal year 2006. The committee
understands that the Army will convert an additional 96 AH-64A
helicopters with the multiyear procurement authority granted by
this provision. Previous multiyear procurement contracts have
yielded significant savings and the committee anticipates that
a third multiyear will yield savings as well.

Multiyear procurement authority for modernized target acquisition
designation/pilot night vision sensors for AH-64D Apache attack
helicopters (sec. 112)
The committee recommends a provision that would provide
authority to the Secretary of the Army to enter into a
multiyear procurement contract for the Modernized Target
Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (MTADS)
for Apache helicopters. MTADS will be incorporated into and
integrated into the program to convert AH-64A Apaches to the
``D'' model Apache. MTADS provides a Second Generation Forward
(SGF) Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensor suite for the Army's fleet
of Apache aircraft. The SGF system enhances the Apache pilot's
ability to engage targets during night operations and adverse
weather conditions, improves reliability, and reduces
operations and support costs.

Multiyear procurement authority for utility helicopters (sec. 113)
The committee recommends a provision that would provide
authority to the Secretary of the Army to enter into a
multiyear contract for the procurement of UH-60M Black Hawk
utility helicopters and, acting as the executive agent for the
Department of the Navy, enter into a multiyear contract for the
procurement of MH-60S Sea Hawk utility helicopters.
The budget request included $505.7 million for the
procurement of 41 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters; $24.7 million
for the advanced procurement of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters;
$453.4 million for the procurement of 26 MH-60S Sea Hawk
helicopters; and $125.7 million for the advanced procurement of
MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters under a multiyear procurement
program.
The committee notes that based on a comparison of estimated
prices for five single year contracts with the estimated price
for one 5 year multiyear for the UH-60M airframe over fiscal
years 2007-2011, there is a savings of approximately $304.2
million. A similar analysis of the MH-60S airframe shows an
estimated savings of $94.6 million. The committee also notes
that the current UH-60M and MH-60S budget requests are based on
a follow-on multiyear contract beginning in fiscal year 2007.
The committee believes that the Congress should provide the
Secretary of the Army with the authority to obtain these
savings, and encourages the Secretary of Defense to review
other current and planned helicopter programs for similar
efficiencies through joint service multiyear procurements.

Missile Procurement, Army

Advanced precision kill weapon system
The budget request included $34.1 million in Missile
Procurement, Army (MPA), for the procurement of 600 Advanced
Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS). The committee
understands the APKWS program was restructured on April 4,
2005, because the contractor was under-performing in the areas
of cost, schedule, and performance; and APKWS would not have
met the defined user requirement. The committee recommends a
decrease of $5.0 million in MPA to procure 135 fewer missiles,
for a total authorization of $29.1 million.

Weapons and Tracked Vehicles

Lightweight 155 millimeter Howitzer
The budget request included $46.8 million in Weapons and
Tracked Combat Vehicles, Army (WTCV), for the Lightweight 155
millimeter (LW-155) towed Howitzer, a joint U.S. Marine Corps
(USMC)/Army program. In the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375),
the Congress authorized a multiyear procurement contract as the
program entered into a low rate initial production phase of the
program. The Army requires additional LW-155s for the 7th
Stryker Brigade Combat Team. This item is on the Chief of Staff
of the Army's unfunded priorities list. The committee
recommends an increase of $32.4 million in WTCV for additional
LW-155s, for a total authorization of $79.2 million in WTCV.

Army Ammunition

M1028 120mm tank cartridge
The budget request included $8.3 million in Procurement of
Ammunition, Army (PAA), for the M1028 120mm tank cartridge. The
committee notes the utility of the M1028 in improving the M1A1
Main Battle Tank's urban warfare capability and improving tank
survivability against massed assaulting infantry with hand held
anti-tank and automatic weapons. The M1028 is currently funded
to achieve 75 percent of the total war reserve requirement. The
committee recommends an increase of $5.5 million in PAA for the
M1028 to excel the acquisition of the M1028mm tank cartridge.

Modern demolition initiator
The budget request included no funding in Procurement
Ammunition, Army (PAA), for the modern demolition initiator
(MDI). The committee notes that MDIs are non-electric
detonators used to initiate munitions and explosives. The
benefits of MDI include safety in the modern electronic battle
space, high reliability, interoperability with existing fielded
demolition systems, and lethality. The committee recommends an
increase of $1.9 million in PAA for MDIs.

Rapid wall breaching kit
The budget request included no funding in Procurement
Ammunition, Army (PAA), for the rapid wall breaching kit. The
committee notes that rapid wall breaching kits are one-man
portable devices capable of creating man-sized holes in triple
brick masonry or double reinforced concrete structural walls.
The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PAA for
rapid wall breaching kits.

Ammunition peculiar equipment outloading modules
The budget request included no funding for ammunition
peculiar equipment outloading modules. The committee notes that
a modern robotic-controlled strategic ammunition outloading
module could be capable of supporting current readiness
requirements while increasing ammunition plant safety,
security, and capacity. Army officials report that a design
exists for modernizing current outloading capabilities with
robotic-controlled technologies at ammunition plants. The
committee recommends an increase of $8.0 million in PAA for
ammunition peculiar equipment outloading modules.

Provision of industrial facilities
The budget request included $33.5 million in Procurement of
Ammunition, Army (PAA), for the provision of industrial
facilities, including the establishment, augmentation, and
modernization of ammunition production capabilities. The
committee notes that this represents an 18 percent reduction in
this account from the funding level requested for fiscal year
2005. Additional funding for the provision of industrial
facilities has been identified on the Chief of Staff of the
Army unfunded priorities list.
The committee recommends an increase of $82.4 million in
PAA for the provision of industrial facilities, as follows:
$40.0 million to reduce the risk of production loss in acid
concentration and nitrocellulose; $22.4 million for small-
caliber ammunition production facilities modernization; $10.0
million to continue facility modernization initiated in fiscal
year 2003 with environmentally sound insensitive-munitions (IM)
manufacturing and precision load, assemble, and pack capability
required to produce munitions with current and future IM type
mix-cast-cure, melt-load and press-able explosive formulations;
and $10.0 million to modernize HMX/RDX nitrate explosive
formulation capabilities for use in U.S. precision guided
weapons production.

Conventional ammunition demilitarization
The budget request included $102.9 million in Procurement
of Ammunition, Army (PAA), for conventional ammunition
demilitarization, including $19.5 million for missile
demilitarization. The committee is concerned with the
resourcing of the Army's strategic plan for conventional
ammunition disposal, including the resourcing of missile
recycling. The committee notes that the missile recycling
center (MRC) energetics processing module (EPM) is an important
component of the Army's missile demilitarization plan. The
committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PAA for
the MRC EPM.
The disposal of excess conventional ammunition is an
integral phase of the life-cycle management of conventional
ammunition. The Army 2004 report, ``Strategic Plan:
Demilitarization FY2005-2011,'' outlines a series of goals and
milestones to reduce the excess conventional ammunition
stockpile to manageable levels in future years: 100,000 short
tons for ammunition and 30,000 missiles. In fiscal year 2005,
the excess conventional ammunition stockpile includes at least
431,700 short tons of conventional ammunition and 77,566
missiles.
The committee notes that current projections indicate that
the excess conventional ammunition disposal stockpile and the
excess missile inventory are expected to continue to increase
and exceed 546,000 short tons and 125,000 missiles,
respectively, by fiscal year 2011. In addition, Army officials
note that current projections for the growth rate of the excess
stockpile do not include pending decisions related to the
disposal of munitions in the War Reserve Stockpile, Allies-
Korea and disposal of conventional mines. Therefore, the
projection of the excess conventional ammunition stockpile in
2011 may be significantly understated.
The committee believes that failing to identify accurately
the magnitude of the excess conventional ammunition stockpile
and failing to reduce the excess conventional ammunition
stockpile will present problems, including impeding access to
needed ammunition in support of ongoing contingency operations,
and increased risk and costs related to the security and
sustainment of excess conventional ammunition. Therefore, the
committee directs the Secretary of the Army to review and
update the strategic plan for disposal of excess conventional
ammunition and to report to the committee any changes that
result from that review. In addition, the committee urges the
Department of Defense Comptroller to fund disposal of
conventional ammunition demilitarization to attain manageable
stockpile levels outlined in the Army's strategic plan to the
maximum extent possible.

Other Procurement, Army

Movement tracking system
The budget request included $207.1 million in Other
Procurement, Army (OPA), for the Family of Heavy Tactical
Vehicles, including $27.6 million for the Movement Tracking
System (MTS). MTS provides commanders with the capability to
communicate with and track the location of vehicles. The
committee understands that the MTS has provided valuable
communications and vehicle location information during
Operation Iraqi Freedom. The committee notes that the Chief of
Staff of the Army has identified additional funding for MTS
devices for the 7th Stryker Brigade Combat Team on his unfunded
priorities list. The committee recommends an increase of $1.6
million in OPA for MTS, for a total authorization of $208.7
million.

Night vision devices
The budget request included $164.7 million in Other
Procurement, Army (OPA), for night vision devices, including
$76.9 million for the procurement of AN/PVS-14 night vision
devices and $20.0 million for the procurement of enhanced night
vision goggles (ENVG). These devices increase situational
awareness, mobility, and lethality during low-light and
nighttime operations. Additionally, the ENVG consists of a
state-of-the-art, enhanced 3rd Generation image intensifier
sensor, an uncooled long-wave infrared camera, and a miniature
display to provide high resolution fused imagery to the
individual soldier. Additional funding for these items is on
the Chief of Staff of the Army's unfunded priorities list. The
committee recommends an increase of $20.2 million in OPA, for
additional night vision devices.

Modular causeway system
The budget request included $2.0 million in Other
Procurement, Army (OPA), for causeway systems. The modular
causeway system (MCS) is an assemblage of interoperable and
interchangeable components, which constitute the Army's primary
means of augmenting existing port facilities or conducting
joint logistics over the shore (JLOTS). JLOTS, in particular,
will be significant as the concept of sea-basing matures. The
committee recommends an increase of $15.0 million in OPA for
the MCS.

Subtitle C--Navy Programs

Prohibition on acquisition of next generation destroyer (DD(X)) through
a single naval shipyard (sec. 121)
The committee recommends a provision that would prohibit a
winner take all acquisition strategy for the next generation
destroyer (DD(X)) program. The provision would define a winner
take all acquisition strategy, in relation to this program, as
one which would procure, including design and construction,
these destroyers through a single shipyard.
In the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) presented with
the fiscal year 2005 budget request, construction of more than
one DD(X) a year was to have started in fiscal year 2007. The
FYDP presented with the fiscal year 2006 budget request
indicates that only one DD(X) a year will be procured in each
year from fiscal years 2007 through 2011. This reduced
procurement profile represents at least the third significant
change for the DD(X) program in recent years. Additionally, the
Secretary of the Navy has recently delivered an interim long-
range plan for the construction of Naval vessels to Congress.
This plan outlines a range of needed ships, with eight to 12
DD(X) destroyers establishing the range for that ship.
The committee is aware that the Navy has proposed a change
in acquisition strategy for DD(X) due to the reduced
procurement profile. The proposed change is to conduct a
winner-take-all competition for the DD(X)-class of ships
between the two shipyards which build surface combatants.
The committee is concerned with the sharp decline projected
in the number of ships in the Navy, the low number of major
combatants scheduled for construction, and the negative
consequences for the U. S. shipbuilding industrial base that
could result if a winner-take-all strategy for DD(X) were
pursued. The committee believes that there is an unacceptable
risk if the shipbuilding industry sizes itself to where only
one surface combatant a year is being built. The committee
urges the Navy to plan to build more than one major surface
combatant ship a year as soon as possible. If fewer DD(X)
destroyers are required, then acceleration of the follow-on
surface combatant, the CG(X), should be pursued.
Elsewhere in this report, the committee recommends
additional funding for advance procurement of the second DD(X)
destroyer at the second shipyard.
Split funding authorization for CVN-78 aircraft carrier (sec. 122)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Secretary of the Navy to enter into a contract to fund the
detail design and construction of the aircraft carrier
designated CVN-78 with the Shipbuilding & Conversion, Navy
(SCN) account, with funding split over fiscal years 2007, 2008,
2009, and 2010.
The budget request includes $564.9 million in SCN for the
carrier replacement program, specifically for advance
procurement of the CVN-78. The CVN-78 will be a new class of
aircraft carrier, incorporating numerous new technologies. This
budget request reflects the second one-year slip in the program
in recent years. This slip would cause a delay in the delivery
of the CVN-78 until fiscal year 2015, with the ship it is
scheduled to replace, the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), scheduled to
be decommissioned in fiscal year 2013. Additionally, this slip
translates into a cost growth for CVN-78 of approximately
$400.0 million, according to the Navy.
The committee is concerned about this delay. The committee
has been told there is no technical reason for the delay, but
that the delay was driven by budget considerations. Both the
Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval operations
testified that large capital assets such as aircraft carriers
are difficult to fund under the traditional full-funding
policy, and that more flexible methods of funding must be found
and used. The program of record for CVN-78 has the detail
design and construction funding split between two years. This
provision would authorize that same funding to be split over
four years, thereby allowing needed funding flexibility. The
committee directs the Navy to provide an updated funding
profile, fully funding the remaining costs of the ship from
fiscal years 2007 through 2010, with delivery of the fiscal
year 2007 budget request.
The committee is aware that the program requires additional
funding in fiscal year 2006 to avoid this one-year delay.
Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $86.7
million in SCN for CVN-78.

LHA replacement (LHA(R)) ship (sec. 123)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
to be appropriated $325.4 million for design, advance
procurement, and advance construction of the first LHA
replacement (LHA(R)) ship, and would allow the Secretary of the
Navy to enter into a contract for this purpose in fiscal year
2006.
The provision would also authorize the Secretary of the
Navy to enter into a contract for the detail design and
construction of the LHA(R) in fiscal year 2007, with funds
authorized in fiscal years 2007 and 2008, subject to the
availability of appropriations for LHA(R) in each of those
fiscal years.
The budget request included $150.4 million in Shipbuilding
& Conversion, Navy (SCN), for the design, advance procurement,
and advance construction of the LHA(R) amphibious assault ship.
The LHA(R)-class will be the functional replacement for the
LHA-1 class of amphibious assault ships, which is nearing the
end of its service life. The Chief of Naval Operations has
included additional funding for LHA(R) as the number one
priority on his unfunded priorities list. The committee
understands that additional funding would accelerate delivery
of and reduce the acquisition cost of this ship, and recommends
an increase of $175.0 million in SCN for the LHA(R).

Refueling and complex overhaul of the USS ``Carl Vinson'' (sec. 124)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Secretary of the Navy to enter into a contract in fiscal
year 2006 for the nuclear refueling and complex overhaul of the
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). The provision would authorize
$1,493.6 million to be appropriated as the first increment in
the incremental funding planned for this refueling. The
provision would also stipulate that any obligation of the
United States to make a payment under the contract after fiscal
year 2006 is subject to the availability of appropriations for
that purpose.

Navy Aircraft

C-40A procurement
The budget request included $10.3 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Navy (APN), for C-40A site activation, but
included no funding for the procurement of C-40A aircraft.
The C-40A replaces aging C-9 aircraft and provides improved
time critical logistics support. Procurement of the C-40A is
included on the Chief of Naval Operations' unfunded priorities
list. The committee recommends an increase of $77.9 million in
APN for the procurement of one C-40A aircraft.

Advanced targeting pods
The budget request included $422.4 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Navy (APN), for modifications to the F/A-18
aircraft, but included no funding for LITENING advanced
targeting pods (ATPs) for the F/A-18D aircraft. The LITENING
ATP will supplement and replace the current targeting pod with
a new system that provides increased combat effectiveness
across several mission areas. The procurement of LITENING ATP
is included on the Commandant of the Marine Corps' unfunded
priorities list. The committee recommends an increase of $40.0
million in APN for the procurement of 24 LITENING ATPs for the
F/A-18D aircraft.

Night targeting system upgrade
The budget request included $307.5 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Navy (APN), for UH-1Y utility and AH-1Z attack
helicopters, but no funding for the procurement of night
targeting system (NTS) upgrades. The current AH-1W NTS uses
Generation I Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) and requires an
upgrade to the Generation III FLIR, which would significantly
improve the ability of the AH-1W helicopter to fight at night
and during low visibility conditions as well as improve
reliability by replacing obsolete parts. The committee notes
that the Commandant of the Marine Corps has identified
additional funding for NTS upgrades on his unfunded priorities
list. The committee recommends an increase of $7.8 million in
APN for the NTS upgrades, for a total authorization of $315.3
million.

H-53 modifications
The budget request included $14.9 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Navy (APN), but no funding for engine air particle
separators (EAPS) barrier filters nor for crash-attenuating
crew chief seats for the H-53 series helicopter.
The current H-53 EAPS suffers heavy wear and tear from
preflight and maintenance requirements. The Navy is conducting
a trade study to develop conceptual barrier filter alternatives
for the H-53 series of helicopters. The committee notes that
the results of this effort will require non-recurring
engineering to incorporate a new EAPS barrier filter type
separator into the H-53 series helicopters. The committee
understands that new EAPS will result in lower maintenance
costs and improved engine performance.
The committee also understands that the procurement and
installation of crash-attenuating seats for both pilots in the
H-53 series helicopter is ongoing. However, the crew chief is
not provided with a crash-attenuating seat. The committee notes
the lack of crashworthy seats for crew chiefs exposes them to
higher risk of injury or death in the event of a hard landing
or crash. The Department of the Navy has programmed for the
procurement of 222 crashworthy seats in fiscal year 2011. The
committee believes that this safety issue needs to be addressed
immediately.
The committee notes that the Commandant of the Marine Corps
has identified additional funding for H-53 EAPS barrier filters
and crash-attenuation crew chief seats on his unfunded
priorities list. The committee recommends an increase of $5.0
million for non-recurring engineering for EAPS barrier filters
and $6.5 million to procure 222 crash-attenuating crew chief
seats, for a total authorization of $26.4 million in APN.

SH-60 armed helicopter

The budget request included $12.4 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Navy (APN), for modifications to the SH-60
helicopter, including $7.6 million for kits to arm the
helicopter. Navy helicopters, stationed aboard aircraft
carriers and surface combatants, are being used to support
operations in the global war on terror. These operations
include armed reconnaissance, and additional funding for kits
is included on the Chief of Naval Operations' unfunded
priorities list. The committee recommends an increase of $7.6
million in APN for the procurement of additional armed
helicopter kits.

EP-3 aircraft electronic attack

The budget request included $55.1 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Navy (APN), for modifications to the EP-3
aircraft. The EP-3 is a land-based, long-range aircraft, with
electronic intercept devices for detection and tracking of
enemy radars and communications. The EP-3 aircraft has been
designated a high demand, low-density asset by the Joint Chiefs
of Staff. Additional funding for USQ-146 communications
electronic attack systems for the EP-3 aircraft has been
requested on the Chief of Naval Operations' unfunded priorities
list. The committee recommends an increase of $13.0 million in
APN for the procurement of USQ-146 electronic attack systems
for the EP-3 aircraft.

P-3 aircraft modifications

The budget request included $163.3 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Navy (APN), for modifications to the P-3 aircraft,
including $11.9 million for the procurement and installation of
anti-surface warfare improvement (AIP) program kits. AIP
greatly expands the P-3 aircraft's capabilities to operate in
the littorals with the addition of advanced technology sensors,
expanded communications, upgraded weapon delivery capabilities,
and improved operator situational awareness. The committee
recommends an increase of $7.0 million in APN for the
procurement and installation of additional AIP kits for the P-3
aircraft.

Navy Weapons

AIM-9X captive air training missile

The budget request included $37.9 million in Weapons
Procurement, Navy (WPN), for the procurement of 165 AIM-9X
Sidewinder short range air-to-air missiles, including $7.2
million for the procurement of 44 AIM-9X captive air training
missiles (CATM). The Sidewinder is the Navy and Marine Corps'
primary short range air-to-air weapon, and the advanced
capabilities of AIM-9X require a high level of aircrew
proficiency. There is currently an inventory shortfall of AIM-
9X CATMs to support three F/A-18E/F squadrons, and the
procurement of additional AIM-9X CATMs is included on the Chief
of Naval Operations' and the Commandant of the Marine Corps'
unfunded priorities lists. The committee recommends an increase
of $7.6 million in WPN for the procurement of 46 additional
AIM-9X CATMs.

Weapons industrial facilities

The budget request included $4.1 million in Weapons
Procurement, Navy (WPN), for various activities at government-
owned, contractor-operated weapons industrial facilities, but
included no funding for facilities restoration at the Navy
Industrial Reserve Ordnance Plant, Allegany Ballistics
Laboratory (ABL). Some of these facilities have exceeded their
useful life and deteriorated beyond safe operations. The
committee recommends an increase of $20.0 million in WPN for
the facilities restoration program at ABL.

Gun mount modifications

The budget request included $84.1 million in Weapons
Procurement, Navy (WPN), for modifications to gun mounts on
naval ships, and included $1.3 million for modifications to
upgrade MK45 gun mounts to the Mod 4 configuration on guided
missile destroyers. The MK45 gun is also used on Navy cruisers,
and the Navy has a program to modernize its cruisers using this
gun. The committee recommends an increase of $14.0 million in
WPN for upgrading cruiser MK45 gun mounts to the Mod 4
configuration.

Navy and Marine Corps Ammunition

M795 155mm high explosive cartridge

The budget request included $5.2 million in Procurement of
Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps (PANMC), for the M795 155mm
high-explosive cartridge. Additional funding for the M795 155mm
high-explosive cartridge has been identified on the Commandant
of the Marine Corps unfunded priorities list. The committee
recommends an increase of $15.0 million in PANMC for the M795.

Time fuze blasting igniter

The budget request included $770,000 in Procurement of
Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps (PANMC), for the time fuze
blasting igniter. The budget request will achieve 40 percent of
the approved acquisition object (AAO) for this item. Additional
funding for the time fuze blasting igniter has been identified
on the Commandant of the Marine Corps unfunded priorities list.
The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million in PANMC
for the time fuze blasting igniter.

Shipbuilding

DD(X) destroyer program

The budget request included $716.0 million in Shipbuilding
& Conversion, Navy (SCN), for advance procurement for the DD(X)
destroyer program. Of this amount, $666.0 million is for
advance procurement of the lead ship of the class, and $50.0
million is for advance procurement of the second ship of the
class. These advance procurement funds are required to procure
material to maintain ship construction schedules and for
transition to detail design efforts.
In fiscal year 2005, $84.4 million was authorized and
appropriated for the design and advance procurement
requirements associated with construction of the second ship at
an alternative second source shipyard. The committee recommends
an increase of $50.0 million in SCN to be used only for advance
procurement of the second ship of the DD(X) class at the second
shipyard.

DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer modernization program

The budget request included no funding for the DDG-51
Arleigh Burke-class destroyer modernization program. Section
121 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375) required the Navy to
submit a report on this modernization program, and authorized
and appropriated $50.0 million to initiate this program in
fiscal year 2005. The report was delivered in March 2005, and
shows the potential for significant reductions in the size of
the crew through technology insertion. The plan outlined in the
report is to implement the modernization initiatives on the
last two ships of the class, DDG-111 and DDG-112, which will be
delivered in fiscal year 2010, before beginning a backfit on
the oldest ships of the class starting with DDG-51. The
financial analysis shows that a life-cycle savings of $712.0
million could be achieved if this plan is implemented,
primarily due to reduced crew size, while also achieving the
additional benefits of: (1) improved situational awareness; (2)
increased survivability; (3) improved maintainability; (4)
increased commonality; (5) eliminated obsolete parts; (6)
improved training; and (7) improved quality of life.
The committee believes this program requires continued
funding in the near-term for the modernization effort, and
recommends an increase of $25.0 million in Shipbuilding &
Conversion, Navy, for the DDG-51 modernization program.

Other Procurement, Navy

High performance metal fiber brushes for shipboard motors and
generators

The budget request included $19.9 million in Other
Procurement, Navy (OPN), for submarine support equipment, but
included no funding for high performance metal brushes for
shipboard motors and generators. Metal fiber brushes have
demonstrated the capability to significantly enhance
performance and reduce maintenance costs for motors and
generators. The committee recommends an increase of $4.5
million in OPN for the continuing procurement of high
performance metal fiber brushes.

Items less than $5.0 million

The budget request included $134.0 million in Other
Procurement, Navy (OPN), for shipboard equipment items of less
than $5.0 million.
The budget request included no funding for the advanced
control monitoring system. This system will update older,
analog style shipboard controls with modern software-based
applications and sensors for enhanced control and observation
of critical shipboard systems. The committee recommends an
increase of $4.0 million in OPN for the advanced control
monitoring system.
The budget request included no funding for shaft
lubricating pumps on the Landing Ship Dock 41/49 (LSD-41/49)
class of amphibious ships. The current mechanical shaft seal
pumps on these vessels are requiring maintenance at increasing
costs. The committee is aware that the Navy could realize a
return on investment within three years through the
installation of canned lube pumps on three older LSD 41/49-
class ships and on a submarine tender. The committee recommends
an increase of $4.0 million in OPN for the procurement and
installation of canned lube pumps to replace the mechanical
shaft seal pumps.
The budget request included no funding for modifications to
aircraft carrier elevators. The existing aircraft elevator
stanchion and platform lockbar systems are subject to
corrosion, binding, and component failure. Replacement of these
components with modern control systems would enhance aircraft
carrier operations while reducing maintenance and manpower
costs. The committee recommends an increase of $5.7 million in
OPN for a variety of aircraft carrier elevator modifications.
The committee recommends a total increase of $13.7 million
in OPN for shipboard equipment items of less than $5.0 million,
for a total authorization of $147.7 million.

Littoral combat ship mission modules

The budget request included $36.8 million in Other
Procurement, Navy (OPN), for mission modules for the littoral
combat ship (LCS). These mission modules will enable the LCS to
operate in the littorals by providing capability in the mine
warfare, small boat neutralization, and anti-submarine warfare
missions.
The budget request did not include funding for a spare
engine for the first ship of the class, which will use the MT30
marine gas turbine engine. If there were a main engine casualty
after delivery of the ship, much valuable time would be lost in
the testing and validation of its concept of operations without
a spare engine. The committee recommends an increase of $8.6
million in OPN for a spare MT30 marine gas turbine engine for
the LCS.

Submarine acoustic modernization installation

The budget request included $226.9 million in Other
Procurement, Navy (OPN), for submarine acoustics, which funds
all future upgrades of acoustic-rapid commercial, off-the-shelf
insertion (A-RCI) equipment. A-RCI is a multi-phased,
evolutionary development effort to maintain acoustic
superiority for in-service submarines. Additional funding for
installation of A-RCI has been requested on the Chief of Naval
Operations' unfunded priorities list. The committee recommends
an increase of $5.0 million in OPN for submarine acoustic
modernization A-RCI installation.

Surface sonar dome window

The budget request included $14.0 million in Other
Procurement, Navy (OPN), for undersea warfare support
equipment, including $1.1 million for surface ship sonar domes
and windows. The Navy has been developing a new design sonar
dome based on a newer composite material. The first sonar dome
using these materials failed under the extreme pressure test.
The causes for this failure have been identified and the design
modified. The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million
in OPN for the surface sonar dome window.

Surface electronic warfare improvement program

The budget request included $25.1 million in Other
Procurement, Navy (OPN), for the procurement of AN/SLQ-32
electronic warfare equipment for surface ships. The AN/SLQ-32
consists of five configurations and performs the missions of
early detection, analyses, threat warning, and protection from
anti-ship missiles. The committee recommends an increase of
$5.0 million in OPN to accelerate procurement of AN/SLQ-32
equipment.

Weapons range support equipment

The budget request included $46.6 million in Other
Procurement, Navy (OPN) for the procurement of equipment to
implement the Navy fleet training range instrumentation
training plan, but included no funding for the continued
procurement of the multi-spectral threat emitter (MTES) or the
joint threat emitter (JTE).
The proliferation of lethal surface to air missiles and
anti-aircraft artillery presents a clear threat to the
warfighter. Threat emitters replicate the electronic signatures
of these threats on training ranges. The committee recommends
an increase of $6.0 million for the procurement of MTES and an
increase of $6.0 million for the procurement of JTE, a total
increase of $12.0 million in OPN for weapons range support
equipment.

Maritime domain awareness

The budget request included $6.1 million in Other
Procurement, Navy (OPN), for the naval fires control system.
The committee is aware of the direction from the Secretary of
Defense to prioritize efforts to develop a capability that
would provide maritime domain awareness similar to that
provided for air traffic awareness. The committee believes that
integration of existing systems could be used to aid in
achieving this capability. The integration of the distributed
common ground system for the Navy with joint harbor operation
centers would assist in providing fused data to establish a
common operating picture of coastal areas for both the Navy and
the Coast Guard. The committee recommends an increase of $5.0
million in OPN to prototype this capability for evaluation of
its contribution to establishing maritime domain awareness.

Rolling airframe missile launcher system

The budget request included $17.5 million in Other
Procurement, Navy (OPN), for the rolling airframe missile (RAM)
launcher system, but included no funding for the continued
integration of the RAM with the close-in weapons system, known
as SeaRAM. The Navy had originally planned to equip its guided
missile frigates with this capability to provide a layered
self-defense for the ships. The committee does not agree with
the decision to discontinue the procurement of SeaRAM for the
frigates unless there is another more capable system to provide
defense. The committee recommends an increase of $18.0 million
in OPN to procure two SeaRAM systems for installation on guided
missile frigates to evaluate its effectiveness.

NULKA anti-ship missile decoy

The budget request included $40.4 million in Other
Procurement, Navy (OPN), for the procurement of 12 NULKA anti-
ship missile decoy systems and 31 NULKA decoys. The NULKA decoy
is a quick reaction offboard electronic countermeasure to
defeat advanced radar homing anti-ship missiles.
The committee is aware that the minimum sustaining rate for
the production of NULKA decoys is 67 decoys a year, and that
the procurement of additional NULKA decoys is requested on the
Chief of Naval Operations' unfunded priorities list. Raising
the procurement rate to the minimum sustaining rate would lower
the unit cost from $450,000 to less than $250,000. The
committee recommends an increase of $9.0 million in OPN for the
procurement of 36 additional NULKA decoys.

Submarine training device modifications

The budget request included $31.8 million in Other
Procurement, Navy (OPN), for submarine training device
modifications, but included no funding for logic-based software
to expand the distribution and capability of performance
support systems (PSSs). The Navy is beginning to use these
electronic PSSs to enhance training opportunities for deployed
forces. The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million in
OPN for integration of these PSSs across the fast attack
submarine community.

Command support equipment

The budget request included $60.8 million in Other
Procurement, Navy (OPN), for command support equipment, but
included no funding to procure man overboard indicator (MOBI)
systems or to improve the electronic military personnel records
system (EMPRS).
The MOBI system provides devices, which are worn by sailors
aboard ship, to allow rescue forces to respond quickly in the
event a sailor falls overboard. The committee is aware that the
Naval Safety Center has recommended to the Naval Sea Systems
Command that MOBI systems should be deployed throughout the
fleet. In the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2005, the Senate report accompanying S.
2400 (S. Rept. 108-260) directed the Secretary of the Navy to
submit a report to the congressional defense committees, with
the submission of the fiscal year 2006 budget request, on plans
to implement the Safety Center's recommendations. The committee
has not yet received the report. The committee believes MOBI
will not only save lives, but will also reduce the time spent
searching for sailors who have fallen overboard. The committee
recommends an increase of $9.1 million in OPN to procure
additional MOBI systems.
EMPRS is the Navy's personnel records management system
that contains information on more than 3.8 million personnel.
The committee recommends an increase of $6.5 million in OPN for
EMPRS to improve data storage and enhance information
technologies, for a total increase in OPN of $15.6 million for
command support equipment.

Navy medical automated information technology insertion

The budget request included $8.8 million in Other
Procurement, Navy (OPN), for medical support equipment, which
provides funding for the Fleet Hospital program whose mission
is to provide comprehensive medical support to the fleet and
fleet Marine forces engaged in combat operations. Automated
information technology can be used to track medical materiel,
surgical instruments, biomedical support equipment, and common
support equipment for expeditionary medical forces consisting
of deployable hospitals and hospital ships. The committee
recommends an increase of $3.0 million in OPN for Navy medical
automated information technology insertion.

Marine Corps Procurement

Modification kits

The budget request included no funding in Procurement,
Marine Corps (PMC), for weapons and weapon systems modification
kits, but no funding for modification kits for the MK-19
grenade machine gun. Since the fielding of the MK-19, various
enhancements have been developed that greatly improve the
operational reliability, readiness, safety, and maintainability
of the MK-19 weapon system. The committee recommends an
increase of $2.0 million in PMC for the procurement of MK-19
modification kits, for a total authorization of $2.0 million in
PMC.

Rapid deploying interoperable shelter systems

The budget request included $952,000 in Procurement, Marine
Corps (PMC), for unit operations centers, but no funding for
the rapid deploying interoperable shelter system (RDISS). The
core infrastructure component of the Marine Expeditionary Force
(MEF) command operations center (COC) is the RDISS together
with associated power generation and environmental control
equipment. The RDISS provides a rapidly deployable, easily set
up, and dependable shelter for the conduct of command and
control in a high intensity combat environment. A MEF urgent
universal needs statement requested the development of a
mobile, rapidly deployable, highly integrated MEF and division-
level COC. The Marine Corps has procured COCs in fiscal year
2005, but requires additional funding to procure and integrate
RDISS in support of the COC. The committee recommends an
increase of $4.8 million in PMC, for the RDISS and integration
of RDISS into the COC, for a total authorization of $5.8
million.

United Stated Marine Corps continuity of operations

The budget request included $17.8 million in Procurement,
Marine Corps (PMC), for communication/electronics
infrastructure support, including $3.4 million for the United
States Marine Corps (USMC) Continuity of Operations (COOP)
Program. The USMC COOP provides an additional layer of defense
for Marine Corps' tactical computer networks. The committee
notes that the Commandant of the Marine Corps has identified
additional funding for the USMC COOP on his unfunded priorities
list. The committee believes that the Marine Corps must improve
its ability to protect Marine Corps' networks by increasing
computer network storage, improving network security, and
reducing the number of legacy networks. The committee
recommends an increase of $2.2 million in PMC, for the USMC
COOP, for a total authorization of $20.2 million in PMC.

Subtitle D--Air Force Programs

Multiyear procurement authority for C-17 aircraft (sec. 131)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Secretary of the Air Force to exercise the option on the
existing C-17 multiyear procurement contract for the
procurement of up to 42 additional C-17 aircraft, in accordance
with section 2306b of title 10, United States Code. The
existing multiyear procurement was authorized by section 131 of
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002
(Public Law 107-107). The provision would require the Secretary
of Defense, prior to the exercise of the contract option, to
certify to the congressional defense committees that the
procurement of these additional C-17 aircraft is consistent
with the results of the Mobility Capabilities Study to be
completed in fiscal year 2005.

Prohibition on retirement of KC-135E aircraft (sec. 132)

The committee recommends a provision that would prohibit
the Secretary of the Air Force from retiring any KC-135E aerial
refueling aircraft in fiscal year 2006.
Section 134(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136) required that an
analysis of alternatives (AOA) on meeting aerial refueling
requirements be conducted and delivered to the congressional
defense committees by March 1, 2004. In a letter to the
congressional defense committees on February 24, 2004, the
Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology
and Logistics provided the guidance that will be used for the
conduct of the AOA. On February 27, 2004, the Secretary of the
Air Force sent a letter to the committee stating the AOA would
be completed in fiscal year 2005.
The budget request included a plan to retire 49 KC-135Es in
fiscal year 2006. The committee believes it is premature to
retire any KC-135Es until the AOA is completed and the
Secretary of Defense has presented to the congressional defense
committees a comprehensive plan for the recapitalization and
modernization of the aerial refueling fleet.

Use of Tanker Replacement Transfer Fund for modernization of aerial
refueling tankers (sec. 133)

The committee recommends a provision that would allow the
use of funds in the Tanker Replacement Transfer Fund, which was
established by section 8132 of the Department of Defense
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-287),
for the modernization of existing aerial refueling tankers, if
the modernization of such tankers is consistent with the
results of the analysis of alternatives for meeting the aerial
refueling requirements of the Air Force, as required by section
134(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136). The use of funds under this
provision would be in addition to the use of funds for a tanker
acquisition program. Activities that contribute to the
modernization of existing aerial refueling tankers could
include a variety of modifications and upgrades to KC-135E/R
aircraft that are consistent with the analysis of alternatives
for meeting the aerial refueling requirements of the Air Force.

Prohibition on retirement of F-117 aircraft (sec. 134)

The committee recommends a provision that would prohibit
the Air Force from retiring any F-117 aircraft in fiscal year
2006. The committee budget request included a proposal to
retire 10 F-117 aircraft. The F-117 remains the only stealthy
tactical aircraft capable of delivering certain precision
munitions currently in the inventory. The committee believes it
is premature to retire any F-117 aircraft at this time.

Prohibition on retirement of C-130E/H tactical airlift aircraft (sec.
135)

The committee recommends a provision that would prohibit
the Secretary of the Air Force from retiring any C-130E/H
tactical airlift aircraft in fiscal year 2006.
The committee believes it would be premature to retire any
C-130 aircraft until the results of the Mobility Capabilities
Study, which is to be completed in fiscal year 2005, are known
and intra-theater airlift requirements are determined.

Procurement of C-130J/KC-130J aircraft after fiscal year 2005 (sec.
136)

The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of the Air Force to procure any C-130J/KC-135
aircraft after fiscal year 2005 through a negotiated contract
under Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR),
relating to the acquisition of items under a negotiated
contract (48 C.F.R. 15.000 et seq.), including a multiyear
contract for such aircraft continuing in force from a fiscal
year before fiscal year 2006.
The Air Force designated the C-130J aircraft as a
commercial item in 1995 on the basis that the aircraft was a
modification of commercial C-130 aircraft configurations that
had been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Section 4(12) of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act
(41 U.S.C. 403) defines commercial items to include modified
commercial items, as long as the modifications are either
``minor modifications'' or modifications of a type customarily
available in the commercial marketplace. The Air Force
designated the C-130J as a commercial item and determined that
there would be a 95 percent commonality between the C-130J and
the civilian commercial version of the plane and modifications
from the commercial version would be minor.
However, the Department of Defense Inspector General has
reported that the C-130J included features not customarily
available in the commercial marketplace, such as aerial
delivery (cargo and paratroop), defensive systems, secure voice
communication, station keeping, night vision, imaging, and
satellite communication. The Director, Operational Test and
Evaluation has found that the combat delivery variant of the C-
130J has more than 70 percent new development and system
integration relative to commercial versions of the C-130.
The committee believes that the Air Force original decision
to procure the C-130J as a commercial item unnecessarily
limited cost oversight by the government by denying the
government access to certified cost or pricing data from the
manufacturer. The committee believes that an agreement to
change the terms and conditions of the existing C-130J contract
from a commercial item contract to a standard defense contract
is necessary to provide the government the oversight it needs
to procure aircraft that are operationally effective and
operationally suitable at a fair price.
The committee notes that the Air Force has announced its
intent to renegotiate this contract to a FAR Part 15 contract.
This provision is intended to support that decision.

Aircraft for performance of aeromedical evacuations (sec. 137)

The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of the Air Force to procure aircraft for the purpose
of providing aeromedical evacuation services to severely
injured or ill personnel. The provision would require the
aircraft to be capable of non-stop transatlantic flights, and
be equipped with current aeromedical support facilities. The
provision would ensure that the dedicated mission of the
aircraft is aeromedical evacuation. The provision would
authorize $200.0 million to be appropriated for the procurement
of up to two fully-equipped aircraft to perform the aeromedical
evacuation mission.
Previously, the Air Force had dedicated C-9A aircraft for
the aeromedical evacuation mission. The Air Force directed that
all of these C-9A dedicated aeromedical evacuation aircraft be
retired by 2004, and the last C-9A aeromedical evacuation
mission in the continental United States was flown on August
11, 2003.
The committee has been informed by wounded military
personnel that the use of organic cargo aircraft for medical
evacuation has resulted in unnecessary suffering. The committee
believes the large cargo and aerial refueling aircraft
currently being used for aeromedical evacuation are not suited
for the support of severely wounded or severely ill patients.
The committee has been informed by health care providers
that they have had difficulty controlling pain experienced by
wounded patients during the course of extended flights. Many
victims of multiple injuries require highly sophisticated
electronic monitoring equipment, some of which is incompatible
with the electrical power source of the transport aircraft.
Increasingly the practice for victims of blast injury is to
delay closure of major wounds until the patient arrives at a
medical facility capable of providing tertiary care. Poor
lighting, rapid changes in temperature, and differentials in
atmospheric pressures are also of concern, particularly for
those patients with traumatic head wounds. The committee
believes that all of these concerns could be addressed by
acquisition of dedicated aeromedical evacuation aircraft.
The committee recommends an increase of $200.0 million in
Aircraft Procurement, Air Force, for the procurement of up to
two dedicated aeromedical evacuation aircraft.

Air Force Aircraft

F-15E procurement

The budget request included no funding in Aircraft
Procurement, Air Force (APAF), for the procurement of F-15E
attrition reserve aircraft. The F-15E is a dual-role fighter
designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The
procurement of F-15E attrition reserve aircraft is included on
the Air Force Chief of Staff's unfunded priorities list. The
committee recommends an increase of $65.0 million in APAF for
the procurement of F-15E aircraft.

C-130J/KC-130 multiyear procurement restoration

The budget request included $99.0 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Air Force (APAF), but included no funding to
procure C-130J tactical airlift aircraft and no funding for
advance procurement. The budget request included $1,092.7
million in Aircraft Procurement, Navy (APN), for the
procurement of 12 KC-130J aerial refueling aircraft, but
included no funding for advance procurement. The budget request
would terminate the C-130J multiyear procurement (MYP) contract
that was authorized by the Bob Stump National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-314). In
a May 10, 2005, letter to the Chairman of the Committee on
Armed Services of the Senate, the Secretary of Defense
indicated his intent to reverse his decision to terminate the
C-130J multiyear contract because of contract termination
costs. Additionally, the Secretary informed the Chairman in
this letter that a budget amendment for fiscal year 2006 would
not be required to accomplish this goal.
The committee does not agree that a budget amendment is not
necessary. Since there is no new information from the
Department of Defense on the funding profile and numbers of
aircraft by variant for C-130Js in fiscal year 2006, the
committee exercised its discretion concerning the proper mix of
these aircraft. The committee recommends an increase of $645.0
million in APAF for the procurement of nine C-130J tactical
airlift aircraft, and $90.0 million in APAF for C-130J advance
procurement. The committee also recommends a decrease of $781.0
million in APN, leaving sufficient funds for the procurement of
four KC-130J aerial refueling aircraft, and an increase of
$46.0 million in APN for KC-130J advance procurement.

B-1 digital communication improvements

The budget request included $13.5 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Air Force (APAF), for post production support to
the B-1 aircraft and $132.5 million in PE 64226F for B-1
capability improvements, but included no funding for the
procurement and installation of the B-1 digital communication
improvement. The B-1 digital communication improvement program
preserves critical combat capability by providing Demand
Assigned Multiple Access (DAMA)-compliant satellite data access
for responsive in-flight mission and target changes. The
existing temporary Combat Track II (CTII) radios are not DAMA
compliant and will lose satellite access after fiscal year
2007. Procurement of the B-1 digital communication improvement
is included on the Air Force Chief of Staff's unfunded
priorities list. The committee recommends an increase of $18.0
million in APAF and an increase of $8.0 million in PE 64226F
for the procurement and installation of the B-1 digital
communication improvement.

C-5 aircraft avionics modernization program

The budget request included $71.1 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Air Force (APAF), for modifications to the C-5
aircraft, including $69.3 million to continue the C-5 avionics
modernization program (AMP). AMP upgrades the C-5 cockpit,
installs communications, navigation and safety/air traffic
management equipment, and replaces unreliable cockpit avionics.
To accelerate this program, the committee recommends an
increase of $20.0 million in APAF for C-5 AMP.

C-130E/H aircraft modifications

The budget request included $185.7 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Air Force (APAF), for the procurement of aircraft
modifications to the C-130, including $50.6 million for the
procurement of Avionics Modernization Program (AMP)
modifications and $7.1 million for the procurement and
installation of one C-130 Center Wing Box (CWB) with expired
service life.
The AMP provides full Global Air Traffic Management and
Navigation Safety compliant aircraft. The committee recommends
an increase of $12.0 million in APAF for the procurement of AMP
for C-130E/H aircraft.
The CWB replacement increases the service life of the C-
130. The Air Force has recently removed from service 30 C-130Es
with CWBs whose service life has expired. Procurement of CWBs
is included on the Air Force Chief of Staff's unfunded
priorities list. The committee recommends an increase of $37.7
million in APAF for the procurement of CWBs for C-130E/H
aircraft, for a total authorization of $235.4 million in APAF
for the C-130E/H aircraft.

KC-135 global air traffic management

The budget request included $88.8 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Air Force (APAF), for modifications to the C-135
and KC-135 aircraft, including $77.7 million for the
procurement of Global Air Traffic Management (GATM)
modifications. The GATM modification includes avionics
upgrades, wiring interfaces, and associated preparation
activities for added communications, navigation, and
surveillance equipment needed for operations in oceanic
airspace where there are reduced spacing requirements between
aircraft. To accelerate this program, the committee recommends
an increase of $10.0 million in APAF for the procurement of
additional KC-135 GATM modifications.

E-8C joint surveillance and target attack radar system reengining

The budget request included $15.5 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Air Force (APAF), for the procurement of aircraft
modifications to the E-8C aircraft, but included no funding for
reengining the E-8C aircraft.
The reengining of the E-8C would provide significant
improvements in reliability and performance over current TF33-
102C engines and also reduce total life cycle costs. The
reengining of the E-8C aircraft is included on the Air Force
Chief of Staff's unfunded priorities list. The committee
recommends an increase of $44.4 million in APAF for the
procurement of non-recurring engineering activities required to
initiate a reengining program to install JT8D engines on the E-
8C aircraft.

Advanced targeting pods

The budget request included $644.2 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Air Force (APAF), for the procurement of aircraft
support equipment and facilities, including $40.8 million for
the procurement of advanced targeting pods (ATPs). The ATP will
supplement and replace the current targeting pod with a new
system that provides increased combat effectiveness across
several mission areas. The LITENING ATP is currently in use by
the Active Duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve
Command. The Combat Air Force is over 100 ATPs short of the
requirement to equip legacy aircraft, and the procurement of
additional ATPs is included on the Chief of Staff of the Air
Force's unfunded priorities list. The committee recommends an
increase of $96.6 million in APAF for the procurement of 66
additional LITENING ATPs.

Air Force Missiles

Minuteman III mods for propulsion replacement program

The budget request included $672.6 million in PE 11213F,
Missile Procurement Air Force (MPAF), of which $289.7 million
is for the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile propulsion
replacement program. The committee notes that the Department of
Defense's diversion of funds away from this program will result
in procurement of fewer motors in fiscal year 2006, resulting
in an inefficient rate of production with consequent cost
increases. The committee further notes that this program is
contained on the Chief of Staff of the Air Force's unfunded
priorities list.
The committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE
11213F for MPAF to be used for the propulsion replacement
program for the Minuteman III ICBM force.

Other Air Force Procurement

Halvorsen loader

The budget request included $16.3 million in Other
Procurement, Air Force (OPAF), for the Halvorsen loader, a
state- of-the-art handler for off/on loading aircraft cargo.
Currently, 44 Halvorsen loaders are supporting Operation Iraqi
Freedom, seven Halvorsen loaders are supporting Operation
Enduring Freedom, and eight were used to support tsunami relief
operations. Additional funding for Halvorsen loaders is on the
Chief Staff of the Air Force's unfunded priorities list. The
committee recommends an increase of $8.2 million in OPAF for
the procurement of 12 Halvorsen loaders, for a total
authorization of $24.5 million.
The committee understands that the Future Years Defense
Program calls for buying a total of 385 Halvorsen loaders.
However, the Air Force could ultimately buy as many as 512
Halvorsen loaders, if the Air Force were to decide to replace
all of the existing 25,000 pound class (25K) loaders in the
force. Given that the Halvorsen loader is more capable and more
easily maintained than the 25K loaders it is replacing, the
committee encourages the Air Force to review its procurement
plans. If the Air Force were to decide to buy more Halvorsen
loaders, the committee believes that the Air Force should
investigate whether there might be significant savings
achievable if the Air Force were to acquire those loaders under
a multiyear procurement contract.

Distributed common ground system components

The budget request included $1.5 million in Other
Procurement, Air Force (OPAF), for Intelligence Communications
Equipment, but did not include funding to continue fielding of
the jumbo digital transit cased system (J-DTS) components of
the distributed common ground system (DCGS).
J-DTS is a component of the DCGS architecture that enables
users in remote locations to receive imagery and other
intelligence information from a variety of intelligence
collection platforms, including Global Hawk, Predator, and U-2
aircraft. In some cases, remote users are able to actually
control the sensors on the intelligence platform. Fielding of
J-DTS to additional Air Force intelligence squadrons will
enable multiple units to participate in real-world intelligence
operations on a daily basis; provide better training to more
Air Force intelligence specialists; and reduce the high
operational tempo on the limited number of intelligence
squadrons currently equipped to receive intelligence
information in remote locations.
The committee recommends an increase of $12.5 million in
OPAF, for Intelligence Communications Equipment, to field
additional J-DTS equipment to Air Force intelligence squadrons.

Joint threat emitters

The budget request included $36.1 million in Other
Procurement, Air Force (OPAF), for combat training ranges,
including $17.5 million for joint threat emitters. The joint
threat emitter (JTE) system simulates electronic combat signals
and is designed to provide realistic electronic warfare
training for pilots and aircrew members. The JTE replaces
older, maintenance intensive threat emitters, and is
specifically designed to allow for ``spiral'' upgrades to
ensure future threats are quickly integrated into the system.
JTE has proven to be an effective training tool to prepare
pilots for combat. Additional funding for JTE is included on
the Air Force Chief of Staff's unfunded priorities list. The
committee recommends an increase of $4.5 million in OPAF for
the accelerated procurement of joint threat emitters.

Subtitle E--Other Matters

Advanced SEAL Delivery System (sec. 151)

The committee recommends a provision that would limit the
availability of funds for advance procurement of a pressure
hull and other long lead items associated with building the
second Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) until 30 days after
the Secretary of Defense certifies to the congressional defense
committees that the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition,
Technology and Logistics has made a favorable Milestone C
decision regarding the ASDS program.
The ASDS is a miniature, combatant submarine being
developed for the infiltration and exfiltration of naval
special operations forces. Unlike current underwater delivery
systems, ASDS would transport Navy SEALs over longer distances
in a dry environment, enhancing the operators' ability to
accomplish their mission once ashore.
Significant technical and cost growth problems have plagued
this program since its inception. For the past six years, the
committee has expressed increasing concern about the cost of
this system and the significant performance shortfalls the
program has exhibited. At the urging of the committee, the
Department of Defense designated ASDS as an Acquisition
Category I program in 2003, and is exercising milestone
decision authority to assess the future of this program.
The first ASDS underwent an operational evaluation
(OPEVAL), starting in April 2003, to determine the
effectiveness and suitability of the boat for use in combat.
The OPEVAL results were promising, but revealed significant
performance shortfalls. As a result, the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136)
prohibited expenditure of advance procurement funds for items
associated with the second ASDS until after a favorable
Milestone C decision, and a detailed report from the Secretary
of Defense. In the Fall of 2004, the Commander, U.S. Special
Operations Command, in consultation with the Assistant
Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and
Acquisition, conducted a major program review; requested a
delay in the Milestone C review and related advance procurement
until the first quarter of fiscal year 2006; indicated his
desire and the willingness of the prime contractor to
restructure the program to a firm, fixed-price contract for
future boats; and established the requirement for an additional
period of operational test and evaluation in the fourth quarter
of fiscal year 2005, prior to a Milestone C decision.
The ASDS program has achieved some progress over the past
year in addressing remaining technical challenges associated
with development. Most acoustical challenges have been
addressed and a plan has been developed to address the
remaining issues. Problems associated with the current battery
technology have been mitigated, and a new, more promising
lithium-ion battery technology will be installed on the boat in
May 2005. Structural and maintenance challenges associated with
the tail assembly of the ASDS appear to have been resolved with
the redesign of the tail section.
The requirement for an ASDS remains critical for our
special operations forces. The Under Secretary of Defense for
Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics will determine in the
Milestone C review if the current ASDS program meets
operational requirements, whether the ASDS program should
continue, and what contractual adjustments are warranted.
While encouraged by recent progress, the committee remains
concerned about the technical challenges and cost growth that
have occurred in the ASDS program. The Milestone C decision has
been postponed until December 2005, following a final
operational test and evaluation. The committee opposes the
commitment of fiscal year 2006 advance procurement funding
prior to a favorable Milestone C decision and a comprehensive
report from the Secretary of Defense. The committee reiterates
the requirement for the Secretary of Defense to notify the
congressional defense committees of the results of the
Milestone C decision on ASDS, and to include in his report: a
detailed summary of the program's revised cost estimate and
future cost estimates, as validated by the Cost Analysis and
Improvement Group; a detailed acquisition strategy; and a plan
to demonstrate realistic solutions to key technical and
performance problems identified during testing and operations.
The provision would also direct the Comptroller General to
review the adequacy of the final operational test and
evaluation plan developed by the Navy, review the results of
the operational test, and update the March 2003 Comptroller
General Report (GAO-03-442), ``Defense Acquisition, Advanced
SEAL Delivery System Program Needs Increased Oversight.''
The committee directs that no amount of the $71.7 million
authorized to be appropriated for advance procurement of ASDS
in fiscal year 2006 be obligated or expended until after a
favorable Milestone C decision, as certified to the
congressional defense committees in the required Secretary
report.

Defense-wide Programs

MH-47 infrared engine exhaust suppressor

The budget request included $129.7 million in Procurement,
Defense-wide (PDW), for Special Operations Forces (SOF), Rotary
Wing Upgrades, but did not include funding to complete fielding
of infrared engine exhaust suppressor sets for U.S. Army MH-
47E/D (IES-47) special operations aircraft.
The MH-47 Chinook aircraft has proven to be a critical
workhorse in the global war on terrorism, providing heavy lift,
even at high operating altitudes. While a durable system, the
MH-47 is vulnerable to heat-seeking weapons. Installation of
infrared exhaust suppressors significantly reduces this
vulnerability. U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has a
requirement for 61 IES-47 sets to equip all MH-47E/D aircraft,
plus four spares for a total of 65 sets. Currently, 45 sets are
scheduled for procurement, leaving 20 sets yet to be funded.
Fully equipping the MH-47E/D fleet is the highest priority of
the Commander, SOCOM, for additional funding.
The committee recommends an increase of $7.7 million in
PDW, for SOF, Rotary Wing Upgrades, to complete fielding of the
20 remaining IES-47 sets.

Time delayed firing device/sympathetic detonators

The budget request included $11.2 million in Procurement,
Defense-wide (PDW), for Special Operations Forces (SOF),
Ordnance Acquisition, including $1.4 million for time delayed
firing device/sympathetic detonators (TDFD/SYDET), but did not
include enough funding to fully replenish the inventory,
particularly with regard to having sufficient munitions to
train new operators.
TDFD/SYDET is a time delayed detonating device that greatly
enhances the capabilities and efficiency of SOF operators
conducting offensive military operations. Sufficient supplies
are required to ensure operators have the best possible
detonators for actual missions and that the detonator is
available to instructors training new SOF operators. TDFD/SYDET
is one of the highest priorities of the Commander, U.S. Special
Operations Command, for additional funding.
The committee recommends an increase of $11.0 million in
PDW, for SOF Ordnance Acquisition, to procure an additional
5,500 TDFD/SYDET units for SOF operators and trainers.

Multi-band inter/intra team radio

The budget request included $69.9 million in Procurement,
Defense-wide (PDW), for Special Operations Forces (SOF),
Communications Equipment and Electronics, but did not include
funding to complete fielding of the multi-band inter/intra team
radio (MBITR).
The MBITR AN/PRC-148 radio system provides SOF teams the
ability to communicate over a variety of frequencies utilizing
a single handheld radio with embedded security. The MBITR
replaces numerous fixed frequency radios and related batteries
and replacement parts, resulting in a significant reduction in
the combat load of SOF operators. Continued fielding of the
MBITR radio system is one of the highest priorities of the
Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, for additional
funding.
The committee recommends an increase of $13.5 million in
PDW, for SOF Communications Equipment and Electronics, to field
an additional 1,131 MBITR radios to SOF operators.

Multi-band multi-mission radio

The budget request included $69.9 million in Procurement,
Defense-wide (PDW), for Special Operations Forces (SOF),
Communications Equipment and Electronics, including $1.4
million for the multi-band multi-mission radio (MBMMR) system,
but did not include sufficient funding to enable fielding of
this important communications capability to deploying SOF
units.
The MBMMR radio system provides voice and data capability
over a variety of frequencies, and can operate in local or
satellite communications modes. This radio enables SOF teams to
utilize one radio to communicate with a variety of military and
other organizations and replaces the variety of radios
currently needed to accomplish required communications
responsibilities. Continued fielding of the MBMMR radio system
is one of the highest priorities of the Commander, U.S. Special
Operations Command, for additional funding.
The committee recommends an increase of $16.5 million in
PDW, for SOF Communications Equipment and Electronics, to field
an additional 500 MBMMR radios to SOF teams.

Joint threat warning system

The budget request included $16.3 million in Procurement,
Defense-wide (PDW), for Special Operations Forces (SOF),
Intelligence Systems, to begin procurement of the Joint Threat
Warning System (JTWS), but the amount requested will only equip
a small portion of special operations forces with this much
improved threat warning capability for ground, air, and
maritime forces.
The JTWS is a modular, lightweight ground signals
intelligence system that can be mounted on a variety of SOF
delivery platforms, providing threat warning, situational
awareness, and enhanced force protection for SOF elements. JTWS
is an evolutionary acquisition program that builds upon
previous efforts to separately acquire similar warning systems
for air, ground, and maritime applications. Accelerating the
procurement of this capability is one of the highest priorities
of the Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, for
additional funding.
The committee recommends an increase of $12.0 million in
PDW, for SOF Intelligence Systems, to procure additional
ground, air, and maritime JTWS systems.

Rucksack portable unmanned aerial vehicle

The budget request included $20.2 million in Procurement,
Defense-wide (PDW), for Special Operations Forces (SOF), Small
Arms and Weapons, for the rucksack portable unmanned aerial
vehicle (RPUAV), but did not include enough funding to fully
meet the operational needs of the Commander, U.S. Special
Operations Command (SOCOM), for fiscal year 2006.
The RPUAV is a man-portable unmanned aerial vehicle system
that can be transported, launched, controlled, and recovered by
a single SOF operator. The RPUAV provides small SOF teams with
an important reconnaissance, surveillance, and target
acquisition asset, and greatly enhances their situational
awareness and force protection. The RPUAV is one of the highest
priorities of the Commander, SOCOM, for additional funding.
The committee recommends an increase of $3.3 million in
PDW, for SOF, Small Arms and Weapons, to procure an additional
19 RPUAV systems to meet fiscal year 2006 requirements.

Military mail screening equipment

The budget request included $143.8 million in Procurement,
Defense-wide (PDW), for the chemical/biological installation
force protection program. The committee recommends an increase
of $10.2 million in PDW for the chemical/biological
installation force protection program, to begin the procurement
and fielding of chemical and biological agent detection and
sampling equipment to establish a robust capability to screen
military mail at 62 sites (three mail transfer centers, three
distribution centers outside the continental United States, and
56 military post offices). This increase would also provide for
augmentation of current laboratory analytical capability to
provide the capacity necessary to process the increased volume
of samples from the new sites. Additional analytical
capability, supported by a robust quality assurance and quality
control program, would maintain the current Chemical Biological
Defense Program laboratory standard, which would ensure
confidence in the sampling results from the additional sites.
Elsewhere in this report, the committee recommends a
provision that would require the Secretary of Defense to
promptly develop and implement a plan to ensure that mail
within the military mail system is safe for delivery, to
include the screening of all mail in order to detect the
presence of biological, chemical or radiological weapons,
agents or pathogens, or explosive devices. The committee
recommends authorizing additional funding for this purpose in
fiscal year 2006 to ensure that resources are available to
begin implementation of the plan as soon as possible.

Automatic Chemical Agent Detector and Alarm

The budget request included $258.3 million in Procurement,
Defense-Wide (PDW), for contamination avoidance equipment. The
requested funding supports the procurement of chemical and
biological detection, warning and reporting, and reconnaissance
systems, such as the Automatic Chemical Agent Detector and
Alarm (ACADA). The committee notes that a number of Active Duty
Army and National Guard units are deployed worldwide in support
of military operations. These units must have the best possible
defense against chemical threats. The committee recommends an
increase of $16.0 million in PDW to meet procurement shortfalls
in fielding ACADA systems.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Army multi-band inter/intra team radio system

The committee is concerned with the limited industrial
capacity to produce and deliver large quantities of hand-held,
secure Type-1 multi-band inter/intra team radio systems (MBITR)
required for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
Currently, the Army has only one source for the MBITR radio.
The committee believes that a second source for the acquisition
of MBITR radios would address existing shortfalls, accelerate
fielding, and ensure an ongoing supply of these critical
systems.
The committee directs the Secretary of the Army to study
the feasibility and the costs and benefits of providing for the
participation of a second source in the production of MBITR
radios. The Secretary will provide a report of this study to
the congressional defense committees no later than March 1,
2006.

Cooperative engagement capability

In the statement of managers accompanying the Strom
Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
1999 (Public Law 105-261), the conferees directed the Secretary
of the Navy to report to the congressional defense committees
at least quarterly on interoperability problems among
cooperative engagement capability (CEC) and other combat
direction systems. The report was also to contain planned
solutions.
The committee has recently received the 24th consecutive
report on CEC and combat direction system interoperability. The
committee is satisfied that the Navy is now well aware of the
potential interoperability problems that this system was
facing, and has developed plans and programs to manage the
interoperability risks in the future. Therefore, the committee
does not believe that the Secretary of the Navy should continue
to report on the interoperability problems of CEC with combat
direction systems.

F/A-22 aircraft

The budget request included $3.2 billion in Aircraft
Procurement, Air Force, for the procurement of 24 F/A-22 combat
aircraft, and an increment of $65.5 million in PE 27138F to
procure one dedicated test aircraft, for a total of 25 F/A-22
Raptor aircraft.
The committee has been notified of the results of the
dedicated initial operational test and evaluation (DIOT&E) that
was conducted on the F/A-22. While the DIOT&E report determined
the F/A-22 aircraft to be operationally effective in the air
supremacy mission, the committee is concerned that the aircraft
was determined to be not operationally suitable. One
discrepancy of particular concern is the inadequate ground
cooling for avionics in high temperature conditions. The
committee believes this discrepancy must be corrected before
the F/A-22 aircraft design could be considered stable. The
committee also notes that tests to demonstrate the limited air-
to-ground attack capability of the F/A-22 included in the
current design were not conducted during the DIOT&E, but are
scheduled for follow-on testing beginning in July 2005.
The committee notes that the situation with late delivery
of F/A-22 aircraft addressed in previous years is improving,
but the committee remains concerned that the program is still
behind the original contract schedule.
The committee will continue to closely monitor developments
with the testing and production deliveries of the F/A-22
aircraft.

Intra-theater airlift

The Department of Defense has not yet briefed the
congressional defense committees on the results of the Mobility
Capabilities Study (MCS). The Secretary of Defense directed
that this study be accomplished to update the results of the
Mobility Requirements Study for Fiscal Year 2005 (MRS-05),
which was completed in fiscal year 2001. This update is
required to address the new National Military Strategy. One
component of the MCS is expected to be a review of intra-
theater airlift capacity.
The committee believes that decisions on the modernization
and recapitalization of the fleet of intra-theater airlift
aircraft should be based on the results of the MCS. The
committee directs the Secretary to submit a report to the
congressional defense committees no later than December 1,
2005, that identifies the options available to meet any
identified shortfalls in intra-theater airlift capacity. Before
an option to start a new program to meet any intra-theater
airlift shortfall is initiated, the committee directs the
Secretary to ensure that an analysis of alternatives is
conducted.

Littoral combat ship

The Navy recently completed construction of the
experimental littoral craft and has been authorized to procure
one flight 0 littoral combat ship (LCS). Funding for the second
flight 0 vessel from the second contractor team is included in
the fiscal year 2006 budget request. These ships were intended
to provide experience upon which the Navy would base decisions
on how to proceed with acquisition of flight 1 LCS vessels, now
scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2008.
The original plan put forth by the Navy implied that the
contracts for flight 1 vessels would be awarded competitively.
The Navy now appears to be changing the acquisition approach to
narrowing the selection of flight 1 proposals to a selection
from between the two successful bidders for the flight 0
program. The committee understands that this could be the most
convenient approach from an administrative standpoint, but is
concerned that this would discourage other potential contractor
teams from continuing work to mature concepts and technologies
for potential implementation on later LCS vessels.
Therefore, the committee directs the Navy to report to the
congressional defense committees at the same time as the
submission of the fiscal year 2007 budget on its acquisition
strategy for the flight 1 portion of the LCS program. That
report should provide details on the testing and
experimentation that the Navy intends to conduct prior to
awarding the flight 1 contracts; the acquisition strategy for
acquiring flight 1 vessels, including any reasons for having
changed that strategy if it has changed; and the Navy's plans
for transitioning technologies from other Navy research and
development activities, with particular emphasis on
technologies being developed in the DD(X) program that may be
appropriate for applying to the LCS program.

Maritime prepositioning force, future

The committee is concerned about whether the concept of sea
basing is technically feasible and fiscally prudent. The
committee is also concerned that the requirement for sea basing
has not been refined beyond a concept of operations. The
premise for the requirement for the sea base is that access to
ports or bases ashore may be denied, or that sea basing will
reduce vulnerabilities of large logistics bases ashore. The sea
base concept is that a large ground force can be assembled at
sea, delivered on the surface and the air to an area of
conflict, and subsequently sustained from the sea base. The
Navy is touting the centerpiece of the sea base as being the
Maritime Prepositioning Force, Future (MPF(F)). The Mission
Need Statement for MPF(F) was approved by the Joint
Requirements Oversight Council in May 2001, yet the Department
of Defense is still trying to define key performance
parameters. The budget request included $66.3 million in PE
48042N for the purpose of developing enabling technologies for
MPF(F).
Enabling technologies include landing platforms, ship-to-
ship cargo transfer, automated cargo handling, underway
replenishment in heavy seas, and others. The committee believes
it is important to ensure these technologies can actually
support the movement of supplies and equipment in heavy seas,
at a rate that will actually sustain a ground force engaged in
combat, before the country makes large investments in MPF(F)
ships.
The Navy has made a number of proposals in this budget
request. One is to build only one surface combatant and one
submarine a year through the years included in the Future Years
Defense Program (FYDP). Another is to delay the completion of
the first ship of the new class of aircraft carrier, the CVN-
78, for the second time in two years. Finally, the Navy has
proposed to reduce the force of active aircraft carriers from
12 to 11. In testimony before the Subcommittee on Seapower of
the Committee on Armed Services, one witness who represented
the shipbuilding industry stated that the single most important
factor in controlling costs of ships was to offer program
stability. Constantly changing budgets, acquisition strategies,
and procurement profiles are as disruptive to maintaining cost
and schedule stability as constantly changing technical
requirements. The Navy's shipbuilding budget is already
underfunded, and the addition of a new platform could only make
the situation worse.
Section 1022(a)(1) of the Bob Stump National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-314)
requires the Secretary of Defense to report to the Committees
on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of
Representatives that funding is adequate to support a 30 year
shipbuilding plan, with a discussion of the necessary naval
vessel force structure to meet the National Security Strategy
of the United States or the most recent Quadrennial Defense
Review. The Navy has submitted an interim 30 year shipbuilding
plan, which does not yet appear to be endorsed by the
Department, and does not appear to be fully funded in the FYDP.
In written testimony before the Subcommittee on Seapower of the
Committee on Armed Services, a Congressional Research Service
analyst describes this plan in the following way: ``The March
2005 report does not present a 30 year shipbuilding plan.
Instead, it presents a 30 year projection of potential Navy
force levels from which potential annual shipbuilding rates can
be only partially inferred.'' The force structures in the Navy
plan are for either 260 ships or 325 ships, both of which
include MPF(F) ships, which are intended to enable the sea
basing concept. While the committee recommends authorization of
the budget request for $66.3 million in PE 48042N for
development of technologies for MPF(F), the committee believes
that the Navy should not proceed to a shipbuilding program for
MPF(F) before the requirements for MPF(F) are more refined, and
that enabling technologies have demonstrated a high probability
of achieving successful operations.

Transmission Enterprise Program

The committee notes that the Army has taken action to
implement the Transmission Enterprise Program (TEP), an effort
to stabilize U.S. combat vehicle transmission production, while
continuing to meet needs driven by the Iraq war. The committee
further notes that the fiscal year 2006 budget request included
no funding specifically dedicated to the TEP. The committee
commends the Army for its efforts to implement the program and
encourages the Army to continue funding the TEP in fiscal year
2006.
TITLE II--RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION

Explanation of tables
The following tables provide the program-level detailed
guidance for the funding authorized in title II of this Act.
The tables also display the funding requested by the
administration in the fiscal year 2006 budget request for
research, development, test and evaluation programs, and
indicate those programs for which the committee either
increased or decreased the requested amounts. As in the past,
the administration may not exceed the authorized amounts (as
set forth in the tables or, if unchanged from the
administration request, as set forth in budget justification
documents of the Department of Defense), without a
reprogramming action in accordance with established procedures.
Unless noted in this report, funding changes to the budget
request are made without prejudice.

Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations

Science and technology
The committee notes the critical role that investments in
defense science and technology (S&T) and basic research play in
developing the revolutionary military capabilities of the
future. These programs also train the next generation of U.S.
scientists, engineers, and technology entrepreneurs who will
maintain complex weapons and defense systems and who will
assist in solving future national security challenges. The
committee remains concerned about the overall funding level for
defense science and research. The committee notes that the
fiscal year 2006 budget request for S&T is below the previous
year's requested level. If in any year from fiscal year 2001 to
2009 the budget request for these research programs does not
increase by 2 percent over inflation, the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (Public Law 106-65)
requires the Department of Defense to certify the impact of the
S&T budget on national security and to initiate a Defense
Science Board study assessing the impact of the proposed budget
on defense technology and the national defense.
The committee notes that the recent National Research
Council report entitled ``Assessment of Department of Defense
Basic Research'' contained a number of findings and
recommendations. The report found that ``in real terms the
resources provided for Department of Defense basic research
have declined substantially over the past decade.'' The report
also found that there has been a recent deemphasis on
``unfettered exploration'' in the basic research program, which
``historically has been a critical enabler of the most
important breakthroughs in military capabilities.'' The
committee is troubled by the lack of support for real
innovative work at the Department, which could have serious
consequences for the development of necessary future military
capabilities. Therefore, the committee recommends an increase
of over $30.0 million in the Department's basic research
accounts.
The committee notes that the National Research Council
report also made a number of recommendations to improve the
execution of the basic research program. The committee directs
the Secretary of Defense to provide a report to the
congressional defense committees no later than March 1, 2006,
which evaluates the National Research Council recommendations
to improve the Department's basic research program, and details
a plan and schedule for the implementation of appropriate
recommendations.
Finally, the committee has provided increases in the S&T
program to support specific focus areas in fiscal year 2006,
including: close to $50.0 million for unmanned systems;
approximately $63.0 million for power technology advances;
nearly $116.0 million for force protection, transformational
technologies, and training innovations; $42.0 million in
manufacturing research and process technologies; over $105.0
million to support counterterrorism efforts; and $68.0 million
for combat casualty care and military medicine, including a
targeted $40.0 million for prevention, mitigation, and
treatment of blast injuries.

Subtitle B--Program Requirements, Restrictions, and Limitations

Contract for the procurement of Future Combat System (sec. 211)
The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of the Army to ensure that the Future Combat System
(FCS), including all projects and equipment that are a part of
the FCS program, be developed and procured through a contract
under the authority of Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition
Regulation (FAR), relating to acquisition of items by
negotiated contract (48 C.F.R. 15.000 et seq.) rather than
through a contract under the authority of section 845 of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public
Law 108-136, 10 U.S.C. 2371 note).
The committee has expressed concern regarding the Army's
use of an ``other transaction authority'' (OTA) contract
vehicle to manage the FCS program. The committee does not
believe that the $20.9 billion agreement entered between the
Army and the Lead Systems Integrator for the FCS program is
consistent with the language and intent of section 845
authority. Section 845 authority is intended to be used for
limited prototype projects, particularly those in which the
Department of Defense seeks to engage nontraditional defense
contractors that may be averse to the requirements imposed by a
standard Department contract.
The committee notes that the Army has announced its intent
to renegotiate this contract to a FAR Part 15 contract. This
provision is intended to support that decision.
Joint field experiment on stability and support operations (sec. 212)
The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of Defense to conduct a joint field experiment
focused on the transition from major combat operations to
stability and support operations required to restore security,
provide for immediate humanitarian needs, and begin the
reconstruction activities necessary to assist a host nation in
achieving self-sufficiency. The committee expects that
responsibility for the conduct of the joint field experiment
would be delegated to the Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command.
Recent experience in Iraq and Afghanistan has highlighted
the importance of planning and training U.S. personnel to
prepare for the conduct and support of stability operations in
post-conflict situations. The Defense Science Board 2004 Summer
Study entitled ``Transition to and from Hostilities''
identified the challenges the United States will face in its
future stabilization and reconstruction efforts, and offered
recommendations for enhancing U.S. effectiveness across the
spectrum of activities from peacetime through stabilization and
reconstruction. These recommendations focused on management
discipline and on building and maintaining certain fundamental
capabilities, now lacking, that are critical to success in
stability and support operations.
In response to recent experience and the Defense Science
Board study, the Secretary is taking steps to place greater
emphasis on the stability operations mission in the Department
of Defense planning and guidance so that the mission is fully
integrated across all Department of Defense activities. The
committee commends the initiative the Secretary has taken to
date and urges him to continue to give this effort a high
priority, to include sufficient resources, senior-level
management attention, and outreach efforts to other agencies
and departments of the U.S. Government who play important roles
in stability and support activities.
The committee notes the establishment within the Department
of State of the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction
and Stabilization whose mission is to lead, coordinate, and
institutionalize U.S. Government civilian capacity to prevent
or prepare for post-conflict situations; and to help stabilize
and reconstruct societies in transition from conflict or civil
strife, so these societies can reach a sustainable path toward
peace, democracy, and a market economy. The committee commends
the Department of Defense's active support of and cooperation
with this new office in the Department of State, and urges the
Department of Defense to continue to deepen its coordination
with the Department of State on planning for and participating
in post-conflict stability operations and reconstruction
efforts.
The committee believes that a joint field experiment will
provide valuable insights for the Department of Defense as it
endeavors to integrate stability and support operations into
mainstream military operations and doctrine. The committee is
concerned, however, that the Department of Defense is only one
element of stability and support activities in the post-
conflict environment. The committee strongly urges the
participation of other departments and agencies of the U.S.
Government, as well as coalition partners, in both the conduct
of the joint field experiment and the formulation of
recommendations to ensure that a comprehensive U.S. Government
and coalition approach to future stability and support
activities is developed.
The committee directs that costs associated with the
conduct of this joint field experiment shall be paid from the
amount authorized to be appropriated for joint experimentation,
PE63727N, in fiscal year 2006.

Subtitle C--Ballistic Missile Defense

One-year extension of Comptroller General assessments of ballistic
missile defense programs (sec. 221)
The committee recommends a provision that would extend
until fiscal year 2007 the requirement for the Comptroller
General to provide an assessment of the extent to which the
Missile Defense Agency achieved the goals established for that
fiscal year for each ballistic missile defense program of the
Department of Defense. The provision would also modify the
submittal date from February 15 to March 15 to provide
additional time to complete this requirement.
Fielding of Ballistic Missile Defense Capabilities (sec. 222)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the use of funds, authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year
2006 or 2007 for research, development, test, and evaluation
for the Missile Defense Agency, for the development and
fielding of ballistic missile defense capabilities.
Plans for test and evaluation of operational capability of the
ballistic missile defense system (sec. 223)
The committee recommends a provision that would direct the
appropriate joint and service operational test and evaluation
components of the Department of Defense, in coordination with
the Missile Defense Agency, to prepare a plan to test,
evaluate, and characterize the operational capability of block
2006 and subsequent blocks of the ballistic missile defense
system. Each plan prepared under this provision shall be
appropriate for the level of technological maturity of the
block to be tested, and shall be subject to the review and
approval of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation
(DOT&E). Additionally, DOT&E shall provide a report at the
conclusion of testing for each block of the ballistic missile
defense system containing an assessment as to whether or not
such testing was adequate to evaluate the operational
capability of the block and a characterization as to the
operational effectiveness, suitability, and survivability of
the block capability, as appropriate for the level of
technological maturity of the block to be tested.

Subtitle D--High-Performance Defense Manufacturing Technology Research
and Development

High performance defense manufacturing technology research and
development (sec. 230)
The committee recommends a set of provisions that would
require the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition,
Technology and Logistics to identify advanced manufacturing
processes and techniques whose utilization would result in
significant productivity and efficiency gains in the defense
manufacturing base. The provision would direct the Under
Secretary to pursue the development of innovative manufacturing
processes and advanced technologies and to facilitate the
creation of extended production enterprises, which leverage
information technology and innovative organizational models.
In addition, the provision would direct the Under Secretary
to take appropriate actions, such as establishment of
agreements with relevant Department of Defense components,
including the Joint Defense Manufacturing Technology Panel, to
accelerate transition of transformational processes and
technologies from science and technology to the defense
manufacturing base. The provision would also direct the Under
Secretary to develop and implement a set of activities to
continuously identify and utilize improvements in innovative
manufacturing processes and to diffuse best practices to
industry. This may include taking steps to identify incentives
for adoption of manufacturing advances in the industrial base.
Finally, to ensure that technology efforts in industry are
well coordinated with future defense technology requirements,
the Under Secretary may initiate one or more technology
roadmapping exercises. These roadmaps would be developed
jointly with industry, and would plan the development and
adoption of manufacturing processes and technologies needed for
future defense capabilities.

Subtitle E--Other Matters

Expansion of eligibility for leadership of Department of Defense Test
Resource Management Center (sec. 241)
The committee recommends a provision that would eliminate
the requirement that the director and the deputy director of
the Defense Test Resource Management Center be selected by the
Secretary of Defense from among current and former civilian and
military employees of the Department of Defense. Under this
provision, candidates should be chosen based on their
experience with test and evaluation programs regardless of
employment history with the Department.
Technology transition (sec. 242)
The committee recommends a provision that would clarify the
role of the Technology Transition Council, which was
established in the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-314) to provide advice and
assistance to the manager of the Technology Transition
Initiative. The provision would stipulate the duty of the
council to support the Undersecretary of Defense for
Acquisition, Technology and Logistics in the development of
policies to facilitate the rapid transition of technologies
from the science and technology base into acquisition programs.
The Council would provide advice and support to all technology
transition efforts. The provision would require the Secretary
of Defense, working through the Technology Transition Council,
to submit a report to the congressional defense committees
outlining a strategy for technology transition and detailing
the impact of internal Department of Defense processes and
regulations on technology transition efforts. The report would
also make recommendations for improvement of technology
transition and for elimination of any identified impediments.
The report shall be submitted with the fiscal year 2007 budget
request.
The committee is concerned that the council has been
focused on one transition program, and has not met at the
principal-level frequently enough to provide advice and
leadership on technology transition programs across the
Department. The committee believes the council should meet at
least semi-annually at the principal-level, if it is to
adequately fulfill its mission.
The budget for technology transition has grown by 23
percent in the last four years. During this same time period,
the Department created additional programs to rapidly field new
capabilities and equipment. Test and evaluation has been
accelerated to accommodate immediate needs. Taken together,
these developments underscore the importance of an active,
senior Technology Transition Council. Senior leadership
attention should focus on ensuring success of these technology
transition programs, identifying and overcoming barriers to
utilization of the most innovative solutions and recommending
any needed policy direction for the test and evaluation
process.
Prevention, mitigation, and treatment of blast injuries (sec. 243)
The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of Defense to designate a senior official as the
executive agent to coordinate and manage a joint service
comprehensive blast injury prevention, mitigation, and
treatment program. The provision would require review and
assessment of a coordinated, department-wide research effort to
include: blast characterization; modeling and simulation of
safe stand-off distances; ``detect and defeat'' capabilities;
and armor design and material testing for blast, ballistic, and
fire protection. The provision would also require design of a
comprehensive flexible armor system and support for emerging
military medical technologies, devices, and treatments specific
to blast injuries.
The provision would require the executive agent to:
(1) conduct studies of blast injury, with an emphasis
on traumatic brain injury;
(2) develop improved clinical treatment and
diagnostic protocols;
(3) develop integrated treatment approaches for
service members who suffer multiple injuries from
blast;
(4) conduct three or more pilot projects to study the
incidence in returning soldiers of traumatic brain
injury;
(5) develop protocols for medical tracking of members
for up to five years following blast injury; and
(6) refine and improve educational interventions for
blast injury survivors and their families.
It is the committee's intent that the Departments of
Defense and Veterans Affairs' Head Injury Project at Walter
Reed Army Medical Center lead clinical and diagnostic services
required by this provision.
The provision would also require: (1) the establishment of
a training program for medical and non-medical personnel on the
prevention, mitigation, and treatment of blast injuries
intended to improve field and clinical training on early
identification of blast injury; and (2) the expansion of
treatment programs, including those at the Departments of
Defense and Veterans Affairs' Brain Injury Center, intended to
enhance the evaluation and care of members of the Armed Forces
with consequence of blast injury, especially traumatic brain
injury.
The provision would further require the Secretary to submit
a report to the congressional defense committees by February
15, 2007. The report would include: (1) a description of
Department of Defense activities and efforts to improve the
prevention, mitigation, and treatment of blast injuries; (2) a
consolidated budget presentation on these programs; (3) a
description of capability gaps in addressing blast injuries;
(4) an explanation of collaborative work with other agencies,
departments, and governments; (5) a description of efforts to
disseminate blast injury research and treatment efforts; and
(6) an update on the development status of comprehensive
personnel protection systems.
The committee notes the change in historical patterns of
wounding in the global war on terrorism due to the
proliferation of blast weapons. High velocity gun shot wounds,
once the predominant cause of military casualties, represent
less than 10 percent of wounds today. Advances in military
medicine, protective equipment, and highly successful training
efforts have led to the highest survival rates in military
history, making treatment and care, especially for new or
poorly understood injuries, important.
Over one-third of all U.S. injuries in Operation Iraqi
Freedom and close to half of fatalities are the result of
blasts. Multiple site injuries from blasts are common. Over 60
percent of head and neck injuries are the result of blasts. The
committee believes it is time to focus attention and resources
on a coordinated approach to addressing the blast threat from
the beginning--pre-detonation defeat--through the end--full
understanding of blast injuries and appropriate diagnosis,
treatment, and care.
The committee recommends an increase of over $40.0 million
in targeted research, development, test and evaluation program
elements for accelerated work specific to confronting blast
injury prevention, mitigation, and treatment challenges. The
committee also recommends an increase of $20.0 million in the
Defense Health Program to facilitate expansion of clinical
trials, treatments, and studies required by this provision.

Additional Matters of Interest

Army

Army basic research
The budget request included $137.9 million in PE 61102A,
for defense research sciences. The committee is concerned with
the long term viability of the defense research program,
especially those efforts geared at developing innovative
solutions to address emerging and future challenges. Ongoing
work in the areas of materials and composites for flexible
armor, neuroscience, textiles with embedded sensors, efficient
vehicle operations, and basic terrain analysis modeling and
simulation are a few of the many research examples that
contribute to meeting the needs of the warfighter. The
committee recommends an increase of $12.5 million in PE 61102A
for expansion of Army basic science, including $2.5 million for
research in brain imaging deception detection; $2.0 million for
moldable fabric armor to increase force protection options;
$2.0 million for functionally integrated reactive surface
technologies to develop protective, intelligent, and adaptive
textiles; $2.0 million to enable transition of low temperature
vehicle research; $3.0 million for desert terrain analysis
research; and $1.0 million for advanced ground vehicle
reliability research.
Document exploitation
The budget request included no funding for Research,
Development, Test, and Evaluation, Army, for Security Defense
Research Sciences, in PE 61102A, for development of advanced
document exploitation equipment.
Portable, rugged document exploitation equipment is
currently not widely available to military personnel operating
in deployed, austere environments. The technology exists to
develop lightweight equipment that can scan documents, quickly
search for important information in native languages, and
transmit potentially valuable documents back to exploitation
facilities quickly, thus providing battlefield commanders with
rapid exploitation of captured information. Recent experiences
in Afghanistan and Iraq have demonstrated the value of such
capabilities and the requirement for additional, improved
capabilities.
The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million in PE
61102A, to continue development, product improvement, and
fielding of portable document exploitation systems.
Army university research
The budget request included $82.0 million in PE 61104A, for
university and industry research centers. Significant advances
in materials technologies, materials processing, and secure
communications require continued fundamental research to serve
as the building blocks for Army future combat systems. The
committee recommends an increase of $6.5 million in PE 61104A
for university research, including $2.0 million for strategic
defense systems manufacturing technology basic research; $2.5
million for expanded continuation of the nanotubes optimized
for lightweight exceptional strength composite project; $2.0
million for integrated systems in sensing, imaging, and
communications research to provide secure optical connections.
Advanced mine detection and blast mitigation
The budget request included $17.6 million in PE 62105A, for
materials technology. Army materials research efforts in blast
resistant structures, composites, and the equipment to test
them contribute to immediate and long term force protection
needs. The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million in
PE 62105A for expansion of promising materials technology
research, including $3.0 million for advanced mine detection
and blast mitigation and $2.0 million for lightweight blast
containment vessel development, improved computational
simulation capabilities, and early testing of optimized vessel
designs.
Army small airship
The budget request included $32.1 million in PE 62120A, for
sensors and electronic survivability. Asymmetric threats and
unpredictable battlefields increase the importance of sensors
in spotting and preventing hostile action and in targeting
assets. An adaptive, modular, autonomous vehicle capable of
operating in a variety of environments and performing various
functions during a single mission should provide the warfighter
with an important stand off tool.
The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE
62120A to provide focused attention on solving some of the
technical challenges involved in autonomous control,
adaptability between tethered and untethered flight, and load
exchange for a small airship surveillance system.
Detection and neutralization of improved explosive devices
The budget request included $32.1 million in PE 62120A, for
sensors and electronics survivability and $49.5 million in PE
62782N, for mine and expeditionary warfare applied research.
The Department of Defense is pursuing a broad short and long
term research effort to confront the threat posed by improvised
explosive devices (IEDs). Substantial achievements made in the
areas of sensors, jammers, and pre detonation devices support
current operations. As efforts continue to move solutions to
the field as quickly as possible, an additional avenue of
exploration is underway to invent more comprehensive tools for
IED neutralization. Many IEDs are remotely initiated using
inexpensive commercial electronics. These control mechanisms
may all be subject to a low level of electricity leakage, which
could be detected at a considerable distance with special
equipment.
The committee supports the Department's efforts to explore
alternative and imaginative approaches to combating the IED
threat in the long-term. The committee recommends an increase
of $2.0 million in PE 62120A to accelerate development of an
innovative remote sensor monitoring technology designed to lead
to a mobile test bed for advanced stand-off detection of
explosives. The committee further recommends an increase of
$3.0 million in PE 62782N for development of a field prototype
detection and neutralization device.
Real-time laser threat warning development
The budget request included $19.1 million in PE 62270A, for
electronic warfare technology. The Army supports key goals in
the area of battlespace survivability and acquisition of enemy
targets under this account. The ability to detect heat seeking
missiles and those guided by lasers with real-time location of
the laser source and identification of the source
characteristics would enhance missile countermeasure efforts.
The committee recommends an increase in PE 62270A of $4.0
million to continue development of a prototype to field test a
high performance, low cost laser threat warning and missile
countermeasure system utilizing MEMS-based beam steering
technology.
Army unmanned systems initiative
The budget request included $62.5 million in PE 62303A, for
missile technology. As use of unmanned aerial vehicles
increases, integration tools, testing processes, and training
procedures must keep pace. The committee recommends an increase
of $5.0 million in PE 62303A for an unmanned systems initiative
and expanded testing of unmanned vehicles and teams of vehicles
during long, autonomous flights. The program would also develop
airspace management procedures for vehicles with different
payloads, and would provide joint training for control of
vehicle weapons assignments and on the use of communication
protocols.
Technology enhancement for area protection
The budget request included $62.5 million in PE 62303A for
missile technology. The committee is aware that the Army has
identified the enhanced area air defense system (EAADS) as the
key element in defending against rockets, artillery and
mortars, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise
missiles. While the Army continues to develop radar elements to
support EAADS, the committee is aware of the need to evolve the
systems integration tools and technologies necessary to operate
a comprehensive battlefield system to address the threat.
The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million in PE
62303A for the enhanced area protection and survivability
science and technology program to develop technologies to be
integrated into force protection systems to support EAADS
requirements, as well as near-term force protection for
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Multifunctional robot platform
The budget request included $16.0 million in PE 62308A, for
advanced concepts and simulations. Various robotic platforms
with force protection applications under development by the
Army show promise in addressing sniper, mortar, and rocket
propelled grenade threats. The committee recommends an increase
of $3.0 million in PE 62308A for rapid integration of optical
technology and advanced acoustic detection and direction
finding hardware into the robot enhanced detection outpost with
lasers platform (RedOwl).
Combat vehicle and automotive technology
The budget request included $64.9 million in PE 62601A, for
combat vehicle and automotive technology. Component
technologies explored under this account support the Army's
current and future combat and tactical vehicle fleets. Present
engine systems fail to provide adequate measurement and data
retrieval necessary to increase engine efficiency, resulting in
faster fuel burn rates.
The committee recommends an increase of $3.5 million in PE
62601A for development of advanced electric drives designed to
result in easily replaceable, quiet, robust engines with
greater power density and torque.
The committee further recommends an increase of $6.0
million in PE 62601A to address the needs of the Department of
Defense for alternative fuels and fundamental research on
robotic ground vehicles. Specifically, the committee recommends
increases of $3.0 million for a defense transportation energy
research project focused on military use of advanced fuels; and
$3.0 million for unmanned vehicle control technologies to
increase control, vision, and navigation systems in robotic
ground vehicles.
Gun barrel coatings
The budget request included $49.2 million in PE 62618A, for
ballistics technology. Gun barrel wear accounts for nearly 80
percent of annual armament costs. Hard ceramic coatings such as
titanium nitride could increase the wear and the life of such
armaments by as much as five to eight times over current
processes, with a projected proportionate reduction in armament
costs. The committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million in
PE 62618A for the development of hard, wear-resistant coatings
for the inside surfaces of gun barrels.
Active coatings technology
The budget request included $37.8 million in PE 62624A, for
weapons and munitions technology. Selected research in the
areas of advanced, adaptable armor and coatings to protect
personnel and equipment from ballistic and blast threats is
approaching the testing phase. The committee recommends an
increase of $3.5 million in PE 62624A for research and
development of longer lasting, cost-effective coatings that
adapt to conditions in real-time.
Sonic rarefaction wave gun technology
The budget request included $37.8 million in PE 62624A, for
weapons and munitions technology. The Army's plan to acquire
lighter, faster, more expeditionary vehicles affects
requirements for vehicle-mounted weapons systems. The committee
recommends an increase of $2.5 million in PE 62624A for the
rarefaction wave gun. This gun shows potential for 50 percent
weight and heat reductions and 75 percent reduced recoil while
at the same time maintaining current muzzle energy.
Ultra wideband sensors
The budget request included $37.8 million in PE 62624A, for
weapons and munitions technology. Today's military faces
battlefields in neighborhoods, small towns, and cities as often
as in open deserts, forests, or jungles. Advanced sensors and
imaging resolution combined with unmanned platforms make
possible extended visibility and situational awareness. One
current challenge to achieving full battlespace awareness
involves through-the-wall sight. The committee recommends an
increase of $2.0 million in PE 62624A for advanced research on
a hand-portable through-wall radar system.
Army man-portable power
The budget request included $39.6 million in PE 62705A, for
electronics and electronic devices. The Army needs battery
systems to deliver reliable, lightweight, constant and, when
needed, high surge power, especially for the dismounted
soldier. The zinc air battery system has the potential to
provide at least twice the energy density as other battery
systems and up to 4 times or more the high discharge or
constant power rate as common battery systems.
The committee recommends an increase of $8.0 million in PE
62705A for accelerated advances in man-portable power,
including $3.0 million to develop prototype designs for the
zinc air battery; $2.0 million for a portable solid oxide fuel
cell power generation demonstrator capable of using JP-8 fuel;
and $3.0 million for a hybrid advanced soldier power system
that, when coupled with device-specific adapters, would power
existing and legacy gear for 72-hour autonomous missions.
Flexible Display Initiative
The budget request includes $39.6 million in PE 62705A, for
electronics and electronic devices, including $5.0 million, for
the Flexible Display Center. Equipment, materials, and
technology on flexible displays and microelectronics facilitate
creation of next generation communication products, which are
key to the Army's transformation efforts. The Army's planned
funding for flexible display research is insufficient for the
manufacturing capability necessary to support the Army's stated
goals for displays and does not include a tools and materials
component. The competitively bid, peer-reviewed Flexible
Display Initiative achieves a 62 percent industry cost share in
leveraging the Army's research funding. The committee
recommends an increase of $4.0 million in PE 62705A for the
Flexible Display Initiative to undertake additional materials
and manufacturing technology projects aimed at ensuring the
Army meets flexible display goals in a timely manner.
Ultra wideband chipset
The budget request included $21.8 million in PE 62782A, for
command, control, and communications technology. The Army
invested in ultra wideband radio technology with the potential
to provide extremely covert communications platforms,
situational awareness, and through-wall and ground penetrating
radar. The developed technology, which is compatible with, but
not dependent on current and future communication systems,
requires transition funds for integration and pre-production
prototyping. The committee recommends an increase of $2.0
million in PE 62782A for transition of the ultra wideband radio
frequency chipset to meet Army power consumption, range, and
bit rate requirements.
Biosecurity research for food safety
The budget request included $21.7 million in PE 62786A, for
warfighter technology, but no funding for food security and
safety monitoring capabilities. The Army must protect the U.S.
military's food supply and associated supply chain
infrastructures. Technologies to rapidly and reliably detect
food contaminants would positively impact soldier health,
performance, and effectiveness. The committee recommends an
increase of $2.5 million in PE 62786A for development of
methods and equipment to detect real-time biohazards in the
food supply.
Army medicine for mitigation and treatment of blast injuries
The budget request included $74.7 million in PE 62787A, for
medical technology and $45.2 million in PE 63002A, for medical
advanced technology. Care for uniformed personnel, including
adaptation to changing wound patterns and long-term quality of
life for injured combat veterans, are key priorities for the
committee and are the focus of a Blast Injury Prevention,
Mitigation, and Treatment Initiative under section 243 of this
Act.
The committee recommends a series of increases in PE 62787A
and PE 63002A to advance emerging, life saving medical
technologies and to accelerate testing, trials, and production
of new devices and treatments. Specifically, the committee
recommends project increases in PE 62787A totaling $9.8 million
and in PE 63002A totaling $18.0 million for the following
projects.
Under PE 62787A, the committee recommends:
(1) $2.6 million for a biofoam bleeding sealant for
battlefield trauma for further development of existing
protein hydrogel technology and acceleration of
approval to field the product to forward surgical
teams;
(2) $1.2 million for non-linting silver antimicrobial
wound dressing technology that would combine infection
protection and fluid transport over a period of days
for use in forward locations or in the event that
medical care is not readily available;
(3) $2.0 million for the hemorrhage control
(Chitosan) dressing, to support an Army unfunded need
to conduct research on internal application of the
bandage;
(4) $1.0 million for warfighter face and eye injury
protection and a two-year accelerated development
process to test performance of a new composite face
shield; and
(5) $3.0 million to augment Army work in
characterization of armor for blast, ballistic, and
fire protection.
Under PE 63002A, the committee recommends:
(1) $3.0 million for advanced tissue engineering
techniques to rapidly deploy replacement blood vessels
and other tissues, which have been demonstrated to form
new cell layers in a matter of hours, compared to days
or weeks under current treatments;
(2) $2.0 million for advances in solider treatment
regeneration and the science of regenerative medicine
to explore novel approaches to restoration of
biological function after injury and the science of
tissue engineering, cellular therapies, bio-surgery,
and artificial and bio-hybrid organ devices to reduce
mortality and morbidity from battlefield injuries;
(3) $4.0 million for acute care of blast effects and
head injuries including a focused effort on research
and data collection specific to blast injuries
involving concussions and persistent symptoms;
(4) $3.0 million for accelerated research and
approval of forward use of recombinant activated factor
VII by medics at the point of injury to greatly
increase survival times prior to surgery;
(5) $1.0 million for the advanced development of the
composite warfighter face and eye protection;
(6) $2.0 million for applied emergency hypothermia
research to support innovative suspended animation and
delayed resuscitation treatment directed at saving
those severely injured in combat; and
(7) $3.0 million for continued development of the
fibrogen bandage.
Bio-defense detection and treatment
The budget request included $74.7 million in PE 62787A, for
medical technology and $45.2 million in PE 63003A, for medical
advanced technology. The Army needs easy-to-use devices to
reliably detect the presence of bio-warfare agents. Upon
detection and identification, the Army also requires new
medicines to protect military personnel from biological agents.
The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE
62787A for accelerated research and development of a
colorimetric biosensor device that would provide deployed units
with a rapid, one-step, disposable bacterial pathogen detector.
The committee further recommends an increase of $2.0
million in PE 62787A for enhanced research on a bio-defense
gene knockout technology designed to enable treatment and
prevention regimes against bio-warfare agents. The proposed
technology would improve current, single-agent defenses and
would counter agents possessing drug resistant or other bio-
engineered features.
Finally, the committee recommends an increase of $5.0
million in PE 63002A for bio-defense medical technologies; $3.0
million for expansion of research to apply alternative vaccine
delivery technologies to combination treatments against
anthrax, plague, toxic shock, and botulism; and $2.0 million
for continued research and timely clinical trials on the
surgical wound disinfection and biological agents project.
Posttraumatic stress disorder diagnostic tools
The budget request included $74.7 million in PE 62787A, for
medical technology. Accurate and timely diagnosis of
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) supports recovery and a
higher quality of life for combat veterans. Additional basic
research, early clinical trials, and development of predictive
tools lead to accurate identification of PTSD conditions and
would assist medical personnel in distinguishing posttraumatic
stress from traumatic brain injuries. The committee recommends
an increase of $1.0 million in PE 62787A for PTSD research.

Surgical safety system

The budget request included $74.7 million in PE 62787A, for
medical technology. One of many areas of exploration for
improved combat medical care involves advanced information
technologies for remote monitoring and improved patient
management in deployed surgical environments. The committee
recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PE 62787A for the
surgical safety system to support goals of the Army's Operating
Room of the Future concept.

Human operator performance research

The budget request included $45.2 million in PE 63003A, for
medical advanced technology. Soldiers confront numerous risk
factors and toxic agents present in military environments. The
committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE 63003A
for a program to assess, develop, and advance computer-based
testing technologies. The resulting diagnostic capabilities
would determine human reactions to proposed toxic agent
treatments and countermeasures.

Wireless and digital medical improvements

The budget request included $45.2 million in PE 63002A, for
medical advanced technology, but no funding for acceleration of
wireless capabilities and records digitization. The use of
wireless networks and computerized medical files reduces time
spent by military medical personnel in processing, accessing,
and updating medical records. Development of a wireless,
adaptable network would accelerate accurate and efficient
patient care, reduce errors, and facilitate transfer of medical
records.
The committee recommends an increase in PE 63002A of $1.4
million for a pilot program to implement use of wireless
medical records at Walter Reed Medical Center. The committee
further recommends increases of $1.0 million in PE 63002A for
the untethered healthcare project and development of
technologies to facilitate remote triage and improve casualty
status and assessment and $2.0 million for expanded diagnosis
through digital imaging recognition. This research will produce
digitally accessible files to help attending physicians
accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of service members in-
theater and in medical care facilities.

Reconfigurable tooling systems

The budget request included $48.3 million in PE 63003A, for
advanced aviation technology. Many Army aircraft and unmanned
aerial vehicles contain components composed of fiber-reinforced
materials. When these parts require repair, delays in
maintenance and availability of replacements adversely affect
readiness. The committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million
in PE 63003A for completion of a portable, reconfigurable
tooling system capable of creating the specific repair tools
and aviation composite materials at the maintenance site.

Rotorcraft system monitoring

The budget request included $48.3 million in PE 63003A, for
aviation advanced technology. Helicopters play an important
role in support, relief, and combat missions throughout the
world. Timely improvement of maintenance techniques,
procedures, and automatic optimized digital engine controls are
critical to supporting the increased use of and reliance on
these platforms. The committee recommends an increase of $5.5
million in PE 63003A, including $1.5 million for integrated
rotorcraft system monitoring and $4.0 million for the universal
control-full authority digital engine control project.

Unmanned tactical combat vehicles

The budget request included $48.2 million in PE 63003A, for
aviation advanced technology and $82.5 million in PE 63114N,
for power projection advanced technology, but no funding for a
prototype unmanned combat aerial vehicle designed specifically
for emergency rapid response. The committee is aware of the
near-term requirement for a cost-effective, survivable,
tactical unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) capable of
reaching conflict areas in a timely manner, engaging and
destroying targets of opportunity, providing overhead coverage
at trouble spots, such as roadside ambushes, and operating
without runways or launch mechanisms. The committee recommends
an increase in PE 63003A of $7.9 million and in PE 63114N of
$1.0 million to address this requirement through construction
of two proof of principle Excalibur demonstrators.

Mid-range munition

The budget request included $74.9 million in PE 63004A, for
weapons and munitions advanced technology, including $10.0
million for the mid-range munition. The committee recommends an
increase of $6.0 million in PE 63004A to accelerate development
of the mid-range munition to meet targeted prototyping,
demonstration, and fielding time frames.

Nanotechnology manufacturing

The budget request included $74.9 million in PE 63004A, for
weapons and munitions advanced technology. Research efforts to
produce composite structures and new materials constructed from
the nano-scale for weapons, munitions, and fire control
applications will require unique, efficient manufacturing
processes. The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million
in PE 63004A for nanotechnology manufacturing.

Abrams track improvement

The budget request included $142.9 million in PE 63005A,
for combat vehicle and automotive advanced technology. The Army
strives to reduce life cycle costs and maintenance requirements
while increasing reliability for mission critical hardware such
as the Abrams tank, even as operations in current theaters tax
mechanical limits. The committee recommends an increase of $3.0
million in PE 63005A for production and qualification testing
of a new Abrams track, which could reduce life cycle costs by
20 percent while increasing reliability, availability, and
maintainability of the component and the equipment.

Combat vehicle advanced development

The budget request included $142.9 million in PE 63005A,
for combat vehicle and automotive advanced technology. The
committee recommends an increase of $26.0 million in PE 63005A
for the expanded development of automotive technologies in
support of Army transformation goals for a lighter, more lethal
force with heightened security and survivability. Specifically,
the committee recommends increases of: $4.0 million for
advanced thermal management; $2.0 million for a collaborative
approach to a non-line-of-sight cannon and mortar; $3.0 million
for a composite armored cab; $2.0 million for fastening and
joining research; $2.0 million for power electronic systems
research; $5.0 million for hydraulic hybrid vehicle technology;
$2.0 million for next generation nontactical vehicle
propulsion; $3.0 million for solid oxide fuel cell materials
and manufacturing; and $3.0 million for an anti-ballistic
windshield armor designed for rapid installation, better
operator visibility, and higher levels of projectile
protection.

Coordinated training

The budget request included $6.8 million in PE 63007A, for
manpower, personnel, and training advanced technology. The Army
is working to ensure that the ``human component'' of
warfighting keeps pace with the transformation in systems,
weapons, equipment, and requirements. Development of more
effective collective training methods, which include a
standardized program to capture the latest lessons learned from
current combat operations, would reduce the time required for
training and practicing critical new skills. The committee
recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE 63007A for
continued development of the battle command team training
program and incorporation of realistic, relevant, and timely
practice events for use by commanders and battle staff.

Advanced simulated training

The budget request included $20.0 million in PE 63015A, for
next generation training and simulation systems. The joint
fires and effects training system typifies leading edge
simulator technology currently in use. The committee commends
the Army for its innovative approach to highly immersive and
successful training and simulation environments. Realistic
training has been credited in part with a reduction in casualty
rates as troops preparing for deployment learn from those who
are in theater or who are just returning.
The committee recommends an increase of $3.5 million in PE
63015A for development of additional, deployable modules for
the joint fires and effects training system. The committee
further recommends an increase of $3.5 million in PE 63015A for
the final phase of the CAVE automatic virtual environment
project to produce a fully self-sustaining visualization
laboratory in support of environmental science research and
military training for desert conditions.

Explosive demilitarization

The budget request included $9.9 million in PE 63103A, for
explosive demilitarization technology. The Army supports
programs under this account to develop safe, efficient,
environmentally-compliant technologies to enhance existing
methods for munitions resource recovery, recycling, and
treatment. The committee recommends an increase of $1.0 million
in PE 63103A for development of a demilitarization approach
that incorporates an innovative solid fuel feed technology with
a modified reactor.

Alternative fuel supplies

The budget request included $6.3 million in PE 63125A, for
combating terrorism technology development. Adequate, reliable,
and cost-efficient fuel supplies are important for military
operations in changing environments with logistical supply
chain challenges. Portable, alternative fuel systems continue
to offer possible long-term solutions, if successfully
configured to meet military requirements. The committee
recommends an increase of $4.0 million in PE 63125A for
continued development of advanced mobile microgrid fueler
systems to demonstrate innovations in converting biomass to
synthetic gas or synfuel. The advanced fueler system would
complement the ongoing Army Advanced Mobile Microgrid program,
and would provide a reduced logistical footprint when deployed
and backup power in case of grid failure.

Stryker vehicle active protection system demonstration

The budget request included $70.1 million in PE 63313A for
missile and rocket advanced technology development, including
$5.0 million for integration of the close-in active protection
system (CIAPS) into the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled
Vehicle (HMMWV), but no funding for CIAPS integration into a
Stryker vehicle. In fiscal year 2005, the Army demonstrated
that a prototype CIAPS mounted on a light armored vehicle could
defeat rocket propelled grenades (RPGs). The committee supports
any initiative that fields systems that provides additional
force protection capabilities to our troops. HMMWVs and Stryker
vehicles deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom require RPG
protection. The committee understands that the need and
opportunity for integrating CIAPS technology on Stryker emerged
after planning for the fiscal year budget request was
completed. The committee recommends an increase of $12.0
million in PE 63313A for a Stryker active protection system,
for a total authorization of $82.1 million in PE 63313A.

Advanced structures and composites

The budget request included $7.3 million in PE 63734A, for
military engineering advanced technology. Early in a military
deployment, the majority of military personnel live in soft
shelters or tents. In current conflicts, nearly every position
is vulnerable to attack. The Army is exploring lightweight,
affordable, rapidly deployable, forward construction methods
that provide ballistic protection. The committee recommends an
increase of $3.0 million in PE 63734A to accelerate solutions
that employ hybrid wood and advanced fiber material and
structure systems to combine cost efficiency, ease of assembly,
and ballistic protection.

Army command and control visualization system

The budget request included $14.6 million in PE 63305A for
Army system integration (non space), but no funding for
interactive modeling and simulation management capabilities.
The committee notes that effective modeling and simulation
is necessary for the development of missile defense and other
military capabilities. Next generation architectural solutions
for command and control and situational awareness are now being
developed. The committee recognizes that funding could be used
to mature technology and continue to combine government
furnished components and commercial, off-the-shelf products to
support the warfighter from the classroom to the field.
The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE
63305A to support continued development of interactive modeling
and simulation management capabilities of the Army Space and
Missile Defense Command to support the warfighter.

Interactive modeling and simulation management

The budget request included $14.6 million in PE 63305A for
missile defense systems integration, but no funding for
interactive modeling and simulation management capability.
The committee notes that effective modeling and simulation
is essential to the development of missile defense and other
military capabilities. Likewise, a process to coordinate and
manage activities related to the verification and validation of
modeling and simulation tools is needed to support these
capabilities.
The committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PE
63305A for development of technologies and processes to support
verification and validation of modeling and simulation.

Next generation interceptor materials

The budget request included $14.6 million in PE 63305A for
Army missile defense system integration, but no funding for
next generation interceptor (NGI) materials research.
Next generation ballistic missile interceptors will be
designed to intercept longer range and more complex threats. To
intercept complex threats, lightweight and highly maneuverable
kill vehicles are required. The NGI materials research program
proposes developing both a lightweight composite missile
launcher and an advanced composite kill vehicle airframe. The
Department of the Army and the Missile Defense Agency has
assessed this item to have high military value.
The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million in PE
63305A for next generation interceptor materials research for
development of lightweight composite missile launchers and
advanced composite kill vehicle airframes.

Long loiter sensor and communications platform

The budget request included $9.3 million in PE 63308A for
Army missile defense system integration, but no funding for
near-space long loiter sensor and communications.
The Army currently maintains a fleet of unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs) that utilize Air Force space-borne sensors and
communications devices to provide direct surveillance and
reconnaissance support to the warfighter in theater. The
committee understands that a near-space long loiter craft able
to continually view the entire theater of operations could
provide significant operational cost savings by decreasing the
numbers of UAVs and other sensors necessary for reconnaissance,
surveillance, and blue force tracking.
The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million in PE
63308A to refine the requirements, conduct concept evaluations,
and develop integrated test beds to assess the capabilities of
programs related to sensor payloads for near-space long
loitering craft.

Architecture Analysis Program

The budget request included $81.0 million in PE 63327A for
air and missile defense system engineering, but no funding for
the Air, Space, and Missile Defense Architecture Analysis
Program (A3P).
A3P is a modeling and simulation effort to assist in the
systems analysis of air, space, and missile defense
capabilities to provide an effective defense against cruise
missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, aircraft, rockets,
artillery, and ballistic missiles of all ranges. The committee
recognizes that these simulation capabilities are necessary to
support air, space, and missile defense efforts across a broad
spectrum of military operations from major theater wars to
homeland security.
The committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PE
63327A for A3P to support air, space, and missile defense
modeling and simulation.

Single Integrated Space Picture

The budget request included $83.1 million in PE 63327A for
Air and Missile Defense Systems Engineering, of which $15.0
million is for the Single Integrated Space Picture (SISP)
program.
SISP is an initiative within the Combatant Commanders
Integrated Command and Control System program to provide an
integrated picture of space capabilities, threats, and
operations. The committee notes that the Army Missile and Space
initiative has included work to develop decision support
software for use by space operators in support of joint
operations center commanders. The software is designed to
receive and integrate information from multiple sources,
providing a consolidated picture to improve space situational
awareness. The committee recommends an addition of $2.0 million
in PE 63327A for the continued development, production, and
field demonstration of this software.

Casting Emissions Reduction Program

The budget request included $5.17 million in PE 63779A for
environmental quality technology demonstration/validation, but
no funding for the Casting Emissions Reduction Program (CERP).
The CERP is validating advanced materials and processes for the
reduction of hazardous emissions from foundry operations,
advancing emission measurement methods for the Department of
Defense and related industries, and is supporting lightweight
metals technology transfer to fulfill military requirements.
The committee recommends funding CERP to continue to improve
manufacturing technologies used to produce casting materials
such as aluminum and titanium to assist the Army in achieving
its goal of becoming a lighter, more highly-mobile fighting
force.
The committee recommends an increase of $6.2 million in PE
63779A for the CERP.

Advanced Army medical systems

The budget request included $10.1 million in PE 63807A, for
medical systems advanced development. The committee recommends
an increase of $4.5 million in PE 63807A to accelerate
deployment of medical treatments to mitigate blast injuries.
Specifically, the committee recommends an increase of $1.0
million for an Army requirement to pursue approval of the
intravenous fluids warming system; $2.5 million to produce a
safe, portable oxygen system for patients during evacuations;
and $1.0 million to extend the shelf life of red blood cells by
6 weeks.

Joint Tactical Radio System

The budget request included a total of $923.7 million for
the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) development across the
Department of Defense. JTRS is intended to provide seamless,
real-time communications among warfighters--through voice,
data, and video--within and across the services through
software programmable radio technology. Service requirements
are ``clustered'' so that similar requirements can be met with
a single acquisition effort. The lead service for each
acquisition effort serves as the cluster manager. The Army is
the manager for JTRS clusters 1 and 5 radios; the Special
Operations Command is the manager for cluster 2 radios; and the
Navy and Air Force are the managers for cluster 3 and 4 radios,
respectively. In March 2005, the Department restructured the
JTRS program to include a new Joint Program Executive Office
(PEO), which will coordinate JTRS development.
The budget request included $156.7 million in PE 64280A,
for JTRS waveform development and Program Management Office
(PMO) activities; $393.1 million in PE 64805A, including $375.0
million for JTRS cluster 1 and JTRS cluster 5 hardware
development; and $23.5 million in PE 64201A for JTRS aviation
hardware development and integration. This funding supports
Army JTRS responsibilities as the Joint Program Management
Office and clusters 1 and 5 manager.
The committee has supported the JTRS program in the past
and continues to believe that a software programmable radio is
achievable despite the technical challenges associated thus far
with JTRS program development. However, the committee is
concerned about recent events regarding JTRS.
a. The program faces a 30-month delay due to a JTRS
hardware redesign to meet National Security Agency
certification requirements.
b. On January 14, 2005, the Deputy Under Secretary of
Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics,
issued a partial ``stop work'' order to the JTRS
cluster 1 contractor so that the contractor could focus
the program on the early operational assessment of the
program's maturity and capabilities.
c. On April 25, 2005, the JTRS cluster 1 contractor
was issued a ``show cause'' letter indicating the JTRS
program would be terminated in 30 days unless the
contractor could satisfactorily answer questions
regarding cost, performance, and schedule.
The committee believes that the stop work and potential
contract termination actions will require a significant amount
of time for resolution and will require a JTRS program
restructure or rebaseline. Therefore, the committee recommends
a decrease of $39.4 million in PE 64280A for a total
authorization of $117.3 million; a decrease of $193.9 million
in PE 64805A for cluster 1 and cluster 5 radio development to
reflect a ``stop work'' order; and a decrease of $75.0 million
in PE 64805A for cluster 1 radio development, for a total
authorization of $124.2 million for PE 64805A, including $106.1
million for JTRS cluster 1 and JTRS cluster 5 hardware
development.
The Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal
Year 2005 (Public Law 108-287) appropriated $111.5 million for
the procurement of JTRS cluster 1 radios, originally intended
to be procured under a low rate initial procurement contract
for a first quarter fiscal year 2007 multi-service operational
test and evaluation. Based on recent events, these fund cannot
be executed as appropriated. The committee encourages the
Department of Defense to request reprogramming of fiscal year
2005 JTRS procurement funding into PE 64280A to continue
development of the JTRS waveform and common operating
environment and architecture so as not to affect the
development and fielding of other JTRS clusters. The committee
is concerned that the Department has not placed sufficient
emphasis and funding on developing new antenna technologies and
should make this a priority when the JTRS program is
restructured.

Tactical vehicle modifications

The budget request included no funding in PE 64642A, for
light tactical wheeled vehicle development. The Army's current
operation tempo demands that advances in lightweight materials,
advanced load handling, intelligent control systems, ballistic
protection systems, embedded diagnostics, and suspension
systems be developed and spiraled into the field as soon as
possible. The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million
in PE 64642A for the research and development of spiral
technologies for the wheeled tactical vehicle fleet, for a
total authorization of $5.0 million.

Future tactical truck system

The budget request included $3.4 million in PE 64622A, for
family of heavy tactical vehicle development, which conducts
system development and demonstration of heavy tactical vehicles
to support combat and combat support missions.
The budget request included $1.0 million in PE 62601A, for
the Future Tactical Truck System (FTTS). The committee
understands that a key enabler of the Army's tactical wheeled
vehicle strategy is the Expedited Modernization Initiative
Procedure process, an initiative designed to identify and use
industry's investments in advanced technologies. The EMIP
process will be conducted in parallel with the FTTS Advanced
Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) that will assess key
technologies and emerging service sustainment concepts to help
develop the requirements for Army and Marine Corps trucks of
the future, as well as to identify advanced technologies that
also address current tactical wheeled vehicle needs. The
committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE 64622A
for the FTTS ACTD, for a total authorization of $13.4 million.

Protected simulation and test link

The budget request included $288.8 million in PE 64869A for
Patriot/MEADS combined aggregate program, but no funding for
the protected simulation and test link (PSTL).
The United States is currently engaged in a cooperative
developmental effort with Germany and Italy to modernize the
Patriot/MEADS missile defense system. Current United States
technology protection rules dictate that simulation models
associated with critical U.S. technology not be released to
foreign partners. The committee notes that PSTL is a software
application that will provide the capability for protected
simulation models to interact with those models that can be
shared with international partners, thereby facilitating the
design and development of the Patriot/MEADS system as an
international joint venture.
The committee recommends an increase of $1.0 million in PE
64869A for PSTL.

Unmanned aerial vehicle ice protection

The budget request included $10.9 million in PE 64258A, for
target systems development. As unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
fly further, longer, and higher, they confront some of the same
challenges as manned aircraft. The committee supports programs
designed to address current in-flight icing protection
shortfalls with low-weight, low-cost, low-power options made
specifically for installation on current and future UAV
configurations. The committee recommends an increase of $3.0
million in PE 64258A for fabrication and testing of a self-
activated, automatic deicing system for UAVs.

High performance computing research

The budget request included $32.3 million in PE 65803A, for
technical information activities. Use of computer simulation
tools allows for the rapid analysis of alternative designs for
armor, structures, specialized weapons, and aircraft
components. Faster and more accurate modeling of potential
structural improvements and composite material performance
could lead to stronger and more flexible force protection
systems for personnel and equipment. The committee recommends
an increase of $6.0 million in PE 65803A for advances in high
performance computing research and improved simulations to
evaluate the blast resistance of structures and armor.

Retinal/iris multimodal biometrics technology for secure identification

The budget request included $22.9 million in Research,
Development, Test, and Evaluation, Army, in PE 33140A, for
Information Systems Security Program, but included no funding
for continued research on retinal/iris multimodal biometrics
(RIMB) technology for secure identification.
RIMB technology has shown promise as an enhanced form of
secure identification to protect information systems from
unauthorized users. The committee recommends an increase of
$1.0 million in PE 33140A, for the continued development of
RIMB technology, consistent with the short- and long-term
technology development, deployment, and integration goals of
the Department of Defense for biometric identification systems.

Army manufacturing technologies

The budget request included $68.5 million in PE 78045A, for
end-item industrial preparedness activities. As the Army
continues to transform to a flexible, expeditionary force,
logistical support for existing systems must be maintained and
improved. Methods and processes designed to ensure sustained
operational capability of weapons and support systems must move
into the ``virtual'' world as many original parts and
maintenance suppliers no longer exist. The Army can not afford
to cope with manpower and time drains imposed by long
logistical chains. The committee recommends an increase of $2.0
million in PE 78045A, to support the virtual parts program,
which will form a one-stop virtual engineering production
environment to assist in ensuring the sustained operational
capability of weapons and support systems.
The committee further recommends an increase of $10.5
million in PE 78045A, to accelerate packaging, processing, and
manufacturing systems. Specific precision manufacturing
requirements exist on turbine engines, which use advanced
alloys and ceramic materials that conventional machine
techniques and tools fail to process. The committee recommends
an increase of $3.5 million for the super-pulse laser
processing technology. The committee recommends an increase of
$4.0 million for the manufacturing system demonstration, and
$3.0 million for packaging and interconnection technology to
reduce the weight and cost of electronic and optoelectric
subsystems and for the adaptation of emerging technologies.
And finally, the committee notes that the strength-weight
ratio of titanium makes it an ideal material for use in Army
manned ground vehicles. The committee recognizes that this
material also poses challenges as it is difficult, time
consuming, and expensive to process. The committee recommends
an increase of $4.5 million in PE 78045A for accelerated
development of an advanced modeling technology for titanium
machining. Use of advanced software to simulate a virtual
machining environment could enable increased processing speeds
and deeper cuts, resulting in faster production of titanium
parts to meet Army requirements for survivable manned ground
vehicles.

Navy

Navy university research

The budget request included $75.9 million in PE 61103N, for
university research initiatives. The committee is concerned
with the low priority placed on long-term research on naval
sciences by the Department of Defense. The development of
faster, more efficient, and durable systems for the naval
environment requires increases in targeted research on
multifunctional advanced composites, innovative sensors
technology, advanced engineered materials, and blast resistant
composites. These research projects have the potential to
address current threats by providing energy absorbing ship
hulls, blast resistant grid and foam stiffened structures, and
advanced remote sensing at higher resolutions. Additional basic
science in the pursuit of breakthroughs at the intersection of
engineering, computer science, and neuroscience shows promise
in providing seamless control of unmanned systems.
The committee recommends an increase of $8.0 million in PE
61103N for university basic defense research, including $2.5
million to accelerate exploration of multifunctional materials;
$2.5 million for advanced remote sensing; $1.0 million for
blast and impact resistant composites; and $2.0 million for
neural engineering for human-machine interfaces.

Navy science and technology outreach

The budget request included $15.5 million in PE 61152N, for
In-House Laboratory Independent Research, which supports
intramural Navy research and efforts to revitalize the
workforce for key science and technology capabilities. As many
future military systems continue to increase in technological
complexity, a robust workforce with discipline-specific
scientific skills and knowledge is necessary. The Navy's
special needs in areas such as ocean sciences, advanced
materials, and electronics will be met through the
participation of current Navy laboratory personnel in training
and mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Training researchers and innovators is a long-term project
requiring near-term attention.
The committee recommends an increase in PE 61152N of $3.0
million to support continuation of a pilot program--Naval
Research Science and Technology for America's Readiness (N-
Star). N-Star leverages the resources and expertise available
in Navy facilities to engage and mentor students who have
science and engineering aptitude and interests.

Free electron laser

The budget request included $94.4 million in PE 62114N, for
power projection applied research, including $10.0 million for
directed energy and the free electron laser. The committee
recommends an increase of $5.0 million in PE 62114N for
accelerated research and development of high power free
electron laser (FEL) devices based on the successful
demonstration of high power FELs using energy recovered from
the super-conducting accelerator technology. The Navy
identified free electron lasers as a possible future directed
energy weapon for the defense of Navy assets.

Littoral and undersea security

The budget request included $101.7 million in PE 62123N,
for force protection applied research. Navy ships and
infrastructure are vulnerable to attack from suicide divers and
other asymmetric hazards. Existing systems to detect and defeat
such threats require constant monitoring and fixed
installations. Research programs exploring alternatives, such
as high frequency passive acoustic arrays and special cameras
and sensors, have the potential to provide automatically
monitored, easily constructed, portable, and reliable systems.
The committee recommends an increase of $4.3 million in PE
62123N for exploration of undersea security options, including
$2.0 million for development of a prototype real-time high
frequency acoustic processor and $2.3 million for undersea
perimeter security technologies.

Nanomagnetic materials

The budget request included $101.7 million in PE 62123N,
for force protection applied research. Future naval
capabilities such as the electric warship require significant
amounts of electric power for propulsion, on-board power
consumption, and ship-based use of power by military aircraft.
The Navy needs new technology solutions capable of meeting the
demanding performance requirements of high power density
machines and power electronics. Current electrical power
systems use magnetic materials developed for lower power demand
functions. The committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million
in PE 62123N for development of nano-engineered materials with
unprecedented magnetic properties, mechanical strength, and
temperature capabilities.

Polymeric aircraft components

The budget request included $101.7 million in PE 62123N,
for force protection applied research. Polymeric aircraft
components provide the Navy with an option for lower cost,
lightweight aircraft. The committee recommends an increase of
$2.0 million in PE 62123N to support the Navy's efforts to
develop technologies for production of polymeric aircraft
components.

Small watercraft propulsion demonstrator

The budget request included $101.7 million in PE 62123N,
for force protection applied research. The Navy requires a
fast, unmanned watercraft to launch and recover unmanned
underwater vehicles in hostile environments. The committee
recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE 62123N for
research on and fabrication of a small watercraft propulsion
demonstrator with a 60-knot retrieval capability.

Advanced combat headborne system

The budget request included $37.6 million in PE 62131M, for
Marine Corps landing force technology and $56.4 million in PE
63640M, for Marine Corps advanced technology demonstrations. As
part of an initiative in blast injury prevention, mitigation,
and treatment, the committee recommends an increase of $1.0
million in PE 62131M and $1.0 million in PE 63640M to meet a
Marine Corps requirement to expand and accelerate the research
and design of an advanced integrated combat headborne system.
The redesigned system would improve form, fit, and function;
and increase protection to the eye, face, neck, and head, while
maintaining comfort, communications integration, and weight
reduction.

Critical area protection systems

The budget request included $57.7 million in PE 62235N, for
common picture applied research. The committee recommends an
increase of $2.0 million in PE 63235N for critical area
protection systems for high resolution situational awareness to
support antiterrorism and force protection missions. These
systems could provide land-based antiterrorism and force
protection units with persistent surveillance capabilities and
a common operating picture.

SensorNet

The budget request included $57.7 million in PE 62235N, for
common picture applied research. The U.S. Government, the
nation's laboratories, and industry are showing progress in
developing and improving sensing capabilities. Full utilization
of these capabilities requires communication and research on
and development of a prototype information architecture for
connection of sensors. The committee recommends an increase of
$12.0 million in PE 62235N for continuation of SensorNet, a
project to demonstrate sensor-linking within an installation
and from facility to facility.

Space research

The budget request included $57.7 million in PE 62235N, for
common picture applied research. The committee recommends a
reduction of $7.5 million in this account for a newly initiated
program of space research as part of the Innovative Naval
Prototype program. The committee believes that new space
research efforts should be carefully coordinated with other
space programs in the Department of Defense and should be
consistent with the overall Department Space Science and
Technology Strategy.

Automated video threat recognition

The budget request included $82.8 million in PE 62236N, for
warfighter sustainment applied research. The accelerated need
for persistent surveillance in a variety of situations led the
Navy to increase emphasis on alternatives to active radars.
Video, as a passive sensor, could serve threat detection needs
for naval facilities, ports, and other areas in which even the
most alert human sentry may fail to identify every approaching
danger. The committee recommends an increase in PE 62236N of
$2.5 million for transition of a successfully completed Phase
II Small Business Innovative Research program to develop an
automated video surveillance threat recognition algorithm.

Multifunctional composite structures

The budget request included $82.8 million in PE 62236N, for
warfighter sustainment applied research. The Navy's increased
interest in using advanced composites for ship construction is
designed to produce components with reduced electronic and
acoustic signatures and lower total ownership costs. Existing
and developing composite material technologies present an
opportunity to enhance seaframe speed, agility, safety, and
tactical advantage. The committee recommends an increase of
$3.5 million in PE 62236N for development of new systems and
techniques for the rapid implementation of multifunctional
composite structures.

Portable water bio-defense

The budget request included $82.9 million in PE 62236N, for
warfighter sustainment applied research. Current biological
warfare detector technology applicable to water analysis is
generally large, stationary, and time consuming. The committee
recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE 62236N for a
rapid, portable, accurate detection capability for biological
warfare agents in water.

Seabasing research

The budget request included $82.9 million in PE 62236N, for
warfighter sustainment applied research, including a new start
of $13.9 million for seabasing research. The committee
recommends a reduction of $5.0 million in this account for the
newly initiated research program on seabasing technologies. The
committee is concerned that this new program is not well
defined to support seabasing concepts of operation, which are
still under development by the Navy.

Gallium nitride radio frequency power

The budget request included $47.3 million in PE 62271N, for
radio frequency (RF) systems applied research. The Department
of Defense requires enhanced RF power performance for a range
of current and next generation systems, including surface naval
radars, airborne communications systems, airborne radars, and
electronics. Gallium nitride RF power has the potential to
provide higher power density, higher temperature operation, and
increased bandwidth, compared to current RF technologies. The
committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PE 62271N
for gallium nitride RF power technologies.

Integrated littoral sensor network

The budget request included $71.5 million in PE 62435N, for
force protection advanced technology, but no funding
specifically for testing of a portable suite of sensors to
counter water borne and other hazards in the littorals.
Detection, characterization, and location of man-made and
natural waterborne hazards and threats, including pathogens and
toxins, is an immediate national security need. The committee
recommends an increase in PE 62435N of $2.5 million for
generation of a set of tools with portable sensors designed to
improve accuracy and timeliness of short- and long-term
detection of hazards in coastal waters and ports.

Coordination and integration of unmanned system teams

The budget request included $49.5 million in PE 62782N, for
mine and expeditionary warfare applied research. As unmanned
systems continue to evolve and perform more dangerous and time
consuming tasks on behalf of the warfighter, such systems must
work individually, or in groups, in a manner that does not
place an additional burden on the operator. Increased
fundamental science and engineering focused on the tough
problems of enabling autonomous cooperation within different
groups of unmanned vehicles would ensure these tools reach
expected potential as assets to the warfighter. The committee
recommends an increase in PE 62782N of $3.0 million for work to
integrate and coordinate teams of unmanned vehicles.

Information sharing for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance

The budget request included $82.5 million in PE 63114N, for
power projection advanced technology. The Navy possesses the
technology to effectively target and destroy fixed assets using
global position system guided weapons. This capability is
limited by target concealment or motion. Real-time tracking,
precision location, and in-flight command and control of
weapons systems continue to pose problems.
The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE
63114N to accelerate research and development of a robust
airborne and ground information processing architecture. The
system would support multiple-source and simultaneous
collection of data for aircraft on intelligence, surveillance,
reconnaissance, targeting, and engagement (ISRTE) operations.
The architecture would have the capacity to handle numerous and
different electronic files such as large imagery files,
geographical information, intelligence reports, and data
received from multiple platforms and would advance an important
aspect of the Navy intelligence, surveillance, and
reconnaissance plan for engagement of mobile targets.

Force protection advanced technology

The budget request included $71.5 million in PE 63123N for
forced protection advanced technology. This program addresses
applied research associated with providing the capability of
platform and force protection technologies for all naval
platforms.
The budget request included no funding for wireless sensor
technology for the intelligent monitoring of the health of
shipboard equipment and machinery. This is a key component to
reduce workloads, and it could be inserted into one of the
programmed sea trials for newly delivered ships. The committee
recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PE 63123N to develop,
install, and support a number of intelligent component health
monitoring systems in a sea trial.
The budget request included no funding for development of a
mobile manufacturing and repair cell. This cell would reduce
operating and support costs while maintaining equipment
readiness in theater. It could be deployed by ship and large
ground vehicles, and would provide precision, on-demand
manufacturing of critical parts. The committee recommends an
increase of $5.0 million in PE 63123N for the development of a
mobile manufacturing and repair cell.
The budget request included no funding for the continued
development of wide bandgap semiconductor substrate materials.
These materials offer capability for higher power and higher
frequency operation in high temperature environments across a
broad spectrum of applications. The committee recommends an
increase of $8.0 million in PE 63123N for the continued
development of wide bandgap semiconductor substrate materials.
The budget request included no funding for a small, light
system for small arms acoustic and infrared flash detection and
remote threat response to enemy small arms fire against our
Marines. The committee recommends an increase of $3.9 million
in PE 63123N to develop a prototype and test such a system.
The budget request included no funding for the continued
design and risk assessment and development of prototypes for
high temperature superconducting (HTS) generators. The reduced
size of HTS generators would increase flexibility in ship
architecture, provide enhanced power density and transient
response, and improve overall ship performance and
survivability. The committee recommends an increase of $5.0
million in PE 63123N for the continued development of HTS
generators.
The budget request included no funding for the continued
development of a ship service fuel cell (SSFC). An advanced
prototype fuel cell power system demonstrator has been
developed. Additional performance characterization of the
demonstrator is required, followed by endurance and latent
defect testing at the DD(X) land-based engineering site. The
committee recommends an increase of $6.0 million in PE 63123N
for the continued development of a SSFC.
The committee recommends a total authorization of $101.4
million in PE 63123N for force protection advanced technology.

Improved shipboard combat information center

The budget request included $60.6 million in PE 63235N, for
common picture advanced technology. Command Information Center
(CIC) duty officers receive large quantities of critical data,
especially during combat operations. They must comprehend and
process this information quickly. The committee recommends an
increase of $4.0 million in PE 63235N for near-term development
of an improved shipboard CIC and to demonstrate integration of
emerging technologies in automation to improve operations for
multiple current and future platform designs.

Warfighter sustainment advanced technology

The budget request included $68.5 million in PE 63236N for
the development of warfighter sustainment advanced technology,
but included no funding for body armor development or for
automated container and cargo handling systems.
While protective vests have saved many lives, there is a
requirement for flexible, lightweight, full body armor that
will protect limbs as well. The committee recommends an
increase of $3.0 million in PE 63236N for the development of
full body protective apparel.
The Navy and Marine Corps continue to develop a concept of
operations for sea basing. One of the technical hurdles that
must be achieved to turn this concept into reality is the
transfer of cargo at sea, in varying sea states. There have
been some subscale technologies tested as small business
innovative research programs, but this needs to evolve to full-
scale testing of automated container and cargo handling
systems. The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million
in PE 63236N for the development of automated container and
cargo handling systems.
The committee recommends a total authorization of $75.5
million in PE 63236N.

Navy persistent surveillance

The budget request included $70.1 million in PE 63271N, for
radio frequency (RF) systems advanced development. Real-time
precision target radar supports the Navy's time critical strike
mission. The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million
in PE 63721N to fully configure the APY-6 radar to meet broad
area maritime surveillance and other emerging unmanned aerial
vehicle requirements.
The Navy pursues electronic attack (EA) capabilities for a
variety of missions with air, sea, and land applications. The
Department of Defense Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Roadmap
recommends development and operational assessment of an
unmanned combat aerial vehicle capable of performing several
missions including EA. To augment existing systems while
extending the life of current low-density/high-demand
electronic attack assets, the committee recommends an increase
of $3.0 million in PE 63271N for an acceleration of joint
unmanned aerial vehicle electronic attack capabilities.

Armored patrol vehicle

The budget request included $56.4 million in PE 63640M, for
Marine Corps advanced technology demonstrations. Additional
research to capture emerging technologies in the areas of
mobility, materials, power generation, propulsion,
survivability, durability, signature reduction, and modularity
will speed protection systems for an expanded class of
vehicles. The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million
in PE 63640M for initial development of an armored patrol
vehicle to address threats posed by blast, projectiles, and
shock waves.

Laser integrated target engagement system

The budget request included $56.4 million in PE 63640M, for
Marine Corps advanced technology demonstrations. The committee
recommends an increase of $5.2 million in PE 63640M for a
Marine Corps unfunded requirement to modify the laser
integrated target engagement system (LITES). The program would
finance one prototype and laboratory testing of a Marine Corps
version of the Air Force forward air controllers capability.

Water purification system

The budget request included $56.4 million in PE 63640M, for
Marine Corps advanced technology demonstrations. Air
deliverable, high capacity water purification systems meet a
critical need during all military missions. Research on high
efficiency, compact technology will help alleviate the
significant logistical burden of transporting water. The
committee recommends an increase in PE 63640M of $7.0 million
for final development and production of expeditionary warfare
water purification systems.

Modeling and simulation for urban operations

The budget request included $187.9 million in Research,
Development, Test, and Evaluation, Navy, for Joint
Experimentation, in PE 63727N, but did not include sufficient
funding to continue development of the modeling and simulation
for urban operations program. The committee notes that such a
capability is of great importance to battlefield commanders
facing complex urban environments such as that faced by U.S.
Armed Forces in Fallujah, Iraq last year. Preliminary work has
been initiated on such a capability with promising results,
both for battlefield commanders and for defense and homeland
security officials charged with planning for consequence
management of potential terrorist attacks on the homeland. The
modeling and simulation for urban operations program is the
second highest priority of the Commander, U.S. Joint Forces
Command, for additional funding.
The committee recommends an increase of $9.9 million in PE
63727N, to continue development of the modeling and simulation
for urban operations program.

Surface Navy integrated undersea tactical technology

The budget request included $122.1 million in PE 63502N for
surface and shallow water mine countermeasures, but included no
funding for the surface Navy integrated undersea tactical
technology (SNIUTT) program. SNIUTT would provide surface ship
mine countermeasures sonar operators with the simulated
training necessary to recognize mine-like contacts. This
concept was originally used by aviation mine countermeasures
sonar operators, and SNIUTT would leverage this former program.
The committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PE
63502N for SNIUTT.

Shipboard system component development

The budget request included $22.2 million in PE 63513N for
shipboard system component development, including $9.2 million
for the development of integrated power systems. The budget
request included no funding specifically for either the
amorphous metal permanent magnet generator (PMG) set or the
high temperature superconductor alternating current (HTS-AC)
synchronous marine propulsion motor.
An amorphous metal PMG would reduce both weight and size
when compared to conventional generator sets. Additional
funding would upscale the current 30 kilowatt prototype to 750
kilowatts. The committee recommends an increase of $1.5 million
in PE 63513N for the amorphous metal PMG.
A 36.5 megawatt HTS-AC synchronous marine propulsion
prototype motor is being fabricated and tested. A follow-on
effort can be initiated to modify the motor and power
electronic drive system designs to meet the evolving
specifications of the Navy's newest surface combatants. The
committee recommends an increase of $8.0 million in PE 63513N
for the continued development of the HTS-AC synchronous marine
propulsion motor.
The committee recommends a total authorization of $31.7
million in PE 63513N.

Improved surface vessel torpedo launcher

The budget request included $17.3 million in PE 63553N for
anti-submarine warfare advanced development, but included no
funding for the improved surface vessel torpedo launcher. This
launcher would use an automotive airbag inflator launch concept
in a new launcher, contoured into the deck of future ships.
Additional funding would allow testing of the production model
of the breech replacement version of the launcher. The
committee recommends an increase of $4.5 million in PE 63553N
for the advanced development of the improved surface vessel
torpedo launcher.

Guided missile submarine conversion

The budget request included $24.0 million in PE 63559N for
design work for guided missile submarines (SSGN). Four former
Ohio-class ballistic submarines are currently being converted
into this new class of submarine, which will have the
capability to provide covert striking power against targets
ashore and to covertly deliver and support an expeditionary
force on land.
One of the most promising technologies for the SSGNs will
be the ability to deploy unmanned undersea vehicles. To
capitalize on the experimentation to demonstrate feasibility
that has already been completed, additional funding is required
to develop and experiment with the requisite stowage, launch,
and recovery systems to gain understanding of ship integration
technologies. The large displacement mission reconfigurable
unmanned undersea vehicle (LD-MRUUV) would provide flexibility
to deploy new payloads and sensors. The committee recommends an
increase of $20.0 million in PE 63559N for integration of LD-
MRUUV into the SSGN as part of the conversion program.

Advanced submarine system development

The budget request included $163.0 million in PE 63562N for
advanced submarine system development. Of this amount, $50.0
million is for the design of a future undersea superiority
system alternative to the reduced submarine program to include
consideration of new propulsion systems. The committee is aware
that this effort was directed by the Department of Defense
shortly before submission of the budget request, and that it
was also directed that these funds not just be added to
existing systems. No specific plans on the use of these funds
have been provided to the committee.
The committee has received a study on Fleet Platform
Architecture that was prepared by the Office of Force
Transformation in response to section 216 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-
136), and is aware that this study recommends investigating
alternate propulsion systems for submarines.
In written testimony before the Subcommittee on Seapower of
the Committee on Armed Services, the Congressional Research
Service addressed alternate propulsion systems for submarines.
The air-independent propulsion equipped non-nuclear-powered
submarine would offer increased low speed submerged endurance
over the conventional diesel-electric, but comparable submerged
endurance at high speed. The testimony concluded that these
alternatives to nuclear-powered submarines are not well suited
for submarine missions that require: (1) long, completely
stealthy transits from home port to the theater of operation;
(2) submerged periods in the theater of operation lasting more
than two or three weeks; or (3) submerged periods in the
theater of operation lasting more than a few hours or days that
involve moving the submarine at something more than low speed.
The committee is concerned with the reduced capabilities and
lack of operational flexibility the submarine forces would
possess with these new propulsion systems.
The committee is also aware of and supports the ``Tango
Bravo'' program, being conducted jointly by the Navy and the
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The
technologies being investigated in this program include
shaftless propulsion and weapons external to the pressure hull,
all of which could contribute to a smaller, less expensive
nuclear-powered submarine with capabilities equivalent to those
of the Virginia-class submarine.
Numerous analyses have supported an attack submarine force
of at least 55 boats. However, the Secretary of the Navy, in an
interim report to Congress on the annual long-range plan for
the construction of naval vessels, projects that the number of
attack submarines required in the future will be between 37 and
41 boats. The committee is concerned that this reduced number
of submarines will fall short of the number required by the
combatant commanders. The committee believes that funds at this
time should be directed at the class of submarines currently in
production, and that the production rate should be increased
above that shown in the Future Years Defense Program as soon as
possible.
The committee recommends a decrease of $40.0 million in PE
63562N, specifically in the future undersea superiority system
project for development of propulsion alternatives, and that
the remaining funding be used to complement the development of
technologies being investigated in the Tango Bravo program by
DARPA.

Regenerative filtration technology

The budget request included $253.7 million in PE 63611M for
the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV), but no funding for
regenerative filtration technology. Recent advances in nuclear,
biological, and chemical filtration technology have brought
about the development of regenerative systems that use
canisters with chemical beds that can be used and cleaned while
the vehicle is operating. Current technology requires filter
replacement in a secure environment. In fiscal year 2005, the
Marine Corps completed Phase I of the plan to develop a
regenerative filtration system for the EFV, which will provide
three units of the prototype system for testing. Phase II of
this project consists of the completion of the system
development and demonstration phase of the project. The
committee recommends an increase of $8.5 million in PE 63611M
for acceleration of Phase II of regenerative filtration
technology development, for a total authorization of $262.2
million.

Marine Corps ground and supporting arms systems

The budget request included $500,000 in PE 63635M, for the
development of the follow-on to shoulder-launched multi-purpose
assault weapon (FOTS), but no funding for the development of
non-lethal weapons nor a sniper detection system.
The FOTS program will qualify and field an accurate,
shoulder-fired, assault weapon designed to defeat a variety of
ground targets on the battlefield, particularly in urban
environments like those encountered by Marine Corps forces
engaged in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring
Freedom. FOTS will replace the Shoulder-Launched Multi-Purpose
Assault Weapon, which has been in the Marine Corps inventory
for over 20 years. The committee believes the Marine Corps
needs to accelerate the development of this weapon system.
Nonlethal weapon development includes research in support
of clearing facilities with novel technology and nonlethal and
scalable weaponization. These initiatives aim to minimize
collateral damage to infrastructure and personnel, while
neutralizing facilities and the threats that might be posed to
these facilities and the personnel that occupy them.
Additionally, an urban operations environmental laboratory will
provide assessment and analysis of the affects of nonlethal
technologies to ensure minimum environmental and collateral
damage when used in urban activities. The committee believes
that the Marine Corps must have a broad range of responses to
contain and manage emerging threats before, during, and after
conflict, and with minimum collateral damage. Therefore, the
committee supports these initiatives.
The Marine Corps requires a means to locate hostile fire to
address survivability for forces in urban environments such as
Iraq. No existing system can locate sources of sniper fire
quickly and dependably. However, the committee believes that
technology exists to develop a system that uses a thermal
source-of-fire indicator to pinpoint the location from which a
shot has been fired.
The committee notes that the Commandant of the Marine Corps
has identified additional funding for FOTS development,
nonlethal weapon development, and a sniper detection system
development on his unfunded priorities list.
The committee recommends the following:
(1) an increase of $14.0 for FOTS development;
(2) an increase of $5.5 million for the nonlethal
weapons urban operations laboratory to expand the
assessment, analysis, neutralization, and development
of capabilities to ensure minimum environmental and
collateral damage with nontraditional and traditional
capabilities;
(3) an increase of $2.9 million to conduct research
in support of clearing facilities with novel
technology;
(4) an increase of $2.6 million for nonlethal
technology weaponization to conduct additional
research, education, and training to meet the goals of
modern nonlethal and scalable options for Marine Corps
forces deployed around the world; and
(5) an increase of $7.4 million to develop an anti-
sniper infrared targeting system.
The committee recommends a total authorization of $32.9
million in PE 63635M.

Marine mammal detection and mitigation

The budget request included $4.54 million in PE 63721N, for
environmental protection. The committee notes that there
continues to be intense interest in the issue of sonar and
other sound impacts on marine mammals. Research of this type
will increase the scientific body of knowledge necessary to
maintain the combat training necessary for military readiness
while also protecting marine mammals. Better systems to detect
marine mammals will aid in development of systems and
procedures to mitigate potential impacts. Data collected from
such systems will also be invaluable in better understanding
migration routes, population densities, and habits.
The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million in PE
63721N for marine mammal detection and mitigation.

Navy logistics common operating picture

The budget request included $51.2 million in PE 64231N for
the Tactical Command System, but contained no funding for the
Navy logistics common operating picture (LOGCOP). Navy LOGCOP
is a logistics decision support and management tool based on
predictive software technology that was developed under a Navy-
sponsored small business innovative research program. The
committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PE 64231N
for the development of Navy LOGCOP.

Automatic radar periscope detection and discrimination

The budget request included $29.5 million in PE 64261N for
acoustic search sensors, including $12.2 million for the
automatic radar periscope detection and discrimination (ARPDD)
project. ARPDD provides a fully automated periscope detection,
classification, and tracking capability to reliably detect
periscopes and masts in complex, cluttered environments. The
committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE 64621N
to accelerate the ARPDD project.

DD(X) destroyer integrated propulsion system

The budget request included $1,114.8 million in PE 64300N
for DD(X) destroyer total ship systems engineering. The budget
request included no funding for completing the development of
the integrated power system for this ship, since final
developmental testing of the integrated power system is
expected to be completed in fiscal year 2005 prior to the
ship's critical design review and the subsequent transition of
funding to the Shipbuilding & Conversion, Navy account for
detail design.
In proof of concept tests prior to shipment to the Navy's
land-based test facility, the primary propulsion motor planned
for the integrated power system, the permanent magnet motor
(PMM), experienced a failure. The failure was determined to be
caused by insulation, resulting in damage to the stators of the
motor. To maintain schedule to meet the ship critical design
review, the Navy has decided to fall back to an alternate
propulsion motor, the advanced induction motor (AIM), for
demonstration at the land-based test facility. Use of the AIM
would add 300 tons to the weight of the DD(X). Funding is not
adequate to pursue both technologies.
The committee believes that continued development of the
PMM is warranted, if not for incorporation in the lead ship,
for incorporation in following ships. The committee recommends
an increase of $10.0 million in PE 64300N for continued
development and testing of the PMM for the DD(X) destroyer.

Affordable towed array construction

The budget request included $95.5 million in PE 64503N for
submarine systems equipment development, but included no
funding for the continued development of new, highly reliable,
low cost fiber optic towed arrays. Funding is required to
accelerate system performance verification testing, demonstrate
array architectural flexibility, implement automated
manufacturing equipment, and qualify commercial suppliers. The
committee recommends an increase of $6.0 million in PE 64503N
for the development of affordable towed array construction.

New Design SSN

The budget request included $155.8 million in PE 64558N for
the continuing development of the Virginia-class submarine. The
development efforts in this program are to evaluate a broad
range of system and technology alternatives to directly support
and enhance the mission capability of this class of submarine.
The budget request included no funding to develop the
multi-mission module concept, with the focus to identify
flexible payload concepts. The committee believes that the
baseline Virginia-class design allows for integration of
innovative payloads and sensors, which would enhance its
capability. The committee recommends an increase of $30.0
million in PE 63558N for multi-mission module development.
The budget request included no funding to develop a large
aperture bow array for the Virginia-class submarine. This array
has the potential to allow for the rapid insertion and spiral
development of future sensor technologies, increasing sonar
performance at a lower cost than the current spherical array.
The committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE
64558N for development of a large aperture bow array.
The budget request included no funding to transition the
small business innovative research programs for advanced
processing builds and multipurpose processor rapid commercial,
off-the shelf insertion. Transition of these efforts would lead
to an infrastructure for the Virginia-class submarine that
could support insertion of network-centric intelligence,
surveillance, and reconnaissance. The committee recommends an
increase of $4.0 million in PE 64558N for network-centric
capability technology insertion.
The committee recommends a total authorization of $199.8
million in PE 64558N.

Submarine tactical warfare system

The budget request included $40.7 million in PE 64562N for
submarine tactical warfare systems development. This program
develops commercial, off-the-shelf based software and hardware
upgrades to integrate improved weapons and tactical control
capabilities for all submarine classes.
The budget request included no funding specifically for the
insertion of common open architecture technology. Open
architecture is key to enabling timely weapons system software
upgrades. The committee recommends an increase of $3.5 million
in PE 64562N for submarine common open architecture technology
insertion.
The budget request included no funding to initiate the
development of the automated submarine command and control
center. This development would reduce the number of personnel
necessary for submarine attack center operations. The committee
recommends an increase of $3.5 million in PE 64562N for
development of the automated submarine command and control
center.
The committee recommends a total authorization of $47.7
million in PE 64562N.

Autonomous unmanned surface vessel

The budget request included $45.9 million in PE 64755N for
detection and control for ship self-defense, but included no
funding for the continued development of the autonomous
unmanned surface vessel (AUSV), which is being developed as a
concept demonstrator for potential anti-terrorism force
protection missions and to protect harbors and coastal
facilities. The committee recommends an increase of $5.2
million in PE 64755N for the continued development of the AUSV.

NULKA anti-ship missile decoy development

The budget request included $24.0 million in PE 64757N for
development of soft kill technologies for ship self-defense and
$1.0 million for the continuing development of the NULKA decoy.
NULKA is an offboard, active decoy designed to counter a wide
variety of present and future radar-guided anti-ship missiles.
Continued development of NULKA is necessary to counter anti-
ship missiles that may migrate to other frequency bands or use
dual mode seekers. The committee recommends an increase of $9.0
million in PE 64757N for the continued development of the NULKA
decoy.

Navy medical research

The budget request included $7.2 million in PE 64771N, for
medical development. The Department of Defense medical research
continues to produce results in the form of vaccines and
treatments to address the threat posed by biological weapons
and naturally occurring illnesses in areas of military
operation. Enhanced distribution techniques and more efficient
delivery of treatments would further reduce logistical and
personnel requirements, while increasing protection. The
committee recommends an increase of $3.5 million in PE 64771N
for non-invasive vectored vaccine research to explore a new
approach to production of a consistent, highly immunogenic, and
easily manufactured and administered vaccine.
Research on methods to prevent and address severe blood
loss due to combat injuries challenges both the Army and Navy
medical communities. Various blood preservation developments
combined with innovations in blood loss treatments and blood
replacement therapies yield life saving advances. Additional
work in these areas would reduce treatment side effects and
prolong the viability of blood substitutes. The committee
recommends an increase of $9.0 million in PE 64771N, including
$3.0 million to facilitate hemostatic therapy trials; $2.0
million for advanced research and development to improve the
QuickClot treatment for internal use; and $4.0 million for
evaluation of the safety and efficacy of a room and elevated
temperature stable hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier.

Shared Reconnaissance Pod logistics support

The budget request included $88.7 million in PE 24136N for
F/A-18 improvements, but included no funding for Shared
Reconnaissance Pod (SHARP) logistics support. The SHARP system
is an electro-optical/infrared system that is capable of
collecting long- and medium-range imagery and can record or
data link the imagery to provide the combatant commander
information with which to identify possible targets. The
development of logistics support for 21 SHARP systems--
including interactive electronic technical manuals, completion
of specific tasks associated with the Automated Maintenance
Environment, and fleet aircrew and maintenance training
curricula and maintenance training aids--are required for SHARP
to achieve full operational capability. SHARP logistics support
is included on the Chief of Naval Operations' unfunded
priorities list. The committee recommends an increase of $3.2
million in PE 24136N for SHARP logistics support.

Marine Corps communications systems

The budget request included $237.1 million in PE 26313M,
for communications systems development, including $18.3 million
for the development of the ground/air task orientated radar (G/
ATOR) and $5.8 million for the development of the distributed
common ground/surface system (DCGS). The budget request
included no funding for the Critical Infrastructure Protection
Center (CIPC).
The G/ATOR program is a single material solution for the
Multi-Role Radar System (MRRS) and Ground Weapons Locator Radar
(GWLR) requirements that replaces and consolidates the
capability of numerous legacy radars, including the AN/TPS-63
air surveillance, AN/MPQ-62 force control, AN/TPS-73 air
traffic control, and AN/UPS-3 air defense radar systems.
Current radar performance does not meet operational forces'
requirements. Additional funding for G/ATOR development is on
the Commandant of the Marine Corps' unfunded priorities list.
The committee recommends an increase of $3.5 million in PE
26313M for G/ATOR.
The DCGS is a collection of service systems that will
contribute to joint and combined war fighter needs for
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support. The DCGS
integrated backbone (DIB) is the architecture that will tie the
services' DCGS systems together into one family of systems. The
committee notes that the Marine Corps portion of the DCGS has
not been integrated into the DIB. The committee recommends an
increase of $4.8 million in PE 26313M to complete integration
efforts.
The mission of CIPC is to foster system security
engineering solutions for critical infrastructure protection by
integrating information operations, emergency management, and
other critical infrastructure protection initiatives. The
committee notes that the Marine Corps has an ongoing
requirement to perform information systems security functions
that could be addressed by the CIPC. The committee recommends
an increase of $3.5 million in PE 26313M, for information
system security development.
The committee recommends a total authorization of $248.9
million in PE 26313M.

Marine Corps ground combat and supporting arms systems

The budget request included $48.4 million in PE 26623M for
the development of Marine Corps ground combat and supporting
arms systems, including $1.8 million for the Family of Raid and
Reconnaissance equipment program and $7.1 million for the
Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS), but no funding for
the Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) Sense and Respond Support
System.
EFSS will be the primary indirect fire support system for
the vertical assault element of the ship-to-objective maneuver
force and is intended to fill the third ``leg'' of the Marine
Corps' indirect fires triad, complementing longer-range systems
such as the M777 155mm lightweight towed Howitzer and the High
Mobility Artillery Rocket System. Munition development lags
equipment development. Additional funding for EFSS is on the
Commandant of the Marine Corps' unfunded priorities list. The
committee recommends an increase of $11.0 million to modify
existing munitions from the family of 120mm rifled mortar
rounds for use with EFSS.
The Family of Raid and Reconnaissance equipment program
supports the research, development, and procurement actions for
multiple airborne and specialized reconnaissance-related
programs. Without a flexible multi-mission support platform,
the Marine Corps cannot take full advantage of its recent
investment in the Underwater Reconnaissance Capability (URC).
URC consists of an advanced diver propulsion device, state-of-
the-art hydrographic mapping equipment, and other critical
maritime reconnaissance equipment to include the Multi-Role
Intermediate Support Craft (MRISC), a replacement for the
outdated and inefficient Combat Rubber Raiding Craft. The
Marine Corps is currently evaluating commercial, off-the-shelf
variants and additional funding would accelerate that
evaluation. The committee recommends an increase of $9.5
million for the MRISC.
For the last two years, the Marine Corps has been studying
the creation of a Sense and Respond Support System to monitor
overall system health of the LAV. The Marine Corps needs to
develop the technology to embed a variety of sensors in metal
parts of the LAV. Successful implementation of this technology
will decrease maintenance ``down'' time, increase readiness,
and be a better predictor of vehicle life throughout its life
cycle. The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million for
development of a LAV SRSS.
The committee recommends a total authorization of $72.9
million in PE 26623M.

Battlefield management system

The budget request included $10.5 million in PE 26624M, for
the development of combat service support equipment, but no
funding for the battlefield management system (BMS). The
committee understands that the Marine Corps is currently
exploring ways to improve situational awareness for Marine
Corps armored ground vehicles and mechanized infantry at the
platoon, company, and battalion level by providing target
acquisition, fire coordination, sensor-to-shooter target
management, mounted navigation, and instant dissemination of
situational awareness information. The Marine Corps is ready to
initiate Phase II of the program which will address Phase I
technical issues of integrating BMS into the M1A1 Tank and the
Amphibious Assault Vehicle. The committee recommends an
increase of $1.5 million in PE 26624M for BMS development, for
a total authorization of $12.0 million.

RQ-8B Firescout vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle

The budget request included $77.6 million in PE 35204N for
the development of tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, including
$60.1 million for the development of the RQ-8B Firescout
vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV).
The Firescout VTUAV was designed to provide real-time
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data to tactical
users. A Firescout system is composed of three air vehicles,
sensors, and control systems. The Firescout VTUAV will be
common to the three modules to be incorporated on the Littoral
Combat Ship (LCS). Additional funding for the Firescout VTUAV
was included on the Chief of Naval Operations' unfunded
priorities list to support the first LCS deliveries.
The committee recommends an increase of $39.0 million in PE
35204N to procure six additional Firescout air vehicles and
sensor packages to support the completion of developmental and
operational testing and integration with the first deliveries
of LCS.

Distributed common ground system--Navy

The budget request included $12.4 million in PE 35208N for
development of the distributed common ground system for the
Navy (DCGS-N), but included no funding for integration of the
advanced field artillery tactical data system (AFATDS), which
provides automated command and control for the firepower aboard
Navy ships. The converged architecture enabled by DCGS-N
provides unparalleled flexibility to the warfighter and rapid
response capability against relocatable, time critical targets.
Currently, fire control information must be manually
transferred between DCGS-N and AFATDS. The committee recommends
an increase of $3.2 million in PE 35208N for the integration of
AFATDS into the DCGS-N architecture.

National shipbuilding research program--advanced shipbuilding
enterprise

The budget request included no funding in PE 78730N for
maritime technology. In recent years, funding provided by this
line was used for the national shipbuilding research program--
advanced shipbuilding enterprise (NSRP-ASE). This enterprise is
a collaborative effort between the Navy and industry, which has
yielded new processes and techniques that reduce the cost of
building and repairing ships. The program has already
documented a positive return on investment.
Section 242 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375)
expressed the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of
Defense should continue to fund this program at a sustaining
level. With a shrinking industrial base for shipbuilding
already driving higher costs, this type of initiative is
essential to providing efficiencies. The committee believes it
is shortsighted not to invest in improved processes that would
reduce the cost of shipbuilding. The committee recommends an
increase of $10.0 million in PE 78730N for the NSRP-ASE.

Air Force

Air Force basic science

The budget request included $223.9 million in PE 61102F,
for Air Force defense research sciences. Innovative work
supported by the Air Force basic research accounts is key to
ensuring that our military has future capabilities and
equipment to meet emerging threats. Applications such as air
combat systems and ground support optoelectronics have
foundations in novel nanomaterials used for the development of
optical devices which are, in turn, components of information
processing systems. The ability to quickly, securely, and
reliably process information enables information dominance, one
of a number of broad defense objectives. The committee
recommends an increase of $2.5 million in PE 61102F, for
nanophotonic components, the building blocks of electronic
materials in a number of aircraft, ship, and soldier systems.
Air Force missions in the areas of reducing time to target
and rapid response to global threats require basic and applied
research on missile propulsion systems. Research on hypersonic
engine designs have produced some early results over the last
year. Design tools to predict and monitor performance of
propulsion and control systems are needed, as are trained
experts to move promising research forward. The committee
recommends an increase of $4.0 million in PE 61102F to expand
basic hypersonics research and to develop a strong academic
program in hypersonics flow physics.

Secure, assured information sharing

The budget request included $105.0 million in PE 61103F,
for university research initiatives. Air Force university
research supports defense related basic science in a wide range
of scientific and engineering disciplines important to
maintaining U.S. military technology superiority. One basic
science pursuit of increasing significance involves
investigation into information management in the ``need to
know'' and ``need to share'' environments. The committee
recommends an increase of $2.5 million in PE 61103F to expand
research on novel approaches to information sharing
requirements and to address policies, procedures, and
technology to meet differing security protection levels and
requirements.

Blast resistant barriers

The budget request included $74.2 million in PE 62102F, for
materials research. The committee supports research focused on
the development of materials, composites, and structural
designs to protect personnel and equipment from the threat of
vehicle borne and other explosive device delivery methods. A
variety of commercial and ``makeshift'' barricades currently
provide protection to bases, facilities, and structures in the
homeland and abroad. The committee recommends an increase of
$4.0 million in PE 62102F for research and development of blast
resistant barriers, including engineering of materials for
different structural designs, testing, and establishment of
blast barrier standards.

Air Force materials research

The budget request included $74.2 million in PE 62102F, for
materials research. The committee recommends an increase of
$1.0 million in PE 62102F for nano-particle materials coating
research. This research has the potential to develop advanced
aeronautical coatings to improve the reliability and corrosion
resistance of Air Force platforms.
The Department of Defense has a need for improved,
affordable aerospace structures. Composite materials offer the
potential for cost and weight savings along with improved air
and space vehicle performance. The committee recommends an
increase of $2.0 million in PE 62102F for accelerated
development of complex composite structures for manned and
unmanned air vehicles.

Nano-technologies for chemical and biological defense

The budget request included $79.4 million in PE 62202F, for
human effectiveness applied research. Progress has been made in
development of multiple-step processes for the detection,
identification, and neutralization of single biological agents.
A system capable of executing all three steps at once for a
wide range of bio-agents, in different environments, would add
value to existing capabilities. The committee recommends an
increase of $1.0 million in PE 62202F to augment ongoing
research on the use of pulsed power plasma produced nano-
particles to detect, identify, and defeat pathogens in a one-
step process.

Hypersonics engine research and integration

The budget request included $107.5 million in PE 62203F,
for aerospace propulsion, including $18.9 million for advanced
aerospace propulsion technologies and hypersonic weapons and
aircraft concepts. The committee notes that the X-43A
successfully achieved Mach 9.8 during test flights last year,
and believes that the joint Air Force and National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) X-43 effort represents an
important technology pathway to achieving a hypersonic
operational capability.
The committee recommends an increase of $12.0 million in PE
62203F to support a more aggressive hypersonics scramjet
research program, to facilitate additional ground testing of
the X-43 engine, and to evaluate initial concepts for
integration of engine and vehicle designs. The committee
strongly encourages NASA and the Air Force to work jointly on
this program and to support the multi-engine demonstrator in
future budget requests.
The committee notes that magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) may
have applications when integrated with hypersonic vehicles now
under development. The committee believes a better
understanding of the advantages of the technology, the
technical challenges to its use, and the potential for
incorporation into hypersonic vehicle designs would be
beneficial. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in
coordination with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, to provide a report to the
congressional defense committees, by March 15, 2006, surveying
both classified and unclassified MHD research conducted in the
past and provide recommendations on whether military
applications may be derived from MHD technology.

Space technology

The budget request included $84.5 million in PE 62601F, for
space technology. In response to Department of Defense
guidance, the Air Force research community embarked on an
effort to support the space dominance mission. Integration of
multiple functions into single space structures capable of
autonomous fabrication and assembly represents a key focus of
investigation in this area. Nano-reinforced structural space
systems and advanced multifunctional space structures show
promise in facilitating major improvements in space structure
utility and performance. The committee recommends an increase
of $2.0 million in PE 62601F for expanded research in both of
these structural areas and for examination of concepts for
weight and cost reduction of space structural systems.
The committee further recommends an increase of $6.0
million in PE 62601F, including $3.0 million for the deployable
space structures experiment, a general effort to lower the cost
of spacecraft by instituting commonality and modularity in the
construction of satellites; and $3.0 million for integrated
control for autonomous space systems, a program focused on
development of advanced satellite control and measurement
technologies needed to operate Air Force space and airbreathing
systems.

Adaptive optics research

The budget request included $37.7 million in PE 62605F, for
directed energy research. Advanced digital communications allow
for high levels of data transfer and rapid processing of visual
images in support of network centric warfare. The Air Force has
been doing work with lasers to expand communications bandwidth
and to increase digital communication capabilities. The
committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE 62605F
to accelerate this work and to support adaptive optics research
for laser communications systems.

Integrated spacecraft engineering tool

The budget request included $60.9 million in PE 63401F for
Advanced Spacecraft Technology, but no funding for the
integrated spacecraft engineering tool (ISET).
ISET would be used to build software models to enable
satellite system designers, builders, and operators to
accurately and reliably model and predict the performance of
space systems. This would provide significant cost savings in
the development and integration of future satellite systems and
aid in the analysis of alternatives for prospective space
systems.
The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE
63401F to develop, demonstrate, and validate an integrated
spacecraft engineering tool--to support rapid prototyping, and
to collaborate research, development, testing, and evaluation
of advanced spacecraft and aerospace vehicles.

Laser eye protection

The budget request included $36.7 million in PE 63112F, for
advanced materials for weapon systems. The committee recommends
an increase of $5.0 million in PE 63112F to address an Air
Force requirement for laser eye protection.

Metals affordability initiative

The budget request included $36.7 million in PE 63112F, for
advanced materials for weapons systems. The committee
recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PE 63112F for
unfunded priority Air Force research on specialty aerospace
metals as part of the Metals Affordability Initiative. This
type of research could lead to cheaper and higher performance
aerospace metals and alloys, which will contribute
significantly to future military air and space capabilities.

Aerospace propulsion and power technologies

The budget request included $77.3 million in PE 63216F, for
aerospace propulsion and power technology. Traditional oil
lubrication of propulsion and power systems carries operation
and maintenance costs that could be avoided through the use of
alternative technologies. The committee recommends an increase
in PE 63216F of $3.0 million to advance the more electric gas
turbine research to a technology readiness level for prototype
development and testing. Application of this technology could
improve performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of
propulsion and power systems by replacing oil lubrication with
magnetic and electrical components in gas turbine engines.
The Air Force is pursuing research on reusable high-speed
turbine engines for a hypersonic cruise missile. The Air Force
Science and Technology unfunded priority list includes a
request for additional research on a Mach 4+ turbine engine for
rapid long-range strike and operational responsive space lift.
The committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE
63216F for the advanced supersonics cruise missile, to meet the
Air Force unfunded requirement in this area and to accelerate
and expand ground demonstrations to include critical
integration technologies such as the supersonic inlet, exhaust
nozzle and afterburner subsystems.

Versatile affordable advanced turbine engines

The budget request included $77.3 million in PE 63216F, for
aerospace propulsion and power technologies. The Versatile
Affordable Advanced Turbine Engine (VAATE) program is a joint
program between the Departments of Defense and Energy, the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and industry to
develop, demonstrate, and transition advanced, multiuse turbine
engine technologies. The committee recommends an increase of
$2.5 million in PE 63216F to meet Air Force requirements for
accelerated development of these technologies that could be key
to the evolution of long-endurance, high efficiency engines for
emerging unmanned aerial combat systems.

Ballistic missile technology

The budget request included $60.9 million in PE 63401F for
advanced spacecraft technology.
The committee is aware of the need to develop common
advanced guidance technology applicable to Air Force and Navy
strategic ballistic missile systems and future space vehicles.
These efforts support capabilities needed to fulfill validated
requirements for land-based strategic deterrence and prompt
global strike.
The committee recommends an increase in $5.0 million in PE
63401F for advanced technology demonstrations in guidance and
control, flight computers, vehicle structures, and range safety
technology.

AC coupled interconnect

The budget request included $60.9 million in PE 63401F, for
advanced spacecraft technology.
The committee notes that the Air Force has been exploring
ways for satellites to operate more effectively on the limited
power offered by solar cells. AC coupled interconnect is a new
technique that would provide for the connecting of electronic
chips in computer and electronic equipment at more efficient
rates. In 2004, a key demonstration of this technology resulted
in chips communicating with each other at 6 GHz. Additional
funding would produce a complete technology for connecting
electronic chips for all fields of application, including
satellites.
The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE
63401F for AC coupled interconnect development.

Energy cells for defense and intelligence applications

The budget request included $60.9 million in PE 603401F,
for advanced spacecraft technology, but no funding for the
development of Beta Energy Cells (BEC).
The committee understands that BEC can be used to charge
batteries and super capacitors to greatly extend the
operational life of critical military and intelligence systems.
The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE
603401F to complete the development phase of BEC research and
make prototype products available to defense and intelligence
users.

Radically Segmented Launch Vehicle

The budget request included $61.0 in PE 63401F, for
advanced spacecraft technology, but no funding for the
Radically Segmented Launch Vehicle (RSLV)
The RSLV program addresses a broad range of Department of
Defense mission requirements for low-cost, routine, and
responsive space launch. Program development and risk reduction
for responsive space launch is currently performed under a
joint Air Force, National Air and Space Administration, and
Defense Advanced Research Project Agency program management
arrangement. The committee is supportive of efforts to acquire
an operationally responsive space capability to support the
warfighter.
The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million in PE
63401F to perform engineering development, prototype hardware
fabrication, and ground testing of the RSLV for the purpose of
mitigating technical risk and validating cost savings
potential.

Thin film amorphous solar arrays

The budget request included $60.9 million in PE 63401F, for
advanced spacecraft technology, but no funding for thin film
amorphous solar arrays.
The committee is aware of the need to reduce the cost of
satellite launches, which is driven to a large extent by the
weight of satellite payloads. The committee believes research
on thin film amorphous solar arrays has the potential to
produce solar arrays that are significantly less expensive,
lighter, and more efficient than current solar arrays.
The committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE
63401F for thin film amorphous solar array research and
development.

High Accuracy Network Determination System

The budget request included $5.8 million in PE 63444F, for
the Maui space surveillance system, but no funding for the High
Accuracy Network Determination System (HANDS).
The Air Force satellite control network maintains careful
management of satellites that perform missions of crucial
importance to national security, such as detecting ballistic
missile launches against the United States as well as space
launches and nuclear detonations. HANDS technology has the
potential to increase the accuracy of the data gathered in
support of this mission.
The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million in PE
63444F to research, develop, and demonstrate capabilities of
HANDS technology.

Laser threat warning attack reporting

The budget request included $53.4 million in PE 63500F, for
the multidisciplinary advanced development space program.
The committee notes that U.S. space systems are becoming
increasingly vulnerable to deliberate hostile or intrusive
attacks from lasers deployed by foreign governments and
terrorist groups. The purpose of the laser threat warning
attack reporting (LTWAR) for space program is to develop
electro-optical sensors capable of detecting such laser
radiation incidents on space systems.
The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million in PE
63500F to accelerate the LTWAR.

Enable network centric warfare

The budget request included $30.1 million in Research,
Development, Test, and Evaluation, Air Force, for Command,
Control, Communications, and Intelligence Advanced Development,
but included no funding for science and technology efforts to
continue development and fielding of advanced capabilities that
will facilitate the ability of air platforms to engage in
airborne networking and improve their ability to participate in
network centric operations.
The enable network centric warfare program is an urgent
need requirement that was identified by the Commander, U.S.
Central Command (CENTCOM), after the fiscal year 2006
President's budget request had been submitted. The concept of
network centric warfare is being implemented within the
Department of Defense, but challenges remain in developing the
capabilities to fully enable airborne platforms to be
integrated into network centric operations. This integration
effort is expected to result in a reliable, secure, and assured
network centric communications infrastructure for ground mobile
and airborne platforms that will improve the ability of
battlefield commanders to see the battlespace and coordinate
the use of weapons systems.
The committee recommends an increase of $3.2 million in PE
63789F, to accelerate development and fielding of operational
airborne networking equipment for network centric operations
and more quickly meet the urgent need requirement of the
Commander, U.S. CENTCOM.

Military satellite communications

The budget request included $835.8 million in PE 63845F,
for the Transformational Satellite Communications system (TSAT)
and $665.3 million in PE 63430F, for the Advanced Extremely
High Frequency (AEHF) system.
The committee recognizes the increasing importance of
communications to net-centric military operations and remains
supportive of the TSAT effort to provide substantial increases
in bandwidth to the military and intelligence user. The
committee notes, however, that while TSAT has been an
acquisition program since January 2004, only one of its seven
critical technologies is mature, according to the Government
Accountability Office's 2005 assessment of major weapon
programs.
The committee has been concerned that the technical risks
in the program are very high given the state of critical
technology development. In hearings before Congress in 2004 and
2005, then- Under Secretary of the Air Force, Peter Teets,
acknowledged that if the TSAT program were to experience
unanticipated problems, the Air Force would adjust its strategy
by taking ``acquisition off-ramps.'' These off-ramps or back-up
technologies are associated with critical technologies from the
Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite program.
Given the technological risks associated with TSAT, the
committee recommends that the Air Force provide funding to the
AEHF program for the development and procurement of a fourth
AEHF satellite. The committee directs the Air Force to focus
TSAT funding and development efforts primarily on those
activities directly related to maturing critical technologies.
Finally, the committee recommends that the Air Force consider
incorporating available maturing TSAT technologies into the
fourth AEHF satellite, if feasible. This approach is in
accordance with the Department of Defense's updated space
acquisition policy, which states that evolutionary acquisition
is the preferred strategy for rapid acquisition of mature
technology for the user. Procuring a fourth, incrementally
enhanced AEHF satellite could serve to shorten the time in
moving from AEHF to TSAT capabilities as well as reduce the
overall risks in achieving TSAT capabilities.
In accordance with these recommendations, the committee
recommends a decrease of $200.0 million in PE 63845F for TSAT
and an increase of $100.0 million in PE 63430F for AEHF.

Space radar

The budget request included $225.8 million in PE 63858F,
for space radar (SR).
In the statement of managers accompanying the Ronald W.
Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005
(Public Law 108-375), the conferees expressed the view that
while they were strongly supportive of radar satellites, the
Air Force cost estimates for the notional space based radar
(SBR) architecture, as presented in the fiscal year 2005 budget
request, made the system potentially unaffordable. The
conferees noted that affordability would be dependent on the
development of a single radar satellite system to meet both
military and intelligence community needs and the integration
of the space-based radar into an architecture consisting of
other intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)
capabilities. Consequently, the Department of Defense was
directed to restructure the SBR effort to focus on continued
technology maturation, architectural analysis, and system
evolution.
The committee believes that while the Air Force has taken
steps to address congressional concerns, the restructured space
radar (SR) program still lacks sufficient programmatic and cost
definition. The committee welcomes realignment of the SR
program budget to focus on early development and demonstration
of ground infrastructure and ground capabilities that may have
benefits beyond the space radar program. While the committee
supports a demonstration project to help validate technology
readiness and ascertain costs for the objective system, the
committee questions the Air Force decision to pursue an on-
orbit demonstration as opposed to an earlier, less costly
airborne experiment. Moreover, the inability of the Air Force
to provide a firm cost estimate for the demonstration project
illustrates the uncertainty of the approach. While the joint
memorandum on the space radar program signed by the Secretary
of Defense and the Director of Central Intelligence on January
13, 2005, is a welcome sign, the lack of agreement on a
specific cost share for the program is an indication that much
has yet to be decided before Congress can provide its full
support for this program. Finally, the committee notes that two
important reports to Congress, addressing various options for
the space-based radar architecture and key features of an ISR
system-of-systems architecture, have yet to be completed and
received by this committee--another indication that Department
plans for space radar remain uncertain.
The committee recommends a decrease of $75.0 million in PE
63858F, and strongly urges the Department to consider an
airborne demonstration in fiscal year 2006 or early fiscal year
2007 to inform a Key Decision Point B decision for the
objective Space Radar program as soon as possible. The
committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a report
to the congressional defense committees by January 15, 2006, on
the Department's plan for the objective Space Radar program,
including associated costs. Finally, the committee recommends
that the Department seek solid commitments from the Director of
National Intelligence regarding cost and requirements sharing
for space radar before the fiscal year 2007 budget request
submission.

Tactical satellite demonstrations

The budget request included $23.5 million in PE 64855F for
operationally responsive launch, but no funding for tactical
satellite demonstrations.
The U.S. space transportation policy of January 6, 2005,
directs the government to demonstrate before 2010 an initial
capability for operationally responsive access to and use of
space to support national security requirements. The Air Force
is pursuing a joint warfighting space concept to provide prompt
space support for the warfighter by rapidly launching rockets
with small, militarily useful satellites that would be
controlled by the warfighter. The objective is to develop
tactical satellites that could be stored and, when directed,
launched and ready to support operations within a few days
compared to the two-year lead time that is currently needed for
satellite launches. The committee has been supportive of this
concept as a way to improve space support to the warfighter and
reduce the cost and development time for military space
systems. The Air Force and other service partners have funded
the first satellite experiment and most of the satellite work
for the second joint warfighting space satellite, JWS-2,
(otherwise known as TacSat-3) but no funds are currently
budgeted for other important demonstration pieces, including
the launch. The committee notes that the Chief of Staff of the
Air Force's unfunded priorities list includes a $13.5 million
request for this purpose.
The committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE
64855F to fund the launch and range costs for JWS-2, and one
year of satellite operations.

Robust nuclear earth penetrator

The budget request included $15.2 million in PE 64222F for
development of nuclear weapons support, including $1.0 million
for the development of nuclear weapons and counterproliferation
technologies to support joint Air Force and National Nuclear
Security Administration efforts associated with logistics and
aircraft integration for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator
(RNEP). The committee notes that the evaluation of RNEP
feasibility by the Department of Energy is not scheduled to be
completed prior to 2007. Therefore, the committee recommends a
decrease of $1.0 million in PE 64222F for efforts associated
with logistics and aircraft integration for the RNEP.

Space control test capabilities

The budget request included $24.7 million in PE 64421F, for
Air Force counterspace systems.
The ``National Space Policy'' of September 1996 specifies
that the United States will develop, operate, and maintain
space control capabilities to ensure freedom of action in space
and, if directed, deny such freedom of action to adversaries.
The committee recognizes that continuing development by the
Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering
Center of software applications used to integrate offensive and
defensive space control systems into a single system-of-systems
simulated testbed could contribute to near-term capabilities
for space control and situational awareness.
The committee recommends an increase of $6.0 million in PE
64421F for continued test and development of command and
control capabilities for ground-based space control assets.

FPS-16 radar mobilization and upgrade

The budget request included $55.3 million in PE 64759F, for
major test and evaluation investments. The committee recommends
an increase of $5.0 million in PE 64759F for upgrade and
mobilization of an additional fixed positioning system (FPS)-16
radar. Updating the radar with fully digital electronics would
increase reliability, decrease maintenance time and cost, and
enhance radar performance and data products. Mobilization of
the radar will facilitate flexibility and increase optimal
tracking coverage.

Ballistic missile range safety technology

The budget request included $13.8 million in PE 65860F for
the rocket systems launch program, but no funding for ballistic
missile range safety technology (BMRST).
The committee is aware that BMRST is a global positioning
system based launch range safety system that has the potential
to provide significant technical and reliability advantages and
cost savings over current radar systems. The committee notes
that several launch ranges have requested BMRST systems for
local range certification as well as down-range reentry
support.
The committee recommends an increase of $15.0 million in PE
65860F to support expanded BMRST system capability, critical
certification, and testing requirements.

A-10 aircraft propulsion improvements

The budget request included $51.8 million in PE 27131F for
the continued development of the A-10 aircraft; including $33.9
million for A-10 propulsion improvements. The Air Force intends
to operate this aircraft until fiscal year 2028; and aircrews
have continued to rank propulsion as a major operational
deficiency. The committee recommends an increase of $25.0
million in PE 27131F to continue the propulsion modernization
effort for the A-10 aircraft.

Information systems security research

The budget request included $109.3 million in PE 33140F,
for the information systems security program. A recent National
Defense University report entitled ``Information Assurance:
Trends in Vulnerabilities, Threats and Technologies'' noted
that a series of internal and external studies and policy
pronouncements from the Department of Defense over the last two
decades contains a basic premise, that: ``the explosive changes
in information technology would transform the future of
military operations. The benefits of this change have been well
documented but its potential vulnerabilities have been less
commonly described--or addressed for corrective action.'' To
augment the Department's work in developing solutions to
information security vulnerabilities and to review associated
legal and regulatory issues, the committee recommends an
increase of $3.0 million in PE 33140F, including $2.0 million
for infrastructure assurance and security research conducted in
collaboration with the Air Intelligence Agency and $1.0 million
for homeland defense threat information studies and analysis of
the legal and regulatory challenges involved in cyber security.

Viper Strike munition for Predator

The budget request included $61.0 million in Research,
Development, Test, and Evaluation, Air Force, for Predator UAV,
in PE 35219F, for the continued development of the Predator
unmanned aerial vehicle system, but did not include additional
funding for the development of the Viper Strike lightweight
precision munition that can be integrated onto the Predator air
frame. The Viper Strike precision munition represents a
transformational capability, providing pinpoint accuracy
against moving, stationary, and armored targets, even in low
visibility environments. The Viper Strike is an important step
forward in linking powerful sensors to precision munitions to
allow the rapid engagement of high-value targets on the complex
21st century battlefield. Funding would allow fielding of this
important capability in the global war on terrorism to
battlefield commanders in fiscal year 2006, while the Air Force
establishes a program of record for future years.
The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million in PE
35219F, for development and early fielding of 55 Viper Strike
precision munitions.

S-band radar

The budget request included $151.1 million in PE 35910F for
spacetrack, but no funding for the S-band radar.
The S-band sensor system detects and tracks all low-earth
orbiting objects and is the only planned system capable of
providing the information required for space situational
awareness and space control. Air Force funding reductions to
the space surveillance system, of which S-band radar is an
important component, led to eliminating funding for S-band
radar in the fiscal year 2006 budget request. The committee
understands it is the intention of the Air Force to continue
funding this program in fiscal years 2008 to 2011. The
committee believes, therefore, that additional funding will
accelerate deployment and mitigate additional system costs.
The committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE
35910F for the S-band radar project.

Space-Based Space Surveillance

The budget request included $151.1 million in PE 35910F,
for spacetrack, of which $114.2 million is for the Space-Based
Space Surveillance (SBSS) program.
The SBSS is a sensor that will conduct deep space and low-
earth orbit surveillance in support of U.S. space control and
situational awareness requirements. The committee notes that
funding cuts in fiscal year 2005 delayed the SBSS launch for
one year from 2008 to 2009, causing a potential gap in space
surveillance capabilities. Additional funding for SBSS was
included in the Air Force Chief of Staff's unfunded priorities
list.
The committee recommends an increase of $15.0 million in PE
35910F for SBSS to purchase long-lead hardware to support
assembly, integration, and testing in fiscal year 2006.

Nano-materials manufacturing

The budget request included $36.9 million in PE 78011F, for
industrial preparedness. As research advances lead to robust
composite material designs assembled from the nano-scale level,
manufacturing processes must develop in parallel to expedite
production and use of new structures. The committee recommends
an increase in PE 78011F of $4.0 million for nano-materials
manufacturing.

Air Force support systems

The budget request included $10.3 million in PE 78611F, for
support systems development. Fuel tank coatings require
periodic inspection for adhesion and corrosion and may demand
removal and reapplication. Current procedures are costly as
well as hazardous to maintenance personnel. The committee
recommends an increase of $2.9 million in PE 78611F to complete
development of a semi- autonomous robot that would replace
personnel in the dangerous work inside aircraft fuel tanks and
would provide cost savings, particularly in the maintenance of
legacy aircraft.
The Department of Defense's pursuit of ``cradle to grave''
weapon systems management shows promise in improving supply
chains and logistics. The committee recommends an increase of
$3.0 million in PE 78611F for an aging aircraft logistics
management integrated data environment. The integrated system
would enable an ``as-is'' depiction of the C-5/C-17 weapons
systems at any given point in time. Logistics and supply chain
decision- making improvements support cost savings and
increased levels of readiness.
The committee further recommends an increase of $1.0
million in PE 78611F for the aircraft systems and support
infrastructure project and for research into five specific
focus areas: structure and materials; avionics, electronics and
software; information technology; environmental compliance; and
depot industrial processes.

Personnel and pay information technology systems

The committee understands that the Department of Defense
plans to begin implementing its Defense Integrated Military
Human Resources System (DIMHRS) for personnel and pay in fiscal
year 2006. In development since 1998, this program is intended,
in part, to address long-standing problems with military
personnel pay. These problems have only been exacerbated in
recent years by the call-up of numerous reservists and
guardsman to serve in the ongoing global war on terrorism. The
DIMHRS implementation plan for a single consolidated military
personnel and pay system across the entire Department is a
laudable goal, long overdue, and one which the committee
supports.
The first phase of the DIMHRS implementation begins in
fiscal year 2006 with the Army, and is planned to continue
through the end of fiscal year 2007. Additional phases, or
``spirals,'' are still under development. However, the
committee is concerned that the program is under funded by
$49.0 million in fiscal year 2006.
The committee has also been briefed on a separate effort
planned within the Air Force to enhance their legacy personnel
and pay system, called Personnel Service Delivery (PSD). This
proposed system appears to duplicate many of the features and
attributes of the DIMHRS system already under development.
Additionally, the PSD program has not yet received
certification from the Secretary of Defense, as required by
section 332 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375).
The budget request included $16.4 million in PE 91220F and
$25.6 million in Operation and Maintenance, Air Force, for the
Air Force's PSD effort.
The committee is concerned that the Air Force is continuing
to invest in efforts that duplicate DIMHRS. Therefore, the
committee recommends a reduction in PE 91220F, of $16.4
million; and a reduction in Operation and Maintenance, Air
Force, of $25.6 million to eliminate funding for the PSD
effort. The committee also recommends an increase in Operation
and Maintenance, Defense-wide, of $49.0 million for the DIMHRS
program.

Defense-wide

Focus center research program

The budget request included no funding in PE 60111D8Z, for
government/industry co-sponsorship of university research.
The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million in PE
60111D8Z for a component of the focus center research program
managed by the Director, Defense Research and Engineering. This
partnership achieved successful transition of technologies to
advance capabilities of weapons systems, radars, missile
seekers, and information networks. The program also supports
microelectronics research and training of future scientists and
engineers.

Superstructural particle evaluation

The budget request included $72.5 million in PE 61384BP,
for chemical and biological defense basic research. Basic
science challenges continue to plague efforts to develop
comprehensive methods for countering threats posed by chemical
and biological warfare agents. The committee commends the
Department of Defense for supporting basic research to address
both the chemical and biological threat, and recommends an
increase of $1.85 million in PE 61384BP to accelerate promising
work in superstructural particle evaluation and
characterization with targeted reaction analysis (SPECTRA).
This program would allow for testing of agents at the cellular
level and the possible rapid development of a series of
bioprotection substances. These protection methods could
improve survivability and alleviate symptoms of exposure to
chemical and biological warfare agents.

Chemical and biological defense applied research

The budget request included $187.8 million in PE 62384BP,
for chemical and biological defense applied research. The
Department of Defense requires improved prediction models for
timely monitoring of exposure to different chemical warfare
agents and toxic industrial chemicals. The committee recommends
an increase of $1.2 million in PE 62384BP for an automated man-
in-simulant-test (MIST) program to facilitate testing and
development of a new generation of protective clothing. The new
testing capability would allow for reliable reproduction of the
same test and would lower test operating costs and shorten the
time between tests.
The Department requires a flexible analytical tool for bio-
defense to support force protection and intelligence and threat
assessment activities. The committee recommends an increase of
$5.0 million in PE 62384BP for continuing research into the
development of multipurpose bio-defense immuno-arrays. The
immuno-arrays would allow for rapid, inexpensive
characterization of new and novel pathogens and expedited
development of countermeasures to biological threats, thereby
enhancing force protection and threat assessment capabilities.
Current chemical and biological protective suits used by
the military have deficiencies, including limited life; limited
moisture vapor permeability; and the need for post-
contamination containment. The committee recommends an increase
of $2.0 million in PE 62384BP for development and demonstration
of self-decontaminating prototype chemical and biological
protective suits, which would address some of these
limitations.
One of the objectives of the applied chemical and
biological research program is to develop lightweight,
effective, and fast agent detectors for widespread use. The
committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PE 62384BP
for research and development of a portable chemical/biological
sensor system using quartz crystal microbalance technology.
Such a system would have potential application for autonomous
vehicles and individual soldiers.

Mustard gas antidote

The budget request included $21.5 million in PE 62384BP,
for medical chemical defense applied research. This program
emphasizes the prevention of chemical casualties and addresses
capability gaps in the area of prophylaxes for chemical warfare
agents. The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in
PE 62384BP for mustard gas antidote research. The committee
commends the Department of Defense for current research focused
on a mustard gas antidote using signal transduction inhibition
antioxidant liposomes (STIMAL), and notes that STIMAL research
has demonstrated the ability to substantially reduce or
eliminate the effects of a range of chemical and biological
weapons.

Tactical technology

The budget request included $361.6 million in PE 62702E,
for tactical technology. The committee recommends a decrease of
$33.02 million in PE 62702E, including decreases of $6.8
million in unjustified growth for two missile programs--agile
interceptor and guided projectiles; $3.42 million from the
riverine crawler underwater vehicle, which would duplicate
similar unmanned systems already under development; and $4.8
million from the newly initiated preconflict anticipation and
shaping program, which does not contain sufficient
justification.

Human performance in hazardous environments

The budget request included $206.5 million in PE 62716BR,
for weapons of mass destruction (WMD) defeat, but no funds for
a central repository of information on human vulnerabilities
to, and performance in, adverse environments which result from
weapons' effects. Command authorities need information
regarding immediate occupational health and environmental
safety implications to protect forces conducting and supporting
military operations. The committee recommends an increase of
$1.0 million in PE 62716BR for demonstration and validation of
emerging products, which would provide information on human
performance in hazardous environments.

Technology Support Working Group

The budget request included $55.3 million in PE 63122D8Z
for combating terrorism technology support. The Technology
Support Working Group (TSWG) manages efforts under this account
that focus on interagency rapid prototyping research and
development programs for combating terrorism technologies in
response to user requirements.
Current threats underscore the need to protect bridges,
tunnels, oil pipelines, and other critical infrastructures
against exposure to attack. Design engineers lack the basic
structural response data for retrofit and new construction for
many of these unique and important structures. The committee
recommends an increase of $8.0 million for a defense against
explosive effects program to close existing capability gaps, to
develop infrastructure protection guidelines, and to validate
and enhance existing and new analytical tools for use by armed
services and homeland defense officials.
Genetic engineering of bio-agents may provide a powerful
countermeasure to bio-detection systems currently in use and in
development, and may also increase vaccine and therapy defeat
capabilities. The committee recommends an increase of $3.0
million in PE 63122D8Z for the bio-engineered agent assessment
tool, which has the potential to deliver a unique set of real-
time chemical and biological identification and analysis
capabilities, to address the threat of biological terrorism
which employs engineered agents.
The committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PE
63122D8Z for the development of fuel cell technologies for
continuity of operations missions. Fuel cell technology has
potential advantages over traditional backup power options as
it could provide continuous, low maintenance, extended
operation, and is useable in confined spaces.

Radiation detection technology

The budget request included $6.6 million in PE 63160BR for
proliferation prevention and defeat radiation detection
technology. The committee recommends an increase of $3.0
million in PE 63160BR for procuring glass scintillation fiber
radiation detectors and developing new portable applications,
including backpack detectors, panels for aircraft, and
detectors included in clothing systems. The committee further
recommends an increase of $1.0 million in PE 63160BR for the
development of a state-of-the-art radiation portal monitor
using High Purity Germanium technology that will surpass the
performance and accuracy of portal monitors currently in use.
The committee notes the importance of developing higher
quality, more cost-effective nuclear radiation detectors to
enhance our ability to detect and identify hazardous materials
that pose a proliferation threat.

Ballistic missile defense reductions

The budget request included $136.3 million in PE 63175C for
ballistic missile defense technology; $455.2 million in PE
63889C for ballistic missile defense products; $447.0 million
in PE 63890C for ballistic missile defense systems core; and
$345.0 million in PE 63891C for special programs--MDA. The
committee notes that within each of these program elements
there is funding specified for activities in fiscal year 2008
and beyond that lack sufficient budget justification.
The committee recommends a decrease of $25.0 million in PE
63175C for ballistic missile defense technology; a decrease of
$30.0 million in PE 63889C for ballistic missile defense
products; a decrease of $30.0 million in PE 63890C for
ballistic missile defense systems core; and a decrease of $50.0
million in PE 63891C for special programs--MDA.

Massively parallel optical interconnects

The budget request included $136.0 million in PE 63175C for
ballistic missile defense technology.
Massively parallel optical interconnects for micro-
satellite data communications is an advanced technology that
would greatly increase the reliability and precision of
satellite guidance for advanced tactical missiles. The
committee is aware of the key role played by satellite guided-
precision munitions during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and
supports efforts to improve upon this capability in a timely
manner.
The committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PE
63175C to enable the technology associated with massively
parallel optical interconnects to advance to the deployment
stage.

Missile technology

The budget request included $75.9 million in PE 63286E, for
advanced aerospace systems. The committee recommends a decrease
of $6.4 million in PE 63286E for the Long Gun program. The
committee notes that this project duplicates the Navy's
affordable weapon system effort, which is not yet part of long-
range Navy acquisition plans. There is no validated requirement
for the effort and no funding programmed in the Navy budget to
transition the technology.

Anthrax and plague oral vaccine research and development

The budget request included $63.1 million in PE 63384BP,
for advanced technology development specific to medical bio-
defense. The committee supports the Department of Defense's
efforts under this account to develop and test safe and
effective prophylaxes and therapies for pre- and post-exposure
to biological threats and agents. The committee recommends an
increase of $3.75 million in PE 63384BP for Phase I clinical
trials and initial production of the oral anthrax plague
vaccine. This effort parallels the Department's plague vaccine
development program and may provide superior protection against
pneumonic plague.

Miniaturized RAMAN chemical identification system

The budget request included $164.5 million in PE 63384BP,
for the chemical and biological defense advanced technology
program. The ability to rapidly characterize substances such as
explosives, chemical agents, toxic industrial chemicals,
narcotics, and other hazardous materials under a variety of
conditions poses difficult challenges. Combining real-time,
reliable sensing and identification techniques into a hand-held
device has been an even more complicated task.
The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million in PE
63384BP for accelerated development of a small, lightweight
chemical identification system, which uses the RAMAN
spectroscopy technology. These additional resources are
intended to ensure a power supply that lasts nearly twice as
long as currently available, in a device that is under one
quarter the weight but which maintains the substance
identification speed of larger stationary machines.

Diminishing manufacturing sources

The budget request included $22.4 million in PE 63712S, for
general logistics research and development technology
demonstrations. The military faces challenges in maintaining a
supply of replacement and repair parts for legacy systems, a
costly problem with readiness implications and no coordinated
solution. The committee recommends an increase of $1.5 million
in PE 63712S for continuation of a project designed to create a
single repository of information for addressing the diminishing
manufacturing source problem.
The Department of Defense needs a capability to develop and
evaluate methods and processes for manufacturing printed
circuit boards with buried passive components and other
advanced technologies relevant to warfighter needs. The
committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE 63712S
for the embedded passives research and development test bed to
enable advanced domestic capability in the military crucial
technology area of electronic systems.
The committee further recommends an increase of $3.0
million in PE 63712S to support the manufacturing supply chain
and for increased involvement of small- and medium-sized firms
in meeting surge production requirements.

Vehicle fuel cell program

The budget request included $22.4 million in PE 63712S, for
general logistics research and development technology
demonstrations. A recent Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) report
entitled ``Potential Use of Hydrogen as a Defense Logistics
Fuel'' noted that hydrogen power may offer benefits to the
warfighter such as stealth and sustainment and could provide
multiple potential sources of fuel. The committee recommends an
increase of $7.0 million in PE 63712S for acceleration of the
Department of Defense vehicle fuel cell program, particularly
in development of a hydrogen logistics fuel for use in both
tactical and nontactical military vehicles. Consistent with the
recommendations made by DLA, the committee directs the
Secretary of Defense to establish a Hydrogen Logistics
Initiative to develop a comprehensive and integrated strategy
and plan for the appropriate use of hydrogen and acquisition of
hydrogen to meet Department requirements for the future.

Advanced electronics

The budget request included $214.4 million in PE 63739E,
for advanced electronics. The committee recommends a decrease
of $10.0 million in PE 63739E, including decreases of $3.0
million from the combat optical fiber technology program, which
requires additional fundamental research prior to developmental
work; $5.0 million from the networked microsystems program; and
$2.0 million from the visible short wave infra-red photon
counting project. These programs are new starts in fiscal year
2006. The committee recommends spending levels more appropriate
for the start-up year of such programs.

Small scale systems packaging

The budget request included $214.4 million in PE 63739E,
for advanced electronics technology. Small scale systems,
devices and interconnections on the order of micro- and nano-
scale in size are becoming more frequent components in military
systems. Research on individual components shows promise, but
efforts at integration of small scale components systems are
not keeping pace with advances in research. The committee
recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PE 63739E to address
challenges in packaging small scale components into systems.

Advanced ferrite antenna

The budget request included $163.6 million in PE 63750D8Z,
for advanced concept technology demonstrations. Use of the
advanced ferrite antenna would allow replacement of large
antennas and reduction of the antenna footprint. The committee
recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PE 63750D8Z for
crossed field radiation technology to test the advanced ferrite
antenna to meet Navy and military standards.

Communications and control alert framework

The budget request included $163.6 million in PE 63750D8Z,
for advanced concept technology demonstrations. The Department
of Defense's complex command and control structure poses
management challenges critical to the successful prosecution of
any single mission. Important collaborations with other
agencies and governments create further complications. The
layers of permission for sharing of information, combined with
time-sensitive needs to disseminate data across networks and
between operating domains, presents an ideal project for
exploration by the advanced concepts technology demonstration
process.
The committee recommends an increase of $4.7 million in PE
63750D8Z to bridge the gap between initial research on the
command and control alert framework system and full
accomplishment of design objectives for testing of a
comprehensive, flexible data-sharing system. The alert system
would allow local data managers to control information access
and would enable participants to filter data streams and reduce
information overload.

Flexible JP-8 military fuel certification

The budget request included $163.6 million in PE 63750D8Z,
for advanced concept technology demonstrations. The Department
of Defense continues to support efforts aimed at near- and far-
term solutions for energy sources, particularly those for
transportation. One such research program involves development
of a clean jet fuel source. In support of efforts to examine
new forms of energy and to meet the Department's clean fuel
targets, the committee recommends an increase of $18.0 million
in PE 63750D8Z for final certification of a flexible JP-8
military fuel pilot program to facilitate transition to an
advanced concept technology demonstration.

Prevention and detection of cyber threats

The budget request included $189.8 million in PE 63755D8Z,
for the high performance computing modernization program. The
President's Information Technology Advisory Committee noted in
a February 2005 report entitled ``Cyber Security: A Crisis of
Prioritization'' that ``the information technology
infrastructure of the United States, which is now vital for
communication, commerce, and control of our physical
infrastructure, is highly vulnerable to terrorist and criminal
attacks.'' The Department of Defense uses networks to
communicate with bases, research facilities, and other
installations. These networks are vulnerable to a number of
types of attack that could be used to break into communication
lines and to substitute false information for authentic
commands. The committee recommends an increase of $1.5 million
in PE 63755D8Z to support increased research into addressing
cyber-based emerging threats and growing challenges presented
by various forms of computer-facilitated attack.

Simulation center upgrade

The budget request included $189.8 million in PE 63755D8Z,
for the high performance computing modernization program. The
Department of Defense must possess the latest, state-of-the-art
computing equipment and capabilities, particularly for the
processing and storage of classified data. While the Department
has requested funds to operate facilities charged with
development, testing, and integration of strategic defense
technologies and simulations, no funding is requested for
equipment upgrades. The committee recommends an increase of
$3.5 million in PE 63755D8Z for upgrades to the Space and
Missile Defense Command simulation center to meet computational
demands for end-to-end simulation, testing, and evaluation of
advanced interceptors and sensors.

Land warfare technology

The budget request included $139.1 million in PE 63764E,
for land warfare technology. The committee recommends a
decrease of $47.0 million in PE 63764E due to unjustified
program growth and excessive funding levels for new starts.
Specifically, the committee recommends decreases of $15.0
million in the future combat systems support program, which
would have increased by 66 percent in one year under the budget
request; $6.0 million in the multi-modal missile program, for
which $12.4 million was requested for a program in the concept
stage; $6.0 million from a non-lethal weapons program new
start, which should more closely follow the needs of the Joint
Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate; and $6.0 million from the
tactical urban operations program, to promote an effort more
focused specifically on the particular needs of the urban
warfighter.

Network centric warfare technology

The budget request included $136.9 million in PE 63766E,
for network centric warfare technology. The committee
recommends a decrease of $3.0 million in PE 63766E from the
multi-dimensional mobility robot program, a newly initiated
program that duplicates other unmanned ground equipment
development programs.

Sensor technology

The budget request included $189.5 million in PE 63767E,
for sensor technology. The committee recommends a decrease of
$5.0 million in PE 63767E from the network centric sensing
engagement programs, due to unjustified program growth and
duplication of ongoing sensor integration work.

Advanced tactical laser

The budget request included $61.8 million in Research,
Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-wide, for Special
Operations Advanced Technology Development, in PE 116407BB, for
continuing development of the advanced tactical laser (ATL).
The ATL Advanced Concepts Technology Demonstration is a
long-standing effort to weaponize directed energy technology
into an existing tactical platform. While a potentially
promising concept, the program has faced formidable technical
challenges and continues to encounter new challenges,
especially in the area of power generation to satisfy the high
energy requirements to power the weapon system. Proposed
funding for the program has increased considerably in fiscal
year 2006, and is inconsistent with the technical challenges
remaining to be solved before the program can move forward.
The committee recommends a decrease of $15.0 million in
PE116407BB, while the goals of the program are realigned and
remaining technical challenges associated with the advanced
tactical laser program are addressed.

Mark V patrol boat replacement craft prototype

The budget request included $104.3 million in Research,
Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-wide, for Special
Operations Advanced Technology Development, in PE 116402BB, but
did not include funding to complete the development, testing,
and evaluation of the Mark V patrol boat replacement craft
prototype.
The Mark V patrol boat is an important component of the
Naval Special Warfare Command's overall special operations
capabilities, but has proven to be very hard on the special
operators who operate the boat or utilize it for insertion and
extraction of special operations forces. The incidence of
stress fractures and spinal injuries associated with the rough
ride of a Mark V operating in medium to heavy seas has been
very high. The Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, has
expressed concerns and initiated actions to improve the
performance of the current Mark V through the introduction of
shock-mitigating seats and to begin development of a
replacement craft. A new design has been developed and a
prototype craft incorporating composite technologies, shock-
mitigation techniques, and improved hull design is near
completion. Additional funding is required to complete testing,
and evaluation of the prototype craft.
The committee recommends an increase of $1.5 million in PE
116402BB, for final development, testing, and evaluation of the
Mark V patrol boat replacement craft prototype.

Special operations portable power source program

The budget request did not include funding for the
development of solid oxide fuel cell systems for special
operators. Such systems are designed to reduce the weight
burden of batteries by a factor of 10. Current battery systems
are large and heavy, burdening the logistical chain, and
limiting operators and the flight ranges of their unmanned
aerial vehicles.
The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million in
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-wide, for
Special Operations Advanced Technology Development, in PE
116402BB, for the portable power source program.

Voice activated handheld translator

The budget request did not include funding for the
development of a voice activated handheld translator for
special operations forces. This technology, deployed in
Afghanistan in 2002, allows special operators to communicate
with local populations when they do not speak the local
language or have a reliable linguist with them. Research is
required to refine, test, and demonstrate the translator
capabilities, including two-way translation.
The committee recommends an increase of $2.3 million in
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-wide, for
Special Operations Advanced Technology Development, in PE
116408BB, for development of a voice activated handheld
translator.

Aegis ballistic missile defense

The budget request included $3.3 billion in PE 63882C for
the ballistic missile defense midcourse defense segment, of
which approximately $811.2 million is included for the Aegis
ballistic missile defense (BMD) system.
The Aegis BMD element is intended to provide U.S. surface
combatants the capability to detect, track, intercept, and
destroy short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles in the
ascent, midcourse, and terminal phases of flight. The committee
notes that the Aegis BMD system has demonstrated capability
through a rigorous test program that includes five out of six
successful flight intercepts of short-range ballistic missiles
between 2002 and 2005, with the last test conducted under
operationally realistic conditions.
Aegis BMD will provide missile defense protection for U.S.
deployed forces, allies, and friends against the most imminent
threats. The Commander, U.S. Pacific Command testified in March
2005 before the Committee on Armed Services that: (1) the
threat posed by ballistic missiles in his area of
responsibility is growing; (2) a capability to protect our
forces with an effective tiered system against ballistic
missiles remains ``a key capability for the future and is a top
priority for development;'' and (3) our production inventory of
PAC-3s and SM-3 missiles ``must pace the increasing threat.''
The committee recommends an increase of $75.0 million in PE
63882C for improvements to the Aegis BMD system and to
accelerate production of SM-3 missiles. The committee makes
these recommendations in light of the successful Aegis BMD test
program and mindful of the importance of keeping pace with the
growing threat. The committee directs that these funds be used
to: (1) purchase long-lead materials for the Aegis BMD signal
processor to provide significant system discrimination
capabilities against missiles with separating warheads; (2)
purchase additional test equipment necessary to accelerate SM-3
missile production rates; (3) provide long-lead funding for an
additional 15 SM-3 missiles to begin delivery in fiscal year
2007; (4) accelerate implementation of the engage-on-remote and
launch-on-remote upgrades; and (5) accelerate integration of
the two-color seeker for the SM-3 kill vehicle.

Ground-based midcourse ballistic missile defense

The budget request included $3.3 billion in PE 63882C for
the ballistic missile defense midcourse segment, of which
approximately $2.3 billion is for the ground-based midcourse
defense (GMD) segment to cover continued development, ground
and flight testing, fielding, and support.
Consistent with the National Missile Defense Act of 1999
(Public Law 106-38), the committee continues to support
fielding of the GMD element as part of the missile defense test
bed and for use in an emergency. The committee notes that the
Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, and the Department of
Defense Director for Operational Test and Evaluation endorse
this dual-use approach for continuing development and fielding
of this important defensive capability.
The committee is aware of the successful flight intercept
tests achieved by the developmental prototype ground-based
interceptor over the past five years. The committee is
concerned, however, about the inability of the Missile Defense
Agency (MDA) to complete two recent GMD flight tests, using the
operationally configured interceptor, as well as the lengthy
turnaround time for GMD tests. This seems to indicate,
according to the acting Director for Operational Test and
Evaluation, that ``there is a quality problem.'' The committee
commends the Director of the MDA for establishing an
Independent Review Team to assess recent test failures and to
improve mission assurance. According to the preliminary
findings of the review team, as recounted by the Director of
MDA during an April 7, 2005, hearing of the Subcommittee on
Strategic Forces of the Committee on Armed Services, MDA needs
to pay greater attention to the test certification process and
devote more resources to integrated ground testing.
The committee recommends an increase of $100.0 million in
PE 63882C specifically to enhance the testing program for the
GMD element in accordance with the findings of the Independent
Review Team. The committee directs that these funds be used
toward purchases of additional ground test missile units,
enhanced integrated ground test capabilities, more
comprehensive component testing, and other items for GMD
testing. The Director of the MDA is to provide a report to the
congressional defense committees by January 15, 2006,
indicating specifically how this increase will be allocated.

Miniaturized carbon monoxide oxidation technology

The budget request included $100.8 million in PE 63884BP,
for chemical and biological defense advanced technology
demonstrations. Urban and other combat environments often
produce situations in which warfighters confront fire and
carbon monoxide (CO) threats such as in caves, bunkers,
tunnels, burning oil wells, aircraft, vehicles, or structures
and buildings. The Department of Defense currently lacks gas
mask canisters or small escape devices that contain CO filters
and protection. A small, lightweight, long-lasting CO removal
technology would increase protection and utility of existing
systems and would add value to new systems under development.
The committee recommends an increase of $4.3 million in PE
63884BP to complete testing, development, and evaluation of the
Mini-COT technology to meet the Department of Defense's need
for CO protection.

Airborne Infrared System

The budget request included $529.8 million in PE 63884C for
ballistic missile defense sensors, but no funding for the
Airborne Infrared System (AIRS).
AIRS is a system of infrared and visible sensors, a
surveillance radar and adjunct data processing and storage that
can track ballistic missiles and their warheads in all phases
of flight. The committee believes that such a system, if and
when deployed, could provide important test, operational, and
technical intelligence capabilities in support of ballistic
missile defense.
The committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE
63884C for AIRS research and development. This increase will
allow the Missile Defense Agency to proceed with final
engineering development and ``in-line'' demonstrations of
system connectivity, a closed loop fire control system, and
prototype design for integration on manned or unmanned
vehicles.

Kinetic Energy Interceptor

The budget request included $229.7 million in PE 63886C for
Ballistic Missile Defense System Interceptors, of which $218.7
million is for Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) block 2010/
2012.
The committee notes that the KEI effort has been
restructured to serve as risk mitigation for the Airborne Laser
(ABL), which has been chosen as the primary boost-phase
intercept program. Accordingly, the Missile Defense Agency
(MDA) has reduced funding for KEI by approximately $883.0
million in fiscal year 2006 and $5.0 billion over fiscal years
2006-2009. MDA has built into the KEI program a one-year delay
in first flight to fiscal year 2008 in order to focus efforts
on demonstrating critical technologies and reducing development
risks. This new flight test date coincides with the plans of
the MDA for a lethal shoot down of a target missile with ABL.
The committee understands that should ABL fail to demonstrate a
lethal shoot down in fiscal year 2008, a decision could be made
at that point to switch to KEI as the primary boost-phase
interceptor.
In light of the decision by the MDA to focus on ABL as the
prime boost-phase defense system, the committee believes the
funding request for KEI risk reduction efforts is excessive.
The committee recommends a decrease of $50.0 million in PE
63886C for KEI; and recommends that remaining funds be directed
toward reducing high-risk technology challenges in the areas of
booster thrust, differentiating between plume and missile hard
body, and thrust vector control.

Military mail screening system development and demonstration

The budget request included $280.9 million in PE 604384BP
for chemical/biological defense system development and
demonstration. The committee recommends an increase of $1.8
million in PE 604384BP to validate system design and
performance for fielded chemical agent detection and biological
agent sampling systems to be used at military mail centers and
post offices.
Elsewhere in this report, the committee recommends a
provision that would require the Secretary of Defense to
promptly develop and implement a plan to ensure that mail
within the military mail system is safe for delivery, to
include the screening of all mail in order to detect the
presence of biological, chemical or radiological weapons,
agents or pathogens, or explosive devices. The committee
recommends authorizing additional funding for this purpose in
fiscal year 2006 to ensure that resources are available to
begin implementation of the plan as soon as possible.

UAV systems and operations validation program

The budget request included $128.8 million in PE 64940D8Z,
for central test and evaluation investment development. Testing
of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for autonomous control and
safety in piloted airspace would allow for full operational use
of these systems in evolving battlefields that require both
manned and unmanned air support. The committee recommends an
increase of $5.0 million in PE 64940D8Z for UAV systems and
operations validation program to facilitate short- and long-
range flight testing of autonomous systems.

Foreign supplier assessment center

The budget request included $35.7 million in Research,
Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-wide, for foreign
comparative testing, but did not include funding for the
Foreign Supplier Assessment Center (FSAC) concept.
The FSAC concept was established to assess potential
foreign suppliers wanting to provide products and services,
including components for weapon systems, automation hardware,
and various forms of software to the Department of Defense. The
FSAC is fulfilling a critical need to identify and categorize
potential foreign suppliers; conduct tests and evaluation of
products and services for appropriate security purposes; and
develop recommendations and risk mitigation plans. However, the
full requirement to assess foreign supplier of critical defense
components will not be realized without significant additional
investment.
The committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE
65710D8Z, for the continued expansion and operation of the FSAC
concept.

Operationally responsive space payloads

The budget request included $19.9 million in PE 65799D8Z
for the Office of Force Transformation in the Office of the
Secretary of Defense.
As noted in the Senate report accompanying S. 2400 (S.
Rept. 108-260) of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2005, the committee believes that acquisition of
inexpensive launch vehicles and smaller satellites provide the
promise of enhancing the effectiveness of U.S. military and
intelligence space operations and mitigating some of the long-
standing development problems that have afflicted U.S. space
programs over the past decade. In support of this effort, OFT
has sponsored the development of experimental satellites
intended to demonstrate the rapid design and fabrication of
operationally useful satellite payloads.
The committee notes that insufficient funding is requested
for fiscal year 2006 to continue development of a modular,
standard bus and complete the experimentation necessary to
demonstrate tactical satellite capabilities. The committee
recommends an increase of $20.0 million dollars in PE 65799D8Z
for the development of operationally responsive payloads, to
include funding for payloads, satellite busses, integration,
command and control, and joint warfighter experimentation.
Section 913 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375)
directed the Secretary of Defense to create a separate,
dedicated program element for operationally responsive national
security payloads and buses. The committee notes that such a
program element was not included in the fiscal year 2006 budget
request, but has subsequently been created by the Department of
Defense as PE 62001D8Z with the title: joint operational small
satellites. The committee fully expects that the $20.0 million
increase in PE 65799D8Z will be applied toward PE 62001D8Z for
the funding of responsive satellites to provide direct support
to the joint operational and tactical level warfighter.

Industrial preparedness

The budget request included $18.2 million in PE 78011S, for
industrial preparedness. The committee notes that the laser
additive manufacturing process rapidly produced titanium wing
pylons to replace aluminum parts, which experienced mechanical
problems during sustained combat operations. The committee
recommends an increase of $5.0 million in PE 78011S for
application of the laser additive manufacturing process to
repair parts and to produce new parts for other aerospace-grade
components that face similar degradation. The current processes
and materials used for production of these parts are time
consuming, expensive, and require long-lead times, which may
negatively impact readiness.
The committee further recommends an increase of $1.5
million in PE 78011S for research on improved manufacturing
processes for defense-related technologies, including sensors,
energy systems, and nanotechnology.

Special operations wireless management and control project

The budget request included $33.2 million in Research,
Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-wide, for Special
Operations Intelligence Systems Development, in PE 116405BB,
including $11.7 million for the Joint Threat Warning System
(JTWS), but did not include funding to develop new capabilities
for the JTWS in the evolving wireless communications
environment.
The special operations wireless management and control
project will continue development of capabilities that can be
integrated into the JTWS to provide special operations forces
with tactical capabilities to maintain situational awareness of
the wireless communications environment being used by potential
adversaries. The JTWS is one of the highest priorities for the
Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, for additional
funding.
The committee recommends an increase of $2.5 million in PE
116405BB, to continue development of a wireless management and
control capability for the JTWS.

Maritime unmanned aerial vehicle sensor

The budget request included $66.3 million in Research,
Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-wide, for Special
Operations Forces (SOF) Operational Enhancements, in PE
116408BB, but did not include funding to develop new sensor
capabilities for the maritime unmanned aerial vehicle (MUAV).
An urgent requirement for a new signals intelligence sensor
for the MUAV was validated after submission of the fiscal year
2006 President's budget request. This sensor would provide a
critical new capability for the MUAV and enhance the
operational effectiveness of SOF. This MUAV is one of the
highest priorities of the Commander, U.S. Special Operations
Command, for additional funding.
The committee recommends an increase of $4.9 million in PE
116408BB, for the development of a MUAV sensor.

Lightweight portable solar panels

The budget request did not include funding for lightweight
portable solar panels. These flexible lightweight panels serve
as portable chargers, converting sunlight to electricity to
keep batteries constantly charged. This eliminates the need for
operators to carry heavy battery packs during emergency and
remote operations. The rugged folding panels are easy to carry
and deploy, and they provide power even if damaged, or employed
in partial shade.
The committee recommends an increase of $2.5 million in
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-wide, for
Special Operations Forces Operational Enhancements, in PE
116408BB, for lightweight solar panels.

Items of Special Interest

Canopy hard-coats

The committee believes that industry has made a marked
advancement in the development of canopy hard-coats that may
significantly extend the life and reduce the cost of canopies
used on naval aircraft. Therefore, the committee urges the
Secretary of the Navy to accelerate the testing of new canopy
hard-coats currently in development under the auspices of the
Patuxent Naval Air Station Materials Laboratory. Furthermore,
the committee directs the Secretary to evaluate these hard-
coats on canopies provided by Navy canopy suppliers.

CH-53X helicopter development

The committee recognizes the essential contribution that
heavy-lift assets make both in wartime and peacetime and is
concerned by the intense usage of current assets in
Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and Iraq. In 2003, an
independent analysis of alternatives concluded that a program
to remanufacture the existing aircraft would cause the Navy to
shut down one-third of the Marine Corps heavy-lift squadrons
for up to 5 years due to the number of aircraft that would be
diverted from fleet squadrons to the remanufacturing program.
The Navy decided to pursue a new production strategy in
accordance with that recommendation.
The Joint Requirements Oversight Council approved a CH-53X
operational requirements document on December 9, 2004. Marine
Corps witnesses testified before the Committee on Armed
Services that the CH-53X is an urgent warfighting requirement,
that all alternatives have been analyzed, and that there are no
other suitable alternatives to new manufacture of the CH-53X.
The committee supports the requirement for CH-53X new
production program but has concerns regarding program execution
and schedule. The Department of Defense Appropriations Act for
Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-287) appropriated $102.3
million for a risk reduction initiative in the CH-53X
development program. Since March 18, 2005, the Assistant
Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and
Acquisition (ASN (RDA)) has released roughly $50.0 million of
these funds. The ASN (RDA) is withholding the remaining funds
until an independent review team can assess whether the funding
in the Future Years Defense Program is sufficient to execute
the CH-53X program.
The committee supports this program. However, the committee
is concerned that the Navy is not moving aggressively to
execute risk reduction actions, thus potentially delaying the
fielding of this critical system. The committee also
appreciates the concerns expressed by the ASN (RDA) about
program affordability. The committee, therefore, encourages the
Navy to move expeditiously to resolve these concerns and to
release the remaining $52.3 million in risk reduction funding
so that the requested fiscal year 2006 program can be
completed.

Construction of Navy Research Vessels

The budget request included $356.9 million in PE 61153N,
for defense research sciences, including $4.0 million for
design of the next generation of ocean research vessels for the
University National Ocean Laboratory (UNOLS) fleet. The
academic research community uses UNOLS to conduct experiments
and research for the Navy. The committee is concerned with the
Navy's plans to fund the construction of academic research
vessels in the basic science account in fiscal year 2007. While
the ocean class research vessel, a key research tool, provides
the Navy with a robust understanding of its battlespace, such
diversion of research funds would adversely affect the goals of
the innovative research account.
The committee authorizes the $4.0 million requested in PE
61153N for design of the new research vessel in fiscal year
2006, but directs the Navy to request the planned $25.0 million
in fiscal year 2007 for ship construction funds in the Navy
Shipbuilding and Conversion account. The committee expects that
the Navy will continue to use the Shipbuilding and Conversion
account to provide for the recapitalization of ocean class
research vessels in the Future Years Defense Program.

Department of Defense computer science research

The committee is concerned that the Department of Defense
is reducing its investment in long-term computer science
research, without due consideration of the potential negative
ramifications of such reductions on the development of next
generation networking, information technology, and information
assurance systems on which our military will depend in the
future. The committee notes that the President's Information
Technology Advisory Committee and the Defense Science Board
have both released reports this year that call attention to the
potential impacts of reduced funding on the part of the
Department in fundamental computer science.
The committee directs the Undersecretary of Defense for
Acquisition, Logistics and Technology to carefully examine the
long-term practical and policy implications of the Department's
investment strategy for computing research and to provide the
outcome of this review to the congressional defense committees
with the fiscal year 2007 budget request. The review should
include an explanation of the Department's role in the overall
federal computing research portfolio and a review of the
Department's structure and investment plan for these programs.

Unmanned aerial vehicles for resupply missions

The committee notes that dedicated unmanned aerial vehicles
for movement of equipment and supplies could support Army
expeditionary forces while reducing logistics, procurement, and
operational costs. The committee directs the Secretary of the
Army to provide to the congressional defense committees by
April 1, 2006, a report on the requirements, technical
feasibility, and cost of integrating unmanned aerial vehicles
for resupply into its future force unmanned aviation concepts.
TITLE III--OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

Explanation of tables
The following tables provide the program-level detailed
guidance for the funding authorized in title III of this Act.
The tables also display the funding requested by the
administration in the fiscal year 2006 budget request for
operation and maintenance programs, and indicate those programs
for which the committee either increased or decreased the
requested amounts. As in the past, the administration may not
exceed the authorized amounts (as set forth in the tables or,
if unchanged from the administration request, as set forth in
budget justification documents of the Department of Defense),
without a reprogramming action in accordance with established
procedures. Unless noted in this report, funding changes to the
budget request are made without prejudice.

Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations

Subtitle B--Environmental Provisions

Elimination and simplification of certain items required in the annual
report on environmental quality programs and other
environmental activities (sec. 311)
The committee recommends a provision that would modify
section 2706 of title 10, United States Code, to eliminate and
simplify portions of the annual report on environmental quality
programs and other environmental activities. The recommended
changes would remove the requirement to list planned or ongoing
projects which exceed $1.5 million dollars. The reporting of
fines and penalties against the Department of Defense would be
simplified to a trend analysis and a list of all such fines or
penalties that exceed $500,000. The recommended changes would
also simplify the reporting of the amounts expended and
expected to be expended for environmental activities overseas.
The committee believes that these modifications will make
the gathering and reporting of the data less burdensome and
more efficient while still maintaining the necessary detail to
ensure adequate oversight.
Payment of certain private cleanup costs in connection with the Defense
Environmental Restoration Program (sec. 312)
The committee recommends a provision that would allow the
Secretary of Defense to execute environmental restoration
agreements with owners of covenant properties. Under section
120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, title 42,
United States Code section 9620(h), the United States is
required to provide a deed covenant guaranteeing it will
perform remediation of contamination discovered after a
property transfer. Therefore, the Department of Defense has
permanent, irrevocable liability for cleanup of any
contamination on former Department property that was unknown
and discovered after the transfer. However, there is no current
authority for the Department to pay a land owner their costs
for undertaking remedial action on their own.
Currently, when an owner discovers contamination on their
covenant property, they must notify the service from which they
purchased the covenant property. The services then respond to
each covenant property in the order of risk and health-based
prioritization. This leaves many landowners without an
efficient remedy and the potential burden and cost of pursuing
a remedy in court. The owner may be forced to choose this
latter approach if they have already cleaned up the covenant
property, and they are seeking to be reimbursed. This approach
can be more expensive to U.S. taxpayers, since the covenant
property owner may cleanup the site to standards beyond what is
necessary or appropriate and then seek full reimbursement in
the courts.
The committee recognizes that potential land purchasers,
such as developers, are becoming increasingly apprehensive
about purchasing former Department property. This may threaten
the successful transfer of the Department's inventory after the
2005 Base Realignment and Closure round and frustrate economic
redevelopment efforts. This provision would allow the
Department to enter into agreements with the owners of covenant
property. The covenant property owner can accept the agreement
or not, at their discretion. The agreement would set out the
process the landowner would follow if contamination is later
found on the covenant property. The agreement would resolve
such issues as: notice to the Federal Government, time limits
to reply, cleanup standards to be used (although the agreement
may not change the cleanup standards applicable to the site as
established by law), and the reimbursement process.

Subtitle C--Other Matters

Aircraft carriers (sec. 321)
The committee recommends a provision that would make $288.0
million of Operation & Maintenance, Navy (OMN) from this or any
other act, for fiscal years 2005 and 2006, available only for
repair and maintenance to extend the life of the USS John F.
Kennedy.
The provision would also prohibit the Secretary of the Navy
from reducing the number of active aircraft carriers in the
Navy below 12 until the later of: (1) 180 days after the next
Quadrennial Defense Review is delivered to Congress; or (2) the
date on which the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, certifies to the
congressional defense committees that such agreements have been
entered into to provide port facilities for the permanent
forward deployment of the number of aircraft carriers necessary
in the Pacific Command (PACOM) area of responsibility (AOR) to
fulfill PACOM roles and missions, including agreements for the
forward deployment of a nuclear aircraft carrier after the
retirement of the current two conventional aircraft carriers.
The provision would also define an active aircraft carrier to
include an aircraft carrier that is temporarily unavailable for
worldwide deployment due to routine or scheduled maintenance.
The committee is concerned that the Navy's decision to
reduce the number of aircraft carriers from 12 to 11 was not
based on careful and thorough analysis, but rather was budget-
driven. In testimony before the Committee on Armed Services in
February 2005, the Chief of Naval Operations testified that
when he first submitted the proposed Navy budget for fiscal
year 2006, it included 12 aircraft carriers. Further, the last
two Quadrennial Defense Reviews, in 1997 and 2001, both
supported a force structure of 12 aircraft carriers. The
reduction to 11 aircraft carriers was made after the Office of
Management and Budget directed a budget cut for the Department
of Defense.
The committee is also aware of the importance of permanent
forward deployment of at least one aircraft carrier in the
PACOM AOR. The USS Kitty Hawk, permanently forward deployed in
Yokosuka, Japan, is scheduled for retirement in fiscal year
2008. The only other conventionally-powered aircraft carrier is
the USS John F. Kennedy. The USS John F. Kennedy was scheduled
to begin a complex overhaul (COH) maintenance period in fiscal
year 2005, and funds for this COH were authorized and
appropriated in fiscal year 2005 for this purpose. The ongoing
Integrated Global Presence and Basing Strategy review might
also expand the permanent forward deployment requirements for
aircraft carriers, particularly in the PACOM AOR.
The committee believes it is prudent for the USS John F.
Kennedy to receive its COH and that 12 aircraft carriers remain
in the U.S. Navy until such time as an in-depth analysis is
conducted and forward-basing agreements are reached.
Limitation on transition of funding for east coast shipyards from
funding through Navy working capital fund to direct funding
(sec. 322)
The committee recommends a provision that would limit the
Secretary of the Navy from using direct funding for east coast
Naval shipyards. The Navy would be required to continue funding
these shipyards through the Navy Working Capital Fund until the
later of 6 months after the congressional defense committees
receive a complete report on the use of direct funding at the
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, or October 1, 2006.
During fiscal year 2003, the Navy changed the way workload
was budgeted and paid for at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard,
despite the committee's concerns, as outlined in the Senate
report accompanying S. 1050 (S. Rpt. 108-46) of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004. The committee
understands that the Navy intends to transition the east coast
shipyards out of the Working Capital Fund and begin direct, or
mission, funding in the near future. However, the effects of
the transition of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard out of the
Navy's Working Capital Fund have not been adequately studied.
While it appears that consolidating intermediate level and
depot maintenance activities may have economic benefits, the
Navy has not fully examined the Puget Sound pilot program.
Before any action is taken with regard to changing funding
for the east coast shipyards, the committee requires that the
Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees
a study describing the lessons learned and costs and benefits
of transferring the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to direct
funding.
Use of funds from National Defense Sealift Fund to exercise purchase
options on maritime prepositioning ship vessels (sec. 323)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Secretary of Defense to obligate and expend any funds in
the National Defense Sealift Fund to exercise options to
purchase those three maritime prepositioning ships (MPS) whose
current charters expire in calendar year 2009. This
authorization is granted notwithstanding the provisions of
section 2218(f)1 of title 10, United States Code.
The budget request included $1,648.5 million for the
National Defense Sealift Fund, including $749.8 million for the
buyout of 13 MPS leases in fiscal year 2006.
The committee notes that the time remaining on the leases
of these 13 ships varies between four and six years, and does
not see the urgency of buying out all of the leases at this
time. The committee recommends buyouts of only those leases
that expire in calendar year 2009, and recommends a decrease of
$637.2 million from the National Defense Sealift Fund. The
committee recommends an increase of $127.6 million in Operation
and Maintenance, Navy, for the continued lease of the other 10
MPS vessels.
Purchase and destruction of weapons overseas (sec. 324)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the use of Department of Defense operation and maintenance
funds to purchase weapons overseas from any person, foreign
government, international organization, or other entity, for
the purpose of protecting U.S. forces engaged in military
operations overseas. The provision would permit the destruction
of the purchased weapons. The provision would also require the
Secretary of Defense to promptly notify the congressional
defense committees of any use of this authority.
This provision would clarify the authority of the
Department to purchase weapons in foreign countries where U.S.
Armed Forces are engaged in military operations, when such a
program is undertaken for force protection purposes. Providing
this authority would eliminate the need for the Department to
use its ``emergency and extraordinary expense'' authority to
fund such programs. The committee believes that providing clear
statutory authority to the Department to conduct such programs
is desirable, given the security environment in Afghanistan and
Iraq and the need to respond promptly to similar threats
elsewhere in prosecuting the global war on terrorism.
Increase in maximum contract amount for procurement of supplies and
services from exchange stores outside the United States (sec.
325)
The committee recommends a provision that would increase
from $50,000 to $100,000 the dollar limit for purchases by
defense entities from military exchanges for goods and services
outside the United States. This proposal would help ensure a
readily available source of supplies for military entities,
especially during times of emergency.
Extension of authority to provide logistics support and services for
weapon systems contractors (sec. 326)
The committee recommends a provision that would extend by 3
years the authority under section 365 of the Bob Stump National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-
314) by which the Defense Logistics Agency could provide
logistics support and services to a contractor in support of
its performance on a contract for the construction,
modification, or maintenance of a weapons system. The authority
granted expires on September 30, 2007. Section 365 required the
Secretary of Defense to issue regulations before the granted
authority could be used; and these regulations currently are in
the process of being finalized. Moving the expiration date to
2010 would correspond to the original 5-year pilot period
envisioned under section 365.
Army training strategy (sec. 327)
In order to increase flexibility, responsiveness,
jointness, and versatility, the Army is reorganizing the Active
and Reserve component force structure into a brigade-based
force. According to the Army, this initiative, referred to as
``Modularity,'' will ensure land-force dominance across the
full spectrum of contemporary and future operations. The Army
anticipates completing reorganization of combat brigades by
2007 and the reorganization of functional supporting brigades
sometime thereafter.
The committee notes, however, that the current unit
training strategy and the resources that support that strategy
continue to be division-based. For example, the current
capacity of the combat training centers does not meet the
planned requirements for a brigade-based force that will have
at least 82 maneuver brigades and an additional number of
functional supporting brigades to be determined by the Army.
A clear unit training strategy, with well-defined goals and
requirements, for the Modular force is essential in order to
ensure Army readiness. Therefore, the committee recommends a
provision that would direct the Secretary of the Army to
develop and implement a training strategy for the Modular
force. The provision would also require the Secretary to submit
a report to the congressional defense committees not later than
one year after the date of enactment of this Act on the
requirements to be fulfilled in order to implement the Army's
training strategy for the Modular force. The report shall
include the following: (1) a discussion of the training
strategy, including a description of performance goals and
metrics; (2) a discussion and description of the training range
requirements necessary to implement the training strategy; (3)
a discussion and description of the training aids, devices,
simulations, and simulators necessary to implement the training
strategy; (4) a list of the funding requirements, itemized by
fiscal year and specified in a format consistent with the
Future Years Defense Program to accompany the President's
budget, necessary to resource range requirements and necessary
to provide training aids, devices, simulations, and simulators;
(5) a schedule for the implementation of the training strategy;
and (6) a discussion of the challenges that the Army
anticipates in the implementation of the training strategy.
Finally, the provision would direct the Comptroller General
to monitor the implementation of the training strategy and to
submit a report to the congressional defense committees not
later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this
Act. The report shall contain an assessment of the progress of
the Army to implement the training strategy.
Limitations on financial management improvement and audit initiatives
within the Department of Defense (sec. 328)
The committee recommends a provision that would prohibit
the Department of Defense from obligating or expending any
funds for activities related to the Department's financial
management improvement effort until the Secretary of Defense
submits to the congressional defense committees an integrated
and comprehensive financial management plan and a determination
that each activity proposed to be funded would likely result in
real and sustainable improvements in the Department's financial
management systems and controls.
The committee believes that the most effective way to fix
the Department's financial management problems is to attack the
problems at the root, by fixing the Department's business
systems and processes so that they provide timely, reliable,
and complete data for management purposes. Although senior
Department officials have consistently agreed with this
assessment, the Department has requested hundreds of millions
of dollars to hire auditors, with the stated objective of
achieving an auditable financial statement by fiscal year
2007--long before the Department will be able to address the
problems with its business systems and processes.
By requiring that the Department pursue audit activities
only in accordance with a comprehensive financial management
improvement plan that coordinates such activities with needed
systems improvements, the provision recommended by the
committee would ensure that the Department first addresses the
underlying problems with its systems and processes.
Study on use of ethanol fuel (sec. 329)
The committee recommends a provision that would direct the
Secretary of Defense to conduct a study on the use of ethanol
fuel in the military services and defense agencies. The study
shall include: an evaluation of the historical use of ethanol
fuel by the military services and defense agencies, including
the quantity of ethanol fuel procured by the Department of
Defense for the services and defense agencies during the five-
year period ending on the date of the study; a forecast of
ethanol fuel requirements for the military services and defense
agencies for fiscal years 2007 through 2012; an assessment of
the current and future commercial availability of ethanol fuel,
to include production, storage, transportation, distribution,
and commercial sale of such fuel; an assessment of the use by
the military services and defense agencies of the ethanol fuel
commercial infrastructure; a review of the actions of the
Department to coordinate with State, local and private entities
to support the expansion and use by the military services and
defense agencies of public access alternative fuel refueling
stations that are accessible to the public; and an assessment
of the existing fueling infrastructure on military
installations in the United States, including storage and
distribution capabilities, which could be adapted or converted
to the delivery of ethanol fuel use, the cost of such
conversion, and the feasibility and advisability of such
conversion. The provision would direct the Secretary to submit
a report on the results of the study to the congressional
defense committees not later than February 1, 2006.
The committee notes that Department policy provides for the
acquisition of alternative fuel vehicles, including ethanol
fuel-capable vehicles. The committee also notes that ethanol
fuel consumption by the military services and defense agencies
increased by 25 percent from fiscal year 2003 to 2004. Despite
this increase, the committee is concerned that there are a
number of challenges that may be limiting the availability of
ethanol fuel for the military services and defense agencies. As
a result, the Department may not be fully achieving reductions
in petroleum consumption with the 25,000 ethanol fuel-capable
vehicles in the Department's inventory.

BUDGET ITEMS

Other Defense Programs

Enhanced vision
The budget request included no funding in PE63115HP, for
enhanced vision technology for the Defense Health Program. The
committee is aware that the Surgeon General of the Air Force
has a requirement for application of enhanced vision technology
to provide improved visual capability to military pilots in the
form of goggles or glasses. Enhanced vision technology has been
shown to be capable of improving human vision capability beyond
20/20, potentially to the theoretical limits of human vision.
The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million in
PE63115HP for enhanced vision technology for the Defense Health
Program. The committee expects that this increase will be used
for extension of proven enhanced vision technology for military
aero-space applications.
Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives Program
The budget request included $33.0 million for the Assembled
Chemical Weapons Alternatives (ACWA) Chemical Demilitarization
research and development program. The committee recommends an
increase of $20.0 million to accelerate work on the ACWA
Chemical Demilitarization research and development program for
the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant and the Blue
Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.
The committee is troubled by the inconsistent and
frequently changing programmatic guidance that has been
provided by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition,
Technology and Logistics to the Secretary of the Army and the
program manager for the ACWA program over the last two years,
resulting in cost increases and schedule delays. The committee
notes its satisfaction with the April 15, 2005, memo from the
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and
Logistics in which he directed the release of fiscal year 2005
ACWA funds to the ACWA program manager. He also directed that
the ACWA program manager determine expeditiously the most
prudent design approach to maximize the opportunity to meet the
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) extended 100% destruction
deadline.
The committee is dissatisfied with the Department of
Defense's oversight and management of the entire chemical
weapons demilitarization program. A series of reports by the
Government Accountability Office have concluded that the
program is not meeting its goals and objectives because of its
bifurcated management, lack of a comprehensive strategy, and an
inadequate funding stream.
The committee is increasingly concerned that the budget
request for the entire chemical demilitarization program does
not provide sufficient funding to ensure that the United States
will meet its treaty obligations under the CWC to completely
destroy the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile by April 2012 at
the latest. In addition, any delay in execution of this program
unnecessarily prolongs the safety and environmental risks to
local communities, and the possibility that a chemical weapons
storage site could be the object of a terrorist attack or
attempt to acquire chemical weapons.
In light of these concerns, section 931 of the Ronald W.
Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005
(Public Law 108-375) directed the Under Secretary for
Acquisition, Technology and Logistics and the Secretary of the
Army to jointly prepare a strategic plan for future activities
for destruction of the United States' stockpile of lethal
chemical agents and munitions. The plan is to include realistic
budgeting for stockpile destruction and related support
programs; contingency planning for foreseeable or anticipated
problems; and a management approach and associated actions that
will address compliance with the obligations of the United
States under the CWC and that take full advantage of
opportunities to accelerate destruction of the stockpile. The
committee notes that the plan, which was required to be
submitted with the President's budget for fiscal year 2006, is
overdue. The committee directs that the plan be provided
expeditiously.
The committee believes that, due to the international legal
obligations the United States has assumed pursuant to the CWC,
senior administration officials at the Department of Defense,
the National Security Council, the Department of State, and the
Office of Management and Budget must give this matter increased
attention now, while there is still time to make the
adjustments necessary to put the program back on track. In
particular, this means ensuring that the President's future
years budget requests include sufficient funding to accomplish
the mission of destroying the chemical weapons stockpile safely
and on schedule to meet the treaty timelines. The Congress has
made clear its willingness to consider requests for increased
funding necessary to meet this goal. At the same time, the
committee expects the Department of Defense to improve
management and oversight of the program.
Finally, the committee notes that the support of local
communities where the destruction activities are being, or will
be, undertaken is essential to the Department of Defense's
ability to achieve the 100% destruction of the U.S. chemical
weapons stockpile by 2012. Therefore, the committee urges the
Department to make every effort to consult with and take into
account the views of local communities when making significant
programmatic decisions that might impact those communities.

Army

Advanced combat helmet with modular integrated communications headset
The budget request included $1.9 billion in Operation and
Maintenance, Army (OMA), for land forces operations support,
including $750,000 for the advanced combat helmet with the
modular integrated communications headset. The committee notes
that the utility of the advanced combat helmet with modular
integrated communications headset has been demonstrated under
combat conditions and enhances the personal protection of the
individual soldier. The Army has completed approximately 50
percent of the approved acquisition object of the advanced
combat helmet with modular integrated communications. The
committee recommends an increase of $20.0 million in OMA for
the advanced combat helmet with modular integrated
communications headset.
Army training
The budget request included $758.8M in Operation and
Maintenance, Army (OMA), for training support systems. The
committee notes that the Army is making every effort to
maximize training at homestation prior to deployment in support
of contingency operations. Therefore, the committee recommends
an increase of $90.8 million in OMA for training support
systems.
Army officials note that the conversion to a brigade-based
force while preparing for deployment in support of contingency
operations has presented a number of challenges to training
units in ensuring deployment preparedness. The Army has acted
to ensure training readiness by capitalizing on resources
available at both the combat training centers (CTCs) and
homestations. In fiscal year 2005, for example, the Army
increased the number of rotations at the CTCs by 20 percent and
increased the size of each rotation by 30 percent.
The committee notes, however, that the increases in
rotations at the CTCs have had secondary effects. National
Training Center instructors, for example, noted a decrease in
the proficiency level of Third Infantry Division companies and
platoons during their rotation, which the instructors
attributed to limited training time at homestation. Two
brigades of the 101st Air Assault Division, were required to
advance their combat training schedules by 4 and 6 months,
causing turbulence to planned homestation training in
preparation for a CTC rotation. Officials at the Joint
Readiness Training Center (JRTC) noted that the time staff was
able to dedicate to planning and preparing final training
events for Army units at JRTC had decreased by nearly 50
percent. The newly-formed brigade of the 10th Mountain Division
garrisoned at Fort Polk is limited from fully using training
ranges at Fort Polk because of the increase in the number of
visiting units using the ranges for JRTC rotations.
The second approach to unit training implemented by the
Army in 2005 was to complete unit training at homestation. In
February 2005, the First Brigade Combat Team (1BCT) of the 82nd
Airborne Division completed unit training at their homestation,
Fort Bragg. As a result, the 1BCT was able to spend more time
preparing for final training events and preparing equipment for
deployment. The unit also was able to reapply approximately $10
million, the cost to transport equipment to a combat training
center, to high priority brigade requirements. Army leadership
stated that the final training event at Fort Bragg equaled, and
in many cases exceeded, the training experience at a CTC.
The committee understands the challenges to unit training
that the Army is addressing, including the impact of
accommodating both implementation of a brigade-based
organization and preparation for deployment. The committee
believes that the Army will be better prepared to address these
challenges if the following actions are taken. First, as
addressed elsewhere in this report, the Army should develop and
implement a training strategy for the brigade-based
organization. Second, the Army should continue to fully
maximize the limited amount of time and other resources
available to units preparing for deployment, converting to
brigade-based organization, or both, by completing training
events at homestation to the maximum extent possible.
To increase the availability of resources at homestation,
the committee recommends an increase of $90.8 for training
operations and training enablers, as follows: $73.7 for
homestation range operations; $7.7 million for the virtual
combat convoy trainer; $3.9 million for the battle command
training capability; $3.0 million for cognitive air defense
simulators; $1.0 million for grenade range improvements; and,
$1.5 million for range fiber optic local area network (LAN)
installation.
Corrosion prevention and control
The budget request included $615.1 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Army (OMA), for land forces systems readiness and
$416.5 million in Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps
(OMMC), for field logistics support. The committee supports the
efforts of the Army and the Marine Corps to sustain their
robust and comprehensive corrosion control programs. The
committee also notes the work of the Marine Corps to assemble
and deploy Corrosion Assessment Teams (CAT) and to implement
the advanced vapor corrosion inhibitor delivery system (AAD-
VCI). To date, the CATs, for example, have assessed,
classified, and documented more than 23,000 pieces of ground
combat equipment in five corrosion condition categories. The
committee continues to support the efforts of both services to
address corrosion in their vehicles and other equipment.
Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $8.0 million
in OMA and $9.3 million in OMMC to support corrosion
prevention, including $4.8 million for Marine Corps CATs; $2.0
million for Marine Corps corrosion prevention and control
programs; and $2.5 million for AAD-VCI.
The committee believes that each of the military services
may benefit from a review of the corrosion mitigation programs
implemented by other military services. The committee notes,
for example, that the Army National Guard has mitigated
corrosion and subsequently achieved significant cost savings
through the Controlled Humidity Preservation Program (CHP). The
CHP is a tiered approach to corrosion prevention and is used
for several weapon systems, including combat vehicles and
missile systems. Army National Guard officials report
investment returns ranging from four-to-one to as high as
eleven-to-one on the various weapon systems. The committee
believes that corrosion prevention and control programs with
demonstrated utility, such as the CHP, could offer similar
benefits for the other services. The committee urges the
Department of Defense's senior designated official for
corrosion policy to ensure that the services coordinate their
prevention and control programs to avoid duplication of effort.
Facility sustainment, restoration, and modernization for the Army
The budget request included $1,825.5 million in Operations
and Maintenance, Army (OMA), Operating Forces, for Facility
Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization (FSRM). This
account is used by the Army to fund critical maintenance,
repairs, and renovations of military facilities and
infrastructure. The amount in the budget request equates to 92
percent of the total fiscal year 2006 FSRM requirement for the
Army, 3 percent less than the budget goal established by the
Department of Defense for this account.
On April 5, 2005, the Government Accountability Office
released an issue paper entitled ``Budget Justification Review:
Operations and Maintenance Trends'' that reviewed the Army's
execution of the FSRM account. Their analysis concluded that an
average of 29 percent of the funds authorized by Congress in
fiscal year 2003 and 2004 for this account were not obligated
for their intended purpose, but rather transferred to other
operations and maintenance accounts.
The Army announced a goal on March 22, 2005, to obligate
funds for FSRM at 90 percent of validated requirements.
Therefore, the committee recommends a decrease of $33.8 million
in OMA to meet the Army's goal of funding 90 percent of the
requirements for the FSRM account. The committee directs the
Army to request funding for the FSRM account in future year
budgets at an amount intended to be obligated for the purpose
authorized by Congress, and to discontinue the practice of
transferring FSRM funding to other operations and maintenance
accounts.
Quadruple specialty containers
The budget request included $248.2 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Army (OMA), for strategic mobilization. The
committee notes that the Army deploys quadruple specialty
containers (QUADCONS) at key power projection platforms for
early deploying units. This equipment has been particularly
well used in support of ongoing contingency operations. The
committee recommends an increase of $6.0 million in OMA for
QUADCONS.
Department of Defense foreign language training
The budget request included $1.0 million for the Defense
Language Institute in Operations and Maintenance, Army (OMA),
specifically for satellite communications language training
activities (SCOLA).
SCOLA is a unique satellite-based language training
activity that provides television programming in a variety of
languages from around the world. Language students and seasoned
linguists have found this augmentation of their normal language
training to be very helpful. SCOLA also has an Internet-based
streaming video capability that greatly increases the
availability of this training medium to military and civilian
linguists, virtually anywhere they can obtain an Internet
connection. In addition, SCOLA is developing a digital archive
that will allow users anywhere to review and sort language
training information on demand. The development of these
capabilities will make SCOLA training assistance much more
widely available, but requires additional investment. The
committee is concerned that even after three years of
encouragement from the Congress, and in an operational
environment where the value of language training is of great
importance to the nation, the Department of Defense has not
fully funded the innovative language training concepts that can
help sustain and significantly improve the skills of military
and civilian linguists in the Department.
The committee recommends an increase of $6.0 million in
OMA, for the Defense Language Institute, for funding of SCOLA
related training activities.
Army civilian intern program
The budget request included $l54.2 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Army (OMA), for civilian education and training,
including funding for the Army civilian intern program. The
committee notes that the requested level of funding for the
intern program represents an increase of $51.7 million over the
fiscal year 2005 level. The committee believes that the Army
has failed to provide justification for this increase. The
committee recommends a decrease of $51.7 million in OMA for the
intern program.
Unattended ground sensors
The budget request included $919.8 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Army (OMA), for Security Programs, including $1.7
million for unattended ground sensors (UGS). The committee
notes that the Army is fielding a new UGS as a quick reaction
capability in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom for area and
force protection. The UGS will serve as an intrusion detection
system, as well as provide target classification, target
recognition, target identification, and target dynamics,
enhancing the security of U.S. ground forces and their ability
to rapidly engage threat forces. The committee recommends an
increase of $5.0 million in OMA, for UGS.
Information assurance vulnerability alert cell
The budget request included $389.7 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Army (OMA), for logistics support acitivies. The
committee notes the importance of employing Army logistics
systems, such as the Standard Army Management Information
System, with security safeguards. The Information Assurance
Vulnerability Alert (IAVA) Cell is designed to provide such
safeguards, including information security analysis and
response capabilities. The committee recommends an increase of
$3.0 million in OMA for the IAVA Cell.
Aviation and missile life cycle management pilot program
The budget request included $606.6 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Army (OMA), for administration activities. The
committee notes the utility of electronic business (e-business)
portals in weapon systems product life cycle management. The
program manager (PM) for Aviation Systems has successfully used
the Army Aviation Fleet Logistics Management e-business portal
for such purposes. The committee understands that extending
life cycle management technologies to the end-user may further
enhance management efficiencies. The committee notes that a
complete assessment of the utility of extending life cycle
management to the end-user has yet to be completed. Therefore,
the committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in OMA to
extend life cycle management capabilities from PM Aviation
Systems to the end-user and directs that these funds be used to
conduct a pilot program only.
In addition, the committee directs the Secretary of the
Army to conduct a study on the effectiveness of the pilot
program in supporting the goals of life cycle management for PM
Aviation Systems. The committee directs the Secretary to report
the results of the study to the congressional defense
committees by March 31, 2006.
Army excess carryover
The Army's working capital fund budget request included
$3.1 billion in new orders and $1.0 billion in calculated depot
maintenance carryover--the dollar value of depot maintenance
work that has been ordered, but not yet completed at the end of
a fiscal year. In June 2004, the Department of Defense's
Comptroller provided the services new written guidance
concerning calculation of carryover. The previous guidance was
that a service could ``carryover'' no more than the equivalent
of 3 months of workload from one fiscal year to the next. The
new methodology for calculating carryover, in which the
Government Accountability Office (GAO) participated, includes
an analytically-based carryover standard based on actual
expenditures. While the new method is more analytically sound,
the committee is concerned with the Army's execution of the
methodology.
The Army continues to manage to an operation and
maintenance expenditure rate 5 to 10 percentage points lower
than the other services, allowing them to carryover
significantly more workload at the end of a fiscal year. The
committee recommends that, upon the completion of an ongoing
study by the GAO on this discrepancy, the Department provide
the services amended guidance concerning carryover
calculations.
The committee also recommends that the Department use one
rate for all of the services.
The committee is concerned that the Army's use of a
different rate is not an effective cash management technique.
By allocating funds to workload that will not be executable in
fiscal year 2006, the lower rate restricts the Department from
better using funds for more immediate, higher priority matters.
The committee recommends a decrease of $94.7 million in
Operation and Maintenance, Army, to reflect funds in the Army
Working Capital Fund that cannot be expended in fiscal year
2006 due to the Army's excess depot maintenance carryover.

Audits of Department of Defense financial statements

The budget request included $200.0 million in the service's
operation and maintenance accounts for the audits of defense
financial statements. The Government Accountability Office
testified on April 13, 2005, before the Subcommittee on
Readiness and Management Support of the Committee on Armed
Services that spending on audits before the Department has
financial management systems in place to support such audits is
not the best use of limited resources. The committee expects
that the auditors hired by the Department of Defense Inspector
General in fiscal year 2005 for audits of defense financial
statements will be used in fiscal year 2006 for other auditing
and investigation purposes. The committee recommends a
reduction of $200.0 million to the service's operation and
maintenance accounts, as follows:
Operation and Maintenance, Army--$70.0 million;
Operation and Maintenance, Navy--$65.0 million; and
Operation and Maintenance, Air Force--$65.0 million.

Civilian personnel pay in excess of requirements

The budget request included $53.5 billion for civilian
personnel pay in fiscal year 2006. Based on an analysis of the
services' end strength data for civilian personnel as of April
29, 2005, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) projects
that the Army and Navy/Marine Corps' civilian personnel costs
are overstated for fiscal year 2006 by $189.0 million. The
committee recommends reducing the operation and maintenance
accounts by $189.0 million, as follows:
Army--$17.0 million; and
Navy/Marine Corps--$172.0 million.

Defense Information System Network

The committee understands that the Defense Information
System Network (DISN)--the Department of Defense's backbone for
providing data, video, and voice services--will establish a new
pricing structure in fiscal year 2006 for billing the
individual services for usage. While supportive of the proposed
simplified structure, the committee is concerned about the
conflicting and contradictory budget justification materials in
DISN that accompanied the President's budget submission. As
initially briefed to the committee, the simplified structure
entails a decentralization of funds from the Defense
Information Systems Agency (DISA) to the individual services.
In turn, the services then pay a ``subscription fee'' for DISN
usage. However, budget justification materials provided to the
committee from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, DISA,
and the individual services do not lay out this reallocation in
any trackable, logical manner. The committee recommends
reducing the Department's operation and maintenance accounts by
$95.0 million, as follows:
Operation and Maintenance, Army--$25.0 million;
Operation and Maintenance, Navy--$25.0 million;
Operation and Maintenance, Air Force--$25.0 million;
and
Operation and Maintenance, Defense Information System
Agency--$20.0 million.

Working capital funds

The budget request included $3.1 billion in discretionary
spending for defense working capital funds. These working
capital funds serve a vital role in providing financial
transaction flexibility for critical defense customer support
activities. When working capital funds produce an annual net
operating result involving a surplus--revenues exceeding
expenses--consideration should be given to adjusting customer
rates in future years. Working capital funds that do not
appropriately return surplus funds to the supported
departments, commands, and agencies through rate-change
mechanisms artificially inflate the cost of support and deprive
the supported units of limited resources. In many cases, the
global war on terrorism has created increased work flow in and
out of working capital funds annually over scheduled peacetime
projections.
In previous years, the committee has urged the Department
of Defense to anticipate the increased workload being
experienced within the working capital funds and to budget
accordingly. While some agencies and services have begun to
take these additional revenue and expenses into account, the
Army, Air Force, and Defense Information System Agency (DISA)
still are not doing so. Consequently, end of year positive
operating balances and excess cash balances continue to grow
for these working capital funds.
The current projections of net operating result for fiscal
year 2006 for the Army, Air Force, and DISA are based, in part,
on artificially low revenue estimates. As higher revenues are
realized, the working capital funds will continue to maintain
large, positive operating balances and excess cash balances. To
ensure proper management of the funds, the committee recommends
reducing excess balances within these working capital fund
accounts by $252.9 million, as follows: Army, $124.7 million;
Air Force, $85.5 million; and DISA, $42.7 million.

Navy

NULKA decoy cartridge

The budget request included $588.4 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Navy (OMN), for ship operational support and
training. The committee notes the Navy requirement to recertify
Mark-234 NULKA electronic decoys every 3 years. The committee
recommends an increase of $2.7 million in OMN for NULKA
maintenance and recertification.

Stainless steel sanitary spaces

The budget request included $4.0 billion in Operation and
Maintenance, Navy (OMN), for ship depot maintenance. The
committee notes that the Stainless Steel Sanitary Space (S4) is
being installed on ships during repair or overhaul periods. The
S4 consists of corrosion prevention materials and coatings,
which reduce maintenance requirements and increase quality of
life for ships' company. The committee recommends an increase
of $4.5 million in OMN to sustain the S4 installation rate.

Manufacturing Technical Assistance and Production Program

The budget request included $298.1 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Navy (OMN), for combat communications, including
funding for Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR)
activities. The committee notes that the Manufacturing
Technical Assistance and Production Program (MTAPP) continues
to be a key program for integration of small businesses into
the military supply chain. The committee recommends an increase
of $4.0 million in OMN for SPAWAR MTAPP.

Electric start system

The budget request included $173.0 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Navy (OMN), for equipment maintenance. The
committee notes that performance models have demonstrated that
improved reliability and lower maintenance costs could be
achieved with electric start technology. Electric start system
technology is now available for installation on marine gas
turbine engines, including power plants on Ticonderoga-class
cruisers and Arliegh Burke-class destroyers. The committee
recommends an increase of $8.0 million in OMN for electric
start system upgrades.

Marine gas turbine photonic sensors

The budget request included $173.0 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Navy (OMN), for equipment maintenance. The
committee understands that more accurate monitoring of gas
turbine plant performance and operating parameters is an
important element of the Navy's Conditioned Based Maintenance
(CBM) program. The committee recommends an increase of $3.0
million in OMN for marine gas turbine photonic sensors in
support of the CBM program.

Mark-45 gun system overhauls

The budget request included $473.6 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Navy (OMN), for weapons maintenance, including
funding for the overhaul of Mark-45 (Mk-45) gun systems. The
committee notes that the Mk-45 continues to be the Navy's
primary battery on cruisers and destroyers. The committee
recommends an increase of $16.0 million in OMN for Mk-45 gun
system overhauls.

Facility sustainment, restoration, and modernization for the Navy

The budget request included $1,345.0 million in Operations
and Maintenance, Navy (OMN), Operating Forces, for Facility
Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization (FSRM). This
account is used by the Navy to fund critical maintenance,
repairs and renovations of military facilities and
infrastructure. The amount in the budget request equates to 95
percent of the total fiscal year 2006 FSRM requirement for the
Navy, which meets the budget goal established by the Department
of Defense for this account.
On April 5, 2005, the Government Accountability Office
released an issue paper entitled ``Budget Justification Review:
Operations and Maintenance Trends'' that reviewed the Navy's
execution of the FSRM account. Their analysis concluded that 23
percent of the funds authorized by Congress in fiscal year 2004
for this account were not obligated for their intended purpose,
but transferred to other operations and maintenance accounts.
The committee recommends a decrease of $26.2 million in OMN
to reflect the anticipated obligation amount in fiscal year
2006. Furthermore, the committee directs the Department of the
Navy to request funding for the FSRM account in future year
budgets at an amount intended to be obligated for the purpose
authorized by Congress, and to discontinue the practice of
transferring FSRM funding to other operations and maintenance
accounts.

Marine Corps

Acclimate high performance undergarments

The budget request included no funding in Operation and
Maintenance, Marine Corps (OMMC), for acclimate high
performance undergarments. The committee notes that the
Commandant of the Marine Corps continues to support the
initiative to make improvements in form, fit, and function of
Marine clothing and accessories. Acclimate high performance
undergarments allow Marines to adapt to all environments using
one type of undergarment system. The committee recommends an
increase of $2.5 million in OMMC for acclimate high performance
undergarments.

Combat casualty care equipment upgrades

The budget request included no funding in Operation and
Maintenance, Marine Corps (OMMC), for combat casualty care
equipment upgrades. The committee notes that the Marine Corps
assesses combat casualty care equipment upgrades as high
military value and has an identified shortfall of 458 units
against the approved acquisition object (AAO). The committee
recommends an increase of $5.2 million in OMMC for combat
casualty care equipment upgrades to fulfill the AAO.

Family of mountain cold weather clothing and equipment

The budget request included $7.5 milllion in Operation and
Maintenance, Marine Corps (OMMC), for the family of mountain
cold weather clothing and equipment. Additional funding for the
family of mountain cold weather clothing and equipment has been
identified on the Commandant of the Marine Corps unfunded
priorities list, including the All Purpose Environmental
Clothing System (APECS). The committee recommends an increase
of $8.0 million in OMMC for APECS.

Portable tent lighting

The budget request included no funding in Operation and
Maintenance, Marine Corps (OMMC), for portable tent lighting.
The committee notes that Marine Corps portable tent lighting is
electro-magnetic interference hardened to prevent compromising
periperal electronics and computers. Additional funding for
portable tent lighting has been identified on the Commandant of
the Marine Corps unfunded priorities list. The committee
recommends an increase of $2.0 million in OMMC for portable
tent lighting.

Ultra-light Camouflage Net System

The budget request included no funding in Operation and
Maintenance, Marine Corps (OMMC), for the Ultra-light
Camouflage Net System (ULCANS). The committee notes that ULCANS
greatly enhances the ability of combat troops and support units
to conceal military target signatures of weapons, vehicles, and
semi-permanent positions in situations where natural cover or
concealment may be absent or inadequate. Additional funding for
ULCANS has been identified on the Commandant of the Marine
Corps unfunded priorities list. The committee recommends an
increase of $8.0 million in OMMC for ULCANS.

Supplemental communications and electrical utility support to U.S.
Marine Corps Network Operations Center

The budget request included no funding in Operation and
Maintenance, Marine Corps, to extend and improve base
information technology and electric infrastructure to meet
requirements of the network operations center currently under
construction and other facilities at the U.S. Marine Corps Base
at Quantico, Virginia. There is a requirement for $2.1 million
to complete construction of the Marine Corps network operations
center that begun last year. Without this additional funding,
the Marine Corps communications and warfighting capabilities
will be degraded.
The committee recommends an increase in Operation and
Maintenance, Marine Corps, of $2.1 million to extend and
improve base information technology and electrical
infrastructure to meet requirements of the network operations
center and other facilities.

Air Force

Bomber deployable phase maintenance kits

The budget request included no funding in Operation and
Maintenance, Air Force (OMAF), for B-52 or B-1 bomber
deployable phase maintenance kits. The committee notes that the
global war on terrorism has increased the requirement for Air
Force aircraft, including bombers, to operate from forward
operating locations. Additional funding for B-52 and B-1 bomber
deployable phase maintenance kits has been identified on the
Chief of Staff of the Air Force unfunded priorities list in
order to increase bomber availability in theater. The committee
recommends an increase of $86.0 million in OMAF for bomber
deployable phase maintenance kits, as follows: $34.0 million
for B-1 aircraft and $52.0 million for B-52 aircraft.

Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator

The budget request included $3.5 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Air Force (OMAF), for the development of a
preliminary design and risk assessment of a navigation,
guidance, and control unit for the Robust Nuclear Earth
Penetrator (RNEP), and for an assessment of the integration and
requirements of such a unit for carriage on the B-2 bomber. The
committee notes that the evaluation of RNEP feasibility by the
Department of Energy is not scheduled to be completed prior to
2007. Therefore, the committee recommends a decrease of $3.5
million in OMAF.

Joint protection enterprise network

The budget request included no funding in the Operations
and Maintenance, Air Force (OMAF) account for the joint
protection enterprise network (JPEN). The Department of Defense
requires standardized and timely submission of Threat and Local
Observation Notices (TALON) and Suspicious Activity Reports
(SAR) across components and commands. The Commander, U.S.
Northern Command, has identified funding shortfalls for the
operations and maintenance of JPEN, which provides this
capability. The committee recommends an increase of $3.6
million in OMAF to address this funding shortfall and to
support system upgrades, enhanced functionality, and expanded
information sharing capabilities for JPEN.

Joint task force north

The budget request included $4.5 million in the Operations
and Maintenance, Air Force (OMAF) account for Joint Task Force
North (JTF-N). In September 2004, Commander, U.S. Northern
Command (NORTHCOM), assigned JTF-N a full homeland defense and
civil support mission. This new mission transforms JFT-N into
an operational, proactive, transnational threat-focused
organization driven by actionable intelligence. The Commander,
NORTHCOM, has identified funding shortfalls for the operation
of the task force. The task force must maintain operational
readiness and participation in efforts such as the recently
concluded 3 month, multiagency Operation Winter Freeze border
security project. The successful operation took place on the
northeast border during a period of heightened security. The
committee recommends an increase of $6.0 million in OMAF to
support basic operational requirements; equipment and personnel
for the JTF-N; and to continue projects focused on proactive
situational awareness, decision superiority, theater security
cooperation, and other initiatives required under the new
homeland defense and civil support mission.

Mobile consolidated command center

The budget request included $14.9 million in the Operations
and Maintenance, Air Force (OMAF) account for the mobile
consolidated command center (MCCC). The MCCC is a rapidly
deployable, vehicle-based command and control center designed
to provide commanders with tactical warning, military force
direction, and consequence management during periods of
heightened security alerts or increased national readiness
levels. The Commander, U.S. Northern Command, has identified
funding shortfalls for the operations and maintenance of MCCC.
The committee recommends an increase of $6.2 million in
OMAF to address this shortfall and to fully sustain and support
the operation of the MCCC. Uninterrupted operation of the MCCC
would ensure the availability of continuous communication links
to the military chain of command in a crisis and would allow
for prolonged independent operation as necessary.

Mobility Air Force depot maintenance

The budget request included $2.5 billion in Operation and
Maintenance, Air Force (OMAF), for depot maintenance programs,
including $287.8 million for KC-135 depot maintenance and $87.5
million for C-130 depot maintenance. The KC-135 and C-130 are
venerable, combat-tested aircraft. Manned with talented,
dedicated mobility Air Force crews, these aircraft continue to
demonstrate their essential contributions to the global war on
terrorism. Additional funding for KC-135 depot maintenance and
for C-130 depot maintenance has been identified on the Chief of
Staff of the Air Force unfunded priorities list. The committee,
therefore, recommends an increase of $96.6 million in OMAF,
including $59.0 million for KC-135 depot maintenance and $37.6
million for C-130 depot maintenance funding to address
immediate safety of flight issues and to sustain the long-term
readiness of mobility air forces.
The committee is concerned with the level of funding
provided for KC-135 depot maintenance, given the results of
previous Air Force studies, ongoing efforts to mitigate
corrosion, and continuing challenges related to the future
force structure of tanker aircraft. The Tanker Requirement
Study for Fiscal Year 2005, supported by the KC-135 Economic
Service Life study, concluded that the Air Force should apply
additional resources for KC-135 depot maintenance in order to
increase depot throughput and to maximize available operational
aircraft. The committee finds, however, that the budget request
included funding for only 47 percent of the requirement for KC-
135 air frame maintenance and only 58 percent of the total
depot maintenance requirement for KC-135 aircraft. The
committee, therefore, recommends additional funding for KC-135
depot maintenance to maintain a viable depot maintenance
program and address continuing challenges.
The committee notes that recent changes to the C-130J
acquisition program and the discovery of advanced fatigue in
the center wing box of the current inventory of C-130 aircraft
present challenges to the readiness of the C-130 fleet. Program
changes and advanced wing fatigue were not anticipated when the
C-130 depot maintenance program for fiscal year 2006 was
prepared. The committee notes that as a result of center wing
box fatigue, the Air Force has grounded 30 aircraft and has
imposed restrictions on an additional 60 aircraft. The
committee, therefore, recommends an increase in depot
maintenance funding to address immediate C-130 center wing box
safety of flight issues and to ensure the availability of
mission capable aircraft to support intra-theater, tactical air
lift operational requirements.
The committee notes that this additional funding is one
part of an overall initiative by the committee to provide
additional funding for KC-135 and C-130 readiness.

Homeland Security/Homeland Defense Education Consortium

The budget request included no funding in the Operations
and Maintenance, Air Force (OMAF) account to continue the U.S.
Northern Command (NORTHCOM) Homeland Security/Homeland Defense
Education Consortium (HSDEC). The committee recommends an
increase of $1.0 million in OMAF to enable NORTHCOM to continue
and expand HSDEC. As homeland security and homeland defense
roles and missions are further defined, it is important that
educational curriculums designed to train personnel in these
areas adhere to standards, and that the Department of Defense,
through NORTHCOM, participates in establishing the criteria for
such standards. An expanded program would increase the role of
NORTHCOM in setting education and research priorities and would
further training, information sharing, and targeted projects,
particularly in cyber and biodefense.

Defense-Wide

Counseling and assistance to military families

The budget request included $42.0 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Defense-wide (OMDW), for non-medical counseling
and $179.0 million for family assistance centers across all
military departments. Recent studies, including the National
Military Family Association's ``Serving the Home Front''
analysis and the Army Family Action Plan, show significantly
increased demand for assistance to families due to the changing
nature of military service since September 11, 2001.
The committee recommends an increase of $30.0 million in
OMDW for increased assistance to military families, including
non-medical, preventive mental health counseling, including
assistance to families of the Guard and Reserve. The committee
expects the increased funding to support non-medical counseling
services available through the Department of Defense's Military
One-Source program, which provides up to six face-to-face
counseling visits for individual and family needs, both in the
continental United States and overseas. The committee further
directs that additional funds be applied to reducing the
shortfall of funding for family assistance centers serving the
Army National Guard, Air Force National Guard Wings, Air Force
Reserve, and Army Reserve.

Increased support for child care for military families

The budget request included a total of $440.0 million for
child care services for all military services, including $174.0
for the Army; $95.0 for Navy; $151.0 for Air Force; and $20.0
for the Marine Corps. The committee believes that additional
funds are needed to meet the documented requirement for more
than 38,000 additional child care spaces for military families.
The committee is concerned that the Department of Defense has
an ongoing deficiency in the availability of child care
services, which has increased significantly in the past two
years and which adds a substantial burden to the families of
deployed military members.
The committee recommends an increase of $40.0 million in
Operations and Maintenance, Defense-wide (OMDW) for child care
services for military families, including the families of
mobilized Guard and Reserve members.
The committee intends that the increased funding will be
used for the following purposes:
(1) construction of temporary facilities at military
installations with high deployment rates that are
experiencing an increase in births, based on authority
provided elsewhere in this report. This new authority
would increase the threshold for use of minor military
construction authority for unspecified minor
construction projects to construct child development
centers; and
(2) support for public-private partnerships to
provide incentives for providers on and off military
installations to offer support to military families.
The committee acknowledges that the demand for child care
services exceeds availability both in the continental United
States and overseas, and is a top quality of life concern among
military personnel.

Funding for Office of Economic Adjustment

The budget request included $30.0 million in Operations and
Maintenance, Defense-wide (OMDW), Administration and Service-
wide Activities, for the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA).
The committee recommends additional funding of $60 million in
OMDW to allow the OEA to provide planning assistance to local
communities affected by the closure or realignment of military
installations resulting from the 2005 Defense Base Closure and
Realignment (BRAC) round.
The OEA provides comprehensive planning and organizational
assistance to communities, regions, and States adversely
impacted by BRAC. Civilian reuse of a former military
installation is often the single most important opportunity for
an affected community to overcome the specific impacts of a
closure or realignment, while building upon a community's
strengths and opportunities. OEA anticipates start-up
obligations that will average $1.0 million per community grant
in fiscal year 2006 for local staff to coordinate the
community's response and to develop realistic reuse plans and
community strategies. OEA grants will also be used to establish
physical and environmental baseline conditions, to study
market-feasible reuses, and to plan for potential zoning
actions and public improvements.

Capital security cost sharing

The budget request included $61.3 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Defense-wide, for capital security cost sharing.
The committee recommends a decrease of $61.3 million for
capital security cost sharing.
Elsewhere in this report, the committee recommends a
provision that would permit funds appropriated to the
Department of Defense to be transferred to the Department of
State as payment for a fee charged by the Department of State
for maintenance, upgrade, or construction of U.S. diplomatic
facilities, only to the extent that the amount charged in any
given year exceeds the total amount of unreimbursed costs
incurred by the Department of Defense during that year in
providing goods and services to the Department of State. The
committee anticipates that in fiscal year 2006 the Department
of Defense will provide unreimbursed goods and services to the
Department of State valued in excess of $61.3 million;
therefore, the Department of Defense will not need the money
included in the budget request for the capital security cost
sharing program.

Information assurance scholarship program

The budget request included $5.5 million in Operations and
Maintenance, Defense-wide (OMDW), for the information assurance
scholarship program. The committee recommends an increase of
$3.0 million in OMDW for this program. The Department of
Defense requires experts in the areas of information security,
assurance, and architecture. Increased funding for these
scholarships will allow the Department to educate and train
additional students in fiscal year 2006.
The committee's commitment to ensuring an adequate and
skilled workforce to support the Department's complex
information assurance and security challenges led to the
creation of this scholarship program in the Floyd D. Spence
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public
Law 106-398). The committee continues to strongly support the
program and commends the Department for successful recruitment
of quality educational institutions and perspective students to
participate in this important endeavor.

Increased funding for conservation buffer zones

The budget request included $20.0 million in Operations and
Maintenance, Defense-wide, for implementation of conservation
buffer zones around military facilities under the Department of
Defense's Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative.
The committee recommends an increase of $20.0 million to
accelerate the Readiness and Environmental Protection
Initiative.
The committee believes that limiting the development or use
of property that would be incompatible with the mission of an
installation, and preserving habitat that is compatible with
environmental requirements and which may also serve to
eliminate or relieve current or anticipated environmental
restrictions on the use of military installations, should be a
high priority for the Department. The Department should pursue
opportunities to avoid encroachment by urban growth and
development through partnership agreements with eligible
entities. The committee directs that in allocating the funding
provided for the Department's Readiness and Environmental
Protection Initiative, the Department should give priority to
projects that have been characterized by the Army as
benefitting high priority training sites and identified as
having the greatest potential to reduce or prevent encroachment
through the implementation of a compatible use buffer zone,
such as projects that are part of the Army's Compatible Use
Buffer Program at the following locations: Fort Campbell, KY;
Fort Carson, CO; Fort A. P. Hill, VA; Fort Hood, TX; Fort Sill,
OK and Camp Ripley, MN.

Citizen-Soldier Support Program

The budget request included no funding in Operation and
Maintenance, Defense-wide (OMDW), for the Citizen-Soldier
Support Program. The committee is aware that the Citizen-
Soldier Support Program is improving and augmenting family
readiness programs for families of the Reserve and Guard. This
program is providing expert assistance to reserve families in
remote areas in which military installations and the services
these installations offer do not exist. The committee believes
that there is an ongoing need for such assistance to military
families.
The committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million in
OMDW to expand services provided by the Citizen-Soldier Support
Program.

Parents as Teachers

The budget request included no funding in Operation and
Maintenance, Defense-wide (OMDW), for the Parents as Teachers
program. The committee believes that additional funding is
needed to expand a program that provides assistance to military
families through providing instructional assistance to parents
of pre-school children.
The committee authorizes the increase in order to initiate
a demonstration program at up to five military installations,
to be identified in conjunction with the Department of Defense,
at which there is a large concentration of military families
experiencing high deployment rates and large numbers of
children from birth to five years of age. The committee
acknowledges that the Parents as Teachers program has been
successfully supporting military families under nondefense
sponsorship at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas; Fort Riley, Kansas; and Fort Hood, Texas; and expects
that funding would support continued operation of these highly
successful programs as well.
The committee believes that the Parents as Teachers program
can provide a valuable service to military families, based on
voluntary participation, through providing instructional
assistance to parents of pre-school children. The committee
recommends an increase of $1.0 million in OMDW for the Parents
as Teachers program.

Military to civilian conversions

The budget request included $1.4 billion in Operation and
Maintenance, Army (OMA); Operation and Maintenance, Navy (OMN);
Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps (OMMC); Operation and
Maintenance, Air Force (OMAF); and Operation and Maintenance,
Defense-wide (OMDW) for conversion of 6,434 military positions
to 11,573 civilian positions during fiscal year 2006. The
committee is concerned that the Department of Defense has not
provided adequate information on the funding requirements and
execution data for military to civilian conversions.
According to an April 29, 2005, analysis by the Government
Accountability Office (GAO), the Office of the Secretary of
Defense and service budget officials acknowledge that they are
unable to provide a clear methodology to calculate the
Department's budget cost estimates for replacing military
positions with civilians in fiscal year 2006. According to the
GAO analysis, Department officials also acknowledged that the
services have not determined the federal civilian employee and
contractor mix for these conversions. The GAO analysis stated:
``Without determining this mix, DoD can not be certain whether
it accurately estimated its need for staffing resources and the
funds to pay for such resources in its fiscal year 2006
budget.''
The committee concurs with this assessment regarding the
lack of clarity on the budget requirements for achieving
conversion of military billets to civilians or contractors. The
committee believes that military-to-civilian conversions should
be reviewed and validated by the Secretary of Defense to ensure
that such requirements are formulated in a consistent manner;
that there is an availability of qualified civilian employees;
and that the mix of Department civilians and contractors is
more clearly understood. Therefore, the committee recommends a
decrease of $285.0 million for military to civilian
conversions, as follows:
Operation and Maintenance, Army (OMA)--$90.0 million;
Operation and Maintenance, Navy (OMN)--$90.0 million;
Operation and Maintenance, Air Force (OMAF)--$90.0
million; and
Operation and Maintenance, Defense-wide (OMDW)--$15.0
million.

Army Reserve

Army Reserve components cold weather clothing

The budget request included no funding in Operation and
Maintenance, Army Reserve (OMAR), or Operation and Maintenance,
Army National Guard (OMARNG), for the Extended Cold Weather
Clothing System (ECWCS). According to Reserve component
officials, the ECWCS program is critical to unit mission and
training requirements in all regions and in all deployments.
The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million for the
ECWCS, as follows: $2.0 million in OMAR and $2.0 million in
OMARNG.

Air Force Reserve

Air Force Reserve mobility Air Force depot maintenance

The budget request included $377.8 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Air Force Reserve (OMAFR), for mobility Air Force
(MAF) depot maintenance programs, including $74.0 million for
KC-135 depot maintenance and $96.6 million for C-130 depot
maintenance. The committee recommends an increase of $58.0
million in OMAFR for Air Force Reserve MAF depot maintenance,
as follows: $53.7 million for KC-135 depot maintenance, $4.3
million for C-130 depot maintenance, including inspection and
repair of the center wing box.
Elsewhere in this report, the committee notes that this
additional funding is one part of an overall initiative to
address immediate safety of flight issues and to sustain the
long-term readiness of mobility air forces.

Army National Guard

Communicator Automated Emergency Notification System

The budget request included no funding for the Communicator
Automated Emergency Notification System (CAENS). The committee
notes that the CAEN, a component of the Emergency Mass
Notification System, provides timely and effective notification
of emergencies to soldiers supporting contingency operations
within the homeland and at deployed locations worldwide. The
committee recommends an increase of $2.5 million in OMARNG for
CAENS.

Virtual battlefield system one

The budget request included no funding in Operation and
Maintenance, Army National Guard (OMARNG), for the virtual
battlefield system one (VBS1). The committee notes that VSB1 is
specifically designed to meet the training objectives of small
infantry unit operations. The committee understands that the
Army National Guard initiated fielding of the VSB1 in response
to an urgent training requirement in support of deploying
units. VSB1 is currently part of the predeployment training
package at many Army National Guard mobilization sites. The
committee recommends an increase of $8.0 million in OMARNG for
VBS1.

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Yield Explosive
Enhanced Response Force Package Teams

The budget request included no funding for National Guard
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Yield
Explosive (CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force Package (NG CERFP)
teams. The committee recommends an increase of $19.8 million
for this program. Of that amount, the committee recommends an
increase of $9.5 million to establish five additional NG CERFP
teams, and an increase of $10.3 million to provide sustainment
funding for the 12 existing NG CERFP teams.
The committee directs that the $9.5 million for the five
additional NG CERFP teams be allocated as follows: Operations
and Maintenance, Army National Guard, $4.0 million; Operations
and Maintenance, Air National Guard, $2.3 million; National
Guard Personnel, Army, $1.6 million; and Military Personnel,
Air National Guard, $1.6 million.
The committee directs that the $10.3 million for
sustainment for the 12 existing NG CERFPs be allocated as
follows: Operations and Maintenance, Army National Guard, $1.8
million; Operations and Maintenance, Air National Guard, $1.1
million; National Guard Personnel, Army, $3.7 million; and
Military Personnel, Air National Guard, $3.7 million.
The NG CERFP pilot program was initiated in fiscal year
2004 and has proven to be a valuable asset for federal and
state authorities. Twelve NG CERFP teams were funded through
fiscal year 2005 as a proof of concept demonstration. These NG
CERFP teams are capable of performing mass decontamination and
triage/emergency medical treatment, and locating and extracting
victims from an incident ``hot zone.'' The NG CERFP teams
provide follow-on forces in support of the National Guard's
Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams (WMD-CSTs),
whose mission is to support civil authorities at a domestic
CBRNE incident site by identifying CBRNE agents/substances,
assessing current and projected consequences, and advising on
response measures. The NG CERFP teams deploy subsequently,
within 4-24 hours after a disaster, to provide additional
capabilities in support of civil or military authorities in
conducting consequence management operations.
The original 12 CERFP teams are located in each of the 10
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regions, with two
additional teams placed to cover larger geographic areas.
Continued funding for the 12 original NG CERFP teams will
ensure that they are available to assist local authorities in
major disasters. These existing teams would also benefit from
the purchase of additional equipment including medical
supplies, extraction equipment, and special outfits with
ancillary assemblies for hot zones. The committee believes that
the five additional teams will provide enhanced capabilities
for response to a chemical, biological, radiological, or
nuclear attack or event.

Air National Guard

Air National Guard mobility Air Force depot maintenance

The budget request included $612.8 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Air National Guard (OMANG), for mobility Air Force
(MAF) depot maintenance programs, including $221.7 million for
KC-135 depot maintenance and $93.7 million for C-130 depot
maintenance. The committee recommends an increase of $45.5
million in OMANG for Air Force National Guard MAF depot
maintenance, as follows: $35.8 million for KC-135 depot
maintenance and $9.7 million for C-130 depot maintenance.
Elsewhere in this report, the committee notes that this
additional funding is one part of an overall initiative to
address immediate safety of flight issues and to sustain the
long-term readiness of mobility air forces.

Transfer Accounts

Funding for Formerly Used Defense Sites

The budget request included $221.9 million for cleanup of
Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS). The committee notes that
the budgeted amount is below the level authorized and
appropriated for this program in fiscal year 2005, even though
the scope and challenges of FUDS cleanup remain substantial.
The committee recommends an increase of $40.0 million for FUDS
cleanup. The committee expects the Department of Defense to
demonstrate its commitment to FUDS cleanup by increasing the
amount of funding budgeted for this effort in the outyears.

ITEM OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Defense Information System Network Access Transport Services

The committee notes that the Defense Information Systems
Agency (DISA) is in the process of acquiring additional network
access to connect remote Department of Defense locations to
terrestrial networks that are part of a component of the Global
Information Grid (GIG), known as the GIG Bandwidth Expansion
(GIG-BE). This will provide the Department with a high speed
fiber optic network that will greatly enhance network centric
operations.
The committee is concerned that DISA is moving forward with
an acquisition plan to acquire this connectivity through a
Defense Information System Network Access Transport Services
(DATS) contract without a complete analysis of the costs and
capabilities associated with all possible alternative
strategies. In a briefing to the committee by DISA personnel,
they reported that the underlying assumptions behind the
analysis of alternatives (AoA)--accomplished internally by
DISA, of whether to purchase or lease fiber optic connectivity,
did not include cost as a factor. The committee also
understands that DISA has not solicited sufficient input from
industry. The committee understands that the Office of the
Secretary of Defense for Program Analysis and Evaluation, an
independent analysis group within the Office of the Secretary
of Defense, has voiced concerns about the DISA-planned approach
for over a year. The committee directs the Congressional Budget
Office to undertake a review of the AoA and underlying
assumptions being prepared by DISA and report its findings to
the committee by March 1, 2006.

Test to improve the quality of agricultural produce available in
commissary stores

The committee is aware that the Defense Commissary Agency
has initiated a test program to improve the quality of
agricultural produce, particularly fruits and vegetables
available to patrons of military commissary stores. The test
employs web-based ordering techniques and is designed to reduce
average times for the receipt of produce and to improve
administrative processing. The test also affords greater
opportunities for small businesses to become providers to
commissary stores.
The committee believes that the adoption of modern business
practices such as these will improve the quality of produce
available at commissary stores, and encourages the Department
of Defense to move forward to implement such best practices
throughout the commissary system. The committee directs the
Secretary of Defense to report to the congressional defense
committees by April 1, 2006, on its progress in implementation
of improved business practices designed to result in better
quality produce at Department Commissary stores.
TITLE IV--MILITARY PERSONNEL AUTHORIZATIONS

Subtitle A--Active Forces

End strengths for active forces (sec. 401)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
active duty end strengths for fiscal year 2006, as shown below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year--
--------------------------------------------------------
2005 2006
authorization 2006 request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army................................................... 502,400 482,400 522,400
Navy................................................... 365,900 352,700 352,700
Marine Corps........................................... 178,000 175,000 178,000
Air Force.............................................. 359,700 357,400 357,400
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375) authorized active duty
end strength for the Army at 502,400 and 178,000 for the Marine
Corps. Additional authority was also provided in section 403 of
that Act to increase active duty end strength for the Army by
up to 30,000 and increase Marine Corps active duty end strength
by up to 9,000 above the fiscal year 2004 authorized levels of
482,400 and 175,000, respectively, during fiscal years 2005
through 2009.
The committee notes that the Army and the Marine Corps
continue to provide substantial forces in support of operations
in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that the Reserve components
comprise approximately 40 percent of the troops in theater. The
Army is simultaneously engaged in major organizational changes
intended to increase combat power and flexibility by creating
more modular units of deployment at the combat brigade level,
and is also working to rebalance critical skills and units
between the active and Reserve component forces.
Because of these continuing demands, the Army currently
estimates that its active duty end strength for fiscal year
2006 will be 522,400. The Marine Corps believes that its active
duty end strength for fiscal year 2005 will be about 178,000.
The Commandant of the Marine Corps has testified before the
Committee on Armed Services that an increase in end strength is
not required for fiscal year 2006.
The committee believes that achieving an active duty end
strength above 522,400 in fiscal year 2006 would be difficult
for the Army given the challenges the Army faces in recruiting
and retention. The committee also believes that broad use of
stop-loss authority to meet higher end strength requirements
would have negative impacts on recruiting, retention, and the
public's perception of military service. The committee believes
the Army should make every effort to reduce the number of
personnel retained under stop-loss authority, consistent with
maximum combat unit cohesion and readiness.
For the reasons set forth above, the committee recommends
an active duty end strength for the Army at 522,400 and 178,000
for the Marine Corps for fiscal year 2006. This reflects an
increase of 20,000 from the authorized level for the Army for
fiscal year 2005 and an increase of 40,000 from the requested
level for fiscal year 2006. The recommended level for the
Marine Corps is equal to the authorized level in fiscal year
2005 and is an increase of 3,000 from the requested level for
fiscal year 2006. The committee has recommended funding to
support these higher end strength levels in title XIV of this
Act. The recommended active duty end strength for the Navy is
decreased by 13,200 and the recommended active duty end
strength for the Air Force is decreased by 2,300, as requested.
Revision of permanent active duty end strength minimum levels (sec.
402)
The committee recommends a provision that would establish
minimum active duty end strengths for the Army, Navy, Marine
Corps, and Air Force as of September 30, 2006, as shown below.
These minimum end strengths reflect the committee
recommendations in section 401 of this report. The minimum end
strength requirements reflect an increase of 20,000 for the
Army and a decrease of 13,200 for the Navy and 2,300 for the
Air Force. The minimum end strength requirement for the Marine
Corps remains equal to the level established for fiscal year
2005.

Subtitle B--Reserve Forces

End strengths for Selected Reserve (sec. 411)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
Selected Reserve end strengths for fiscal year 2006, as shown
below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year--
--------------------------------------------------------
2005 2006
authorization 2006 request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Army National Guard of the United States........... 350,000 350,000 350,000
The Army Reserve....................................... 205,000 205,000 205,000
The Naval Reserve...................................... 83,400 73,100 73,100
The Marine Corps Reserve............................... 39,600 39,600 39,600
The Air National Guard of the United States............ 106,800 106,800 106,800
The Air Force Reserve.................................. 76,100 74,000 74,000
The Coast Guard Reserve................................ 10,000 10,000 10,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

End strengths for Reserves on active duty in support of the Reserves
(sec. 412)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
full-time support end strengths for fiscal year 2006, as shown
below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year--
--------------------------------------------------------
2006 2006
2005 request recommendation authorization
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Army National Guard of the United States........... 26,602 27,345 27,396
The Army Reserve....................................... 14,970 15,270 15,270
The Naval Reserve...................................... 14,152 13,392 13,392
The Marine Corps Reserve............................... 2,261 2,261 2,261
The Air National Guard of the United States............ 12,253 13,089 13,123
The Air Force Reserve.................................. 1,900 2,290 2,290
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The committee recommends increases of 794 in the Army
National Guard, 300 in the Army Reserve, 870 in the Air
National Guard, and 390 in the Air Force Reserve. The committee
supports increases in full-time support manning needed to
increase readiness, particularly in view of the major role
played by the Reserve and National Guard in ongoing operations
in the global war on terrorism.
In addition to the budget request, the recommended end
strengths include: 51 active duty members of the Army National
Guard and 34 active duty members of the Air National Guard for
sustainment of the 12 existing and creation of five additional
National Guard Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and
High Yield Explosive (CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force Package
teams. The committee also recommends a decrease of 760 in the
Naval Reserve consistent with reductions in both active Navy
and Naval Reserve end strength.
The committee recommends an end strength for the Marine
Corps Reserve equal to the fiscal year 2005 level, consistent
with the budget request.
End strengths for military technicians (dual status) (sec. 413)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
end strengths for military technicians (dual status) for fiscal
year 2006, as shown below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year--
--------------------------------------------------------
2005 2006
authorization 2006 request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Army National Guard of the United States........... 25,076 25,563 25,563
The Army Reserve....................................... 7,299 7,649 7,649
The Air National Guard of the United States............ 22,956 22,971 22,971
The Air Force Reserve.................................. 9,954 9,852 9,852
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fiscal year 2006 limitations on non-dual status technicians (sec. 414)

The committee recommends a provision that would establish
numerical limits on the number of non-dual status technicians
who may be employed in the Department of Defense as of
September 30, 2006, as shown below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year--
--------------------------------------------------------
2005 2006
authorization 2006 request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Army National Guard of the United States........... 1,600 1,600 1,600
The Army Reserve....................................... 795 695 695
The Air National Guard of the United States............ 350 350 350
The Air Force Reserve.................................. 90 90 90
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subtitle C--Authorizations of Appropriations

Authorization of appropriations for military personnel (sec. 421)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize a
total of $109.2 billion for military personnel for fiscal year
2006, an increase of $236.9 million above the budget request.
This includes: (1) $220.0 million for increases in
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and death gratuity levels;
(2) $10.6 million for increases in Army and Air National Guard
full-time support personnel to sustain the existing 12 and
create five additional National Guard Chemical, Biological,
Radiological, Nuclear and High Yield Explosive Enhanced
Response Force Package teams; (3) $6.0 million for continued
payment throughout a period of hospitalization of special pay
for duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger; and (4)
$0.3 million for additional personnel costs related to the
exclusion of general and flag officers on terminal leave from
grade limits.

Armed Forces Retirement Home (sec. 422)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
$58.3 million to be appropriated for fiscal year 2006 from the
Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund for the operation and
maintenance of the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
The committee is concerned that there are a number of
complaints from residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home
that generally revolve around changes made in medical care, and
that greater focus should be placed on these concerns.
The committee directs that the annual Performance and
Accountability Report of the Armed Forces Retirement Home will
include, in this and in all subsequent fiscal years, a report
on the quality and access to health care for all residents of
the home, and any changes in the level and type of care
provided in each location. The report will describe the level
and scope of services provided to all residents and will also
include the results of independent accreditation surveys
conducted by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of
Healthcare Organizations.
Additionally, to further communication between residents
and management and to ensure that the voices of residents are
heard, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to
conduct an annual survey of resident satisfaction. The survey
will be developed with the involvement of the resident advisory
committees and major functional committees, and will include
questions relating to satisfaction with health care,
facilities, and support services. All residents shall be
invited to participate in the annual survey. The survey format
shall be consistent over time in order to reveal trends and
indicators in satisfaction. The result and outcome of each
annual resident survey will be reported in the Armed Forces
Retirement Home's Performance and Accountability Report
beginning in fiscal year 2007 and every year thereafter.
The committee expects that other resident suggestions will
also be considered by the management of the home, including
frequent meetings with residents and resident advisory
councils, new resident questionnaires, as well as surveys of
residents who chose to leave the Armed Forces Retirement Home
for any reason.
TITLE V--MILITARY PERSONNEL POLICY

Subtitle A--Officer Personnel Policy

Exclusion of general and flag officers on leave pending separation or
retirement from computation of active duty officers for general
and flag officer distribution and strength limitations (sec.
501)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
sections 525 and 526 of title 10, United States Code, to
exclude from consideration in determining the distribution
limitations and the total number of general or flag officers of
an armed force on active duty, officers in the grade of
brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half) or above who are
on leave pending separation, retirement, or release from active
duty. This provision would only be applicable during the 60-day
period beginning on the date of the commencement of leave of
such officer. The committee believes that officers in general
and flag officer grades who have commenced terminal leave
should not be counted against existing limits on total numbers
of officers. The committee expects that this provision would
effectively reduce the incidence and duration of frocking of
general and flag officers, and provide assistance to the
services in filling general and flag officer billets.
Expansion of joint duty assignments for Reserve component general and
flag officers (sec. 502)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 526(b)(2)(A) of title 10, United States Code, to
increase from 10 to 11 the number of Reserve general or flag
officer positions that may be assigned on the staffs of the
commanders of the unified and specified combatant commanders.
The provision would also authorize the Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff to assign Reserve general or flag officers
under section 526(b)(2)(A) to the Joint Staff.
The committee believes that the Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff has effectively assigned Reserve component
general and flag officers under this authority, and that an
additional position on the Joint Staff is needed to assist in
performing missions related to homeland defense, anti-
terrorism, force protection, and military assistance to civil
authorities.
Deadline for receipt by promotion selection boards of correspondence
from eligible officers (sec. 503)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
sections 614 and 14106 of title 10, United States Code, to
specify that officers eligible for consideration by a promotion
selection board may send a written communication to the board,
to arrive not later than the date before the board convenes.
Existing law provides that officers eligible for
consideration may send written communications, to arrive not
later than the date the promotion selection board convenes.
This creates the potential that selection boards will have
reviewed, briefed, and acted upon the record of an officer on
the first day of board proceedings before written
communications have been received. The committee believes this
change will ensure greater efficiency in promotion selection
board procedures, and that an effective date of March 1, 2006,
will provide sufficient time for the services to issue
appropriate notice to officers eligible for promotion.
Furnishing to promotion selection boards of adverse information on
officers eligible for promotion to certain senior grades (sec.
504)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 615 of title 10, United States Code, to require that
substantiated adverse information be provided to promotion
selection boards considering Active and Reserve component
officers for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel, or
commander in the case of the Navy, or above. Under current law,
the decision to provide promotion selection boards with
substantiated adverse findings and conclusions from officially
documented investigations or inquiries is subject to the
discretion of the service secretaries, and unless previously
made part of the official record such information is not
routinely presented. The committee believes that promotion
selection boards responsible for selecting the ``best
qualified'' future senior leaders of the military services
should evaluate such information and should be provided with
adverse documentation as part of their deliberative process.
Grades of the Judge Advocates General (sec. 505)
The committee recommends a provision that would raise the
statutory grades of the Judge Advocates General of the Army,
Navy, and Air Force to lieutenant general or vice admiral, as
appropriate. These three officers would be in addition to the
numbers that would otherwise be permitted for their Armed
Forces for officers serving on active duty in grades above
major general or rear admiral, as the case may be.
The greatly increased operations tempo of the Armed Forces
has resulted in an increase in the need for legal advice from
uniformed judge advocates in such areas as operational law,
international law, the law governing occupied territory, the
Geneva Conventions, and related matters. In addition, the
system of military justice, administered by the Judge Advocates
General, has taken on increased importance. This provision
recognizes these developments and the vital importance of the
duties of these officers in today's Armed Forces.
Temporary extension of authority to reduce minimum length of
commissioned service for voluntary retirement as an officer
(sec. 506)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
sections 3911, 6323, and 8911 of title 10, United States Code,
to authorize reduction in the amount of time from 10 to 8 years
that a regular or Reserve officer who has prior enlisted
service must serve as a commissioned officer in order to retire
as a commissioned officer. The committee believes that lowering
the amount of active service to 8 years would encourage more
highly qualified petty officers and non-commissioned officers
to consider applying for a commission. The committee also views
this change as assisting in force shaping by enabling a limited
number of officers, primarily in overmanned officer
communities, to voluntarily choose retirement in the highest
grade achieved. This reduction from 10 to 8 years was in effect
from 1990 through 2001 and, under this provision, would remain
in effect from the date of enactment of this Act through
December 31, 2008.
Modification of strength in grade limitations applicable to Reserve
flag officers in active status (sec. 507)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 12004 of title 10, United States Code, to reduce by
four the number of required Naval Reserve flag officers in
medical designators and by one the number of flag officers in
the Supply Corps and to increase by five the number of Naval
Reserve line officers.
The committee recognizes that additional Reserve flag
officers in line and restricted line specialties are needed to
meet operational requirements. The committee continues to view
the allocation of line and staff corps Naval Reserve flag
officers in section 12004 as a valuable means of ensuring sound
officer community management and effective integration of the
Active and Reserve components of the Navy.
Uniform authority for deferment of separation of Reserve general and
flag officers for age (sec. 508)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 14512 of title 10, United States Code, to make uniform
among each of the services the conditions under which the
authority to defer retirement until age 64 of up to 10 reserve
flag or general officers per service may be exercised. Under
existing law, the Army and Air Force are limited to exercising
this authority in the case of officers occupying certain
billets. The committee believes removing this condition for the
Army and Air Force will afford necessary flexibility in
retaining key Army and Air Force senior Reserve officers
possessing essential experience and skills.

Subtitle B--Enlisted Personnel Policy

Uniform citizenship or residency requirements for enlistment in the
Armed Forces (sec. 521)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 504 of title 10, United States Code, to codify and
uniformly apply existing practices of the military services
regarding eligibility of individuals who are not citizens of
the United States to enlist into the Armed Forces.

Subtitle C--Reserve component Personnel Matters

Requirements for physical examinations and medical and dental readiness
for members of the Selected Reserve not on active duty (sec.
531)
The committee recommends a provision that would require an
annual physical examination for members of the Selected
Reserve. The provision would also require an annual report to
the secretary concerned which documents the medical and dental
readiness of the Reserve member to perform military duties.
The committee is concerned that there are continuing
reports of Reserve members who are unable to deploy as a result
of disqualifying physical or dental conditions. When this
occurs, it erodes the readiness of units to perform their
military mission. The committee recognizes that the requirement
for an annual physical examination is more frequent than the
existing five-year requirement. However, the committee believes
that rigorous discipline to ensure medical and dental readiness
is essential. Drilling members of the Reserve and National
Guard are not seen by military physicians as frequently as
their Active-Duty counterparts and thus will benefit from an
annual physical examination.
Repeal of limitation on amount of financial assistance under Reserve
Officers' Training Corps scholarship program (sec. 532)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
sections 2107 and 2107a of title 10, United States Code, to
authorize the service secretaries to pay the costs of room and
board for Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets who
are receiving scholarships when those costs exceed the
cumulative cost of tuition, fees, books, and laboratory
expenses. This provision offers additional flexibility to
managers of ROTC programs in meeting the specific financial
needs of participating students, and will assist the Army in
achieving a planned 15 percent increase in Senior ROTC
participation.
Procedures for suspending financial assistance and subsistence
allowance for senior ROTC cadets and midshipmen of the basis of
health-related conditions (sec. 533)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 2107 of title 10, United States Code, to require that
the Secretary of Defense prescribe policies and procedures to
ensure fairness and medically based decision making prior to
suspension of financial assistance for senior Reserve Officers'
Training Corps (ROTC) cadets and midshipmen under section 2107
of title 10, United States Code, and monthly subsistence
allowance under section 209 of title 37, United States Code.
While the practices of each of the services regarding
medical leaves of absence for cadets and midshipmen on ROTC
scholarship have varied, each of the services and the Defense
Finance and Accounting Service must incorporate and adhere to
essential administrative due process before suspending or
terminating ROTC scholarships following health-related
incidents. As noted in the statement of managers accompanying
section 555 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375),
the committee expects the services to promptly implement
uniform procedures prescribed by the Secretary of Defense for
medical leaves of absence that will ensure medical officer
evaluation under a prescribed standard of review prior to
involuntary suspension of ROTC benefits for medical reasons.
Increase in maximum number of Army Reserve and Army National Guard
cadets under Reserve Officers' Training Corps (sec. 534)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 2107a of title 10, United States Code, to double the
number of Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets who
would be authorized to perform their obligated service in the
Army Reserve and Army National Guard. This provision would
encourage more members of the Army Reserve and National Guard
to enter ROTC while attending college, and assist in meeting
the need for additional company grade officers in the Army
Reserve and Army National Guard.
Modification of educational assistance for Reserves supporting
contingency and other operations (sec. 535)
The committee recommends a provision that would modify
section 16163 of title 10, United States Code, pertaining to
educational assistance for Reserves supporting contingency and
other operations. The change would clarify that the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs would prescribe the form and manner of an
eligible member's election among multiple educational benefits.
The Department of Veterans Affairs administers the educational
programs and the eligible members' claims for assistance.
The committee also recommends a modification of section
16165 of title 10, United States Code, that would allow a
member of the Selected Reserve, who incurs a short break (not
to exceed 90 days) from service in the Selected Reserve, to
continue to be eligible to receive educational assistance under
regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, if that
member continues to serve in the Ready Reserve. This would
allow members who desire to shift Reserve components or to
transfer to a new unit the opportunity to do so without
jeopardizing their educational benefit under this section. This
would also allow a person who has separated from the Selected
Reserve to remain eligible for this benefit if they rejoin the
Selected Reserve within the time indicated, provided the
individual remains in the Ready Reserve during the break in
Selected Reserve service.
Repeal of limitation on authority to redesignate the Naval Reserve as
the Navy Reserve (sec. 536)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 517(a) of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375) to
eliminate the requirement that implementation of the Secretary
of the Navy's decision to redesignate the Naval Reserve not
take place before the date that is 180 days after the date on
which the Secretary submits recommended conforming legislation.
On April 29, 2005, the President approved the redesignation of
the U. S. Naval Reserve as the U. S. Navy Reserve. The
committee supports prompt implementation of this change, and
directs the Secretary of the Navy to comply with the
requirement to submit conforming legislation no later than
August 1, 2005.
Performance by Reserve component personnel of operational test and
evaluation and training relating to new equipment (sec. 537)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Secretary of the Army to carry out a pilot program through
September 2010 to evaluate the feasibility and advisability of
utilizing members of the Reserve components of the Army, rather
than contractor personnel, to perform test, evaluation, and new
equipment training, and related activities. Under this
authority, up to $10.0 million, in any fiscal year of funds
available to the Army for multiyear purposes in appropriations
for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation and for
procurement, may be transferred to a Reserve component military
personnel account in the amounts necessary to reimburse that
account for the costs of military pay and allowances of
reservists participating in this program.
Relying on soldiers to perform developmental testing could
prove beneficial in providing soldier feedback earlier in the
development cycle, enabling program managers to identify
potential problems and required engineering changes sooner,
reducing cost increases and delays, and providing soldiers with
hands-on experience in new and emerging systems.
Use of multiyear Research, Development, Test, and
Evaluation funds and procurement funds to reimburse the pay,
allowances, and expenses of Reserve component members could
prove to be a practical and efficient means to achieve the
benefits of soldier involvement in testing and evaluation
functions.

Subtitle D--Military Justice and Related Matters

Modification of periods of prosecution by courts-martial for murder,
rape, and child abuse (sec. 551)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
Article 43 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (10 U.S.C.
843) to: (1) clarify that all murders are included in the class
of offenses that has an unlimited statute of limitations; (2)
include rape in that class of offenses; and (3) modify the
statute of limitations for child abuse offenses.
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004
(Public Law 108-136) amended article 43 to provide that certain
enumerated child abuse offenses could be tried by court-martial
if sworn charges and specifications were received before the
child attained the age of 25 years. The analogous federal
statute of limitations, section 3283 of title 18, United States
Code, simply provides that the limitation is equal to the life
of the child.
This provision would conform the limitation in article 43
to the federal statute, with one modification. It has been
argued that the intent of Congress to lengthen the limitation
in section 3283 would be undercut in cases where the child died
early, whether as a result of the abuse or not. In order to
avoid this problem, the committee recommends a provision that
would set the limitation at the life of the victim or five
years after the offense, whichever is greater.
Finally, the provision would include kidnapping and certain
aggravated offenses under title 18 of the United States Code in
the category of child abuse offenses to which the extended
statute of limitations would apply.
Establishment of offense of stalking (sec. 552)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend the
Uniform Code of Military Justice (chapter 47 of title 10,
United States Code) to establish stalking as a separate offense
under the code. Stalking is presently punishable under article
134 of the code (10 U.S.C. 934), if the government can prove
conduct amounting to stalking, as well as proving that the
conduct was prejudicial to good order and discipline. The
offense may also be punished under article 93 of the code (10
U.S.C. 893) if the victim is subject to the orders of the
accused. The provision would authorize prosecution of stalking
within the compass of a single punitive article of the code,
without the necessity of proving prejudice to good order and
discipline under article 134 and without the subordination
required by article 93. Every State and the District of
Columbia has enacted some form of stalking legislation.
The provision is patterned after the Model Antistalking
Code for the States developed by the National Criminal Justice
Association for the Department of Justice. Approximately half
the States have enacted statutes based in whole or in part on
this model code. The provision would require a course of
conduct, including repeatedly maintaining visual or physical
proximity to the victim; and threatening or otherwise placing
the victim or the victim's immediate family in reasonable fear
of death or bodily harm, including but not limited to sexual
assault.

Clarification of authority of military legal assistance counsel (sec.
553)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 1044 of title 10, United States Code, to provide that
judge advocates or civilian attorneys who are authorized to
provide military legal assistance to military personnel and
their dependents may do so without regard to the licensing
requirements of the State in which the assistance is rendered.
While legal assistance has been provided under service
regulations for decades, and was explicitly authorized in
section 1044 of title 10 in 1984, questions have been raised by
some as to whether attorneys providing such assistance outside
the States in which they are licensed are engaging in the
unauthorized practice of law. This provision would codify the
long-accepted practice with respect to the provision of legal
assistance.

Administrative censures of members of the Armed Forces (sec. 554)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Secretary of Defense and the service secretaries to issue
administrative censures in writing to members of the Armed
Forces. An administrative censure is a statement of adverse
opinion or criticism with respect to the conduct or performance
of duty by a military member. Such administrative censures
would be final when issued. Under controlling regulations
issued by the Secretary of Defense, such censures could be made
part of the member's official record and, if this option is
exercised, should be subject to notice to the member with the
right of rebuttal. The issuance of an administrative censure by
the Secretary of Defense and the service secretaries would not
be subject to appeal.
The committee notes that the Secretary of Defense and the
secretaries of the military departments possess inherent
authority separate from, but fully consistent with Article 15
of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, to administratively
censure members of the Armed Forces. The Department of the
Navy, by regulation in its Manual of the Judge Advocate
General, has long articulated the authority of the Secretary of
the Navy to administratively censure members. Nonetheless, the
committee believes that a specific grant of this authority to
the Secretary of Defense and the service secretaries with a
requirement for the Secretary of Defense to issue controlling
regulations will provide a uniform standard throughout the
Department of Defense and provide an important means for
civilian leaders to ensure accountability.

Reports by officers and senior enlisted personnel of matters relating
to violations or alleged violations of criminal law (sec. 555)

The committee recommends a provision that would direct the
Secretary of Defense to prescribe regulations by January 1,
2006, that would require active duty and reserve officers and
senior noncommissioned officers and petty officers above the
grade of E-6 to report to appropriate military authority their
arrest, investigation, charging, detention, adjudication,
conviction, or any other legal finding of culpability for
offenses other than minor traffic violations.
Imposing a duty to report such involvement, at the earliest
possible time after its occurrence, would avoid situations in
which information material to an officer's or senior enlisted
member's duties and assignments is concealed and individual and
unit readiness may be adversely affected. Additionally, the
services must be informed of information that is potentially
relevant to adjudications of security clearances and
determinations of administrative and statutory selection
boards. The committee trusts that members covered by this
provision generally adhere to this standard as a matter of
personal integrity and responsibility; however, the committee
believes that the duty to report this information in a timely
manner should be unequivocally stated in regulations in order
to ensure compliance.
This provision would also require the Secretary of Defense
to prescribe procedures to ensure that information relating to
the incidents described above is timely forwarded to the parent
service of the officer or senior enlisted member involved in
order to avoid instances in which incidents committed on one
service's installations are not reported to the parent service
of the officer or senior enlisted member.

Subtitle E--Military Service Academies

Authority to retain permanent military professors at the Naval Academy
after more than 30 years of service (sec. 561)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Secretary of the Navy, upon recommendation from the
Superintendent of the Naval Academy and concurrence with the
Chief of Naval Operations, to continue on active duty permanent
military professors at the Naval Academy beyond the normal
statutory retirement for years of service for their grade.
Permanent military professors in the grade of O-5, who are
retained on active duty beyond 28 years of service, would
remain eligible for promotion to the grade of O-6.
The committee believes that the Secretary of the Navy
should have authority to retain certain exceptional permanent
military professors at the Naval Academy on active duty beyond
their statutory retirement, similar to the authority that the
Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Air Force
currently possess with regard to permanent professors at their
respective academies. The committee also believes that
permanent military professors in the grade of O-5, who are
retained beyond 28 years of service, should remain eligible for
promotion to the grade of O-6.
Permanent military professors on active duty at the Naval
Academy are highly educated and represent a significant
investment in a valuable and highly sought after resource. The
Secretary of the Navy should have the authority to retain
exceptional permanent military professors who have extensive
college-level teaching experience, a doctorate, and military
experience, who will benefit the mission of the Naval Academy.

Subtitle F--Administrative Matters

Clarification of leave accrual for members assigned to a deployable
ship or mobile unit or other duty (sec. 571)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 701 of title 10, United States Code, to clarify and
expand eligibility for members assigned to a deployable ship,
mobile unit, or other designated duty to retain accumulated
leave at the end of a fiscal year. The committee intends by
this provision that military members who serve on extended
operational deployments and perform arduous duty in support of
the global war on terrorism, and who are impeded in their
ability to take annual leave, should be permitted to accrue up
to 120 days of leave. Limitation on conversion of military
medical and dental billets to civilian positions (sec. 572)

Limitation on conversion of military medical and dental billets to
civilian positions (sec. 572)

The committee recommends a provision that would limit
conversion of any military medical or dental billet to a
civilian position until 90 days after the Secretary of Defense
certifies to the congressional defense committees that: (1)
conversion does not lead to an increase in civilian health care
costs; (2) the conversion has been subjected to review in light
of joint medical and dental requirements of the uniformed
services; and (3) market surveys conducted in areas affected by
such conversion suggest that there are available qualified
civilian providers to replace military medical and dental
personnel.
The committee is concerned that no credible plan exists for
conversion of military medical and dental billets to civilian
positions across the military health care system. It has been
reported that one service, for example, is converting military
medical assets for which there are shortfalls in another
service. Additionally, the committee has learned that, in some
areas affected by military to civilian conversions, civilian
markets have not been able to respond to military requirements
for civilian health and dental providers, largely due to salary
disparities.
The committee is concerned that the Department of Defense
has not considered all of the factors, including joint
warfighting requirements and civilian compensation that are
necessary to effect a rational reshaping of active duty and
reserve military billets in the medical and dental fields. The
committee is concerned that the failure of the Department to
meet the requirement contained in section 595 of the statement
of managers accompanying the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375),
which required the Secretary to report no later than 90 days
following enactment on the plans of each military department
for military and dental military-to-civilian conversions, is
further evidence of the absence of a comprehensive and rational
plan.

Subtitle G--Defense Dependents Education Matters

Expansion of authorized enrollment in Department of Defense dependents
schools overseas (sec. 581)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Secretary of Defense to provide tuition-free enrollment in
Department of Defense dependents schools overseas for the
children of full-time, locally-hired U.S. citizens. It is the
committee's intent that this authority be utilized in an
equitable manner in any overseas location based on the
requirements of the combatant commander.

Assistance to local educational agencies with significant enrollment
increases in military dependent students due to troop
relocations, creation of new units, and realignments under BRAC
(sec. 582)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
$15.0 million annually in Operation and Maintenance, Defense-
wide activities, for fiscal years 2006, 2007, and 2008 for
special assistance to local educational agencies that
experience an increase in student dependents of service members
and Department of Defense civilian employees as a result of
global rebasing, the creation or activation of new military
units, or base realignment and closures. The program would
assist local education agencies that experience an increase of
250 or more military and Department of Defense civilian
dependent students to make necessary infrastructure adjustments
in a timely manner.

Assistance to local educational agencies that benefit dependents of
members of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense civilian
employees (sec. 583)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
$30.0 million in Operation and Maintenance, Defense-wide
activities, for continuation of the Department of Defense's
assistance program to local educational agencies that benefit
dependents of service members and Department civilian
employees.

Impact aid for children with severe disabilities (sec. 584)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
$5.0 million in Operation and Maintenance, Defense-wide, for
impact aid payments for children with disabilities under
section 8003(d) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7703(d)), using the formula set forth in
section 363 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law 106-398),
for continuation of the Department of Defense's assistance
program to local educational agencies that benefit dependents
with severe disabilities.

Subtitle H--Other Matters

Policy and procedures on casualty assistance to survivors of military
decedents (sec. 591)

The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of Defense by January 1, 2006, to develop and
promulgate a comprehensive policy on the provision of casualty
assistance to survivors and next of kin of members of the Armed
Forces who die during their military service.
The policy shall include elements that the committee
believes should, to the maximum extent possible, reflect
uniform casualty assistance procedures and practices to be
employed by the services, including: (1) initial notification
of death to primary and secondary next of kin and any
subsequent notifications; (2) transportation and disposition of
remains of military decedents; (3) qualifications, assignment,
training, duties, supervision, and accountability for the
performance of casualty assistance responsibilities; (4) the
relief or transfer of casualty assistance officers, including
notifications to survivors and next of kin of the reassignment
to other duties; (5) centralized case management procedures for
casualty assistance by each military department; (6) the
provision of personalized information on benefits available to
survivors; (7) the provision of financial counseling; (8) a
process for registering and responding to complaints; (9)
liaison with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social
Security Administration in order to ensure prompt resolution of
issues; and (10) data collection and surveys aimed at ensuring
the needs of survivors are identified and, whenever possible,
addressed.
The committee recognizes that the military services place
great importance on casualty notification and assistance and
that personnel assigned casualty assistance duty have provided
timely, sensitive, and responsive service to survivors of
military decedents in the vast majority of cases. Testimony
received in hearings conducted by the Committee on Armed
Services of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
of the Senate in February 2005 established, however, that the
complexity of federal benefit programs and the duration of the
period in which survivors require assistance demand a uniform
policy and coordinated efforts by the services, the Office of
the Secretary of Defense, and other federal agencies
responsible for providing assistance to survivors and next of
kin of military personnel killed while serving their nation.

Modification and enhancement of mission and authorities of the Naval
Postgraduate School (sec. 592)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 7041 of title 10, United States Code, to modify the
mission of the Naval Postgraduate School to include
professional education and a combat-related focus to the
purposes of education at the institution.
The committee believes that the mission of the Naval
Postgraduate School should include a greater emphasis on
advanced instruction and professional and technical education
to enhance combat effectiveness in support of national
security, rather than merely advanced instruction and technical
education of commissioned officers ``in their practical and
theoretical duties'' as reflected in the existing mission
statement in section 7041 of title 10, United States Code.
The committee also recommends a modification of section
7045 of title 10, United States Code, to allow the Secretary of
the Navy to permit eligible enlisted members of the Armed
Forces to receive instruction from the Naval Postgraduate
School in certificate programs and courses required for the
performance of their duties.
The committee believes that highly qualified and carefully
screened enlisted personnel may also benefit from instruction
at the Naval Postgraduate School in graduate level, nondegree
certificate programs and courses required for the performance
of their duties. To the extent that the existing facility and
faculty at the Naval Postgraduate School can be utilized to
provide such education, this authority represents an efficient
use of educational resources.

Expansion and enhancement of authority to present recognition items for
recruitment and retention purposes (sec. 593)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
chapter 134 of title 10, United States Code, to authorize the
procurement and award of recognition items to Active Duty and
Reserve military personnel, family members, and certain other
individuals under prescribed conditions.
Section 520 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375)
authorized through December 31, 2005, the award of recognition
items, such as coins, medals, trophies, badges, flags, posters,
paintings, or other similar items to members of the Army
Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard. The
committee believes that this authority has proven valuable
during time of war in enabling commands to appropriately
express appreciation for the dedicated service and sacrifices
of individual members, family members, and others who have
served and supported the Armed Forces, and that this authority
should be extended to all Active and Reserve components through
December 31, 2007. The committee expects the implementing
regulations to include reasonable limitations to prevent
excessive expenditures of funds under this authority.

Requirement for regulations on policies and procedures on personal
commercial solicitations on Department of Defense installations
(sec. 594)

The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Department of Defense, not later than January 1, 2006, to
prescribe regulations, or modify existing regulations, relating
to commercial solicitation including the sale of life insurance
and securities, on Department of Defense installations.
The committee notes that the Department has been attempting
for over two years to revise Department of Defense Directive
1344.7 entitled ``Personal Commercial Solicitation on DOD
Installations,'' which is set forth in part 43 of title 32 of
the Code of Federal Regulations. The proposed policy, which was
published in the Federal Register of April 19, 2005, represents
a substantial improvement over the current directive policy by
establishing specific prohibitions and procedures aimed at
preventing abusive sales tactics by commercial agents. For
example, the proposed policy would: (1) require reporting of
violations to higher headquarters and direct the Under
Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to maintain
and make available to installation commanders the current
master file of all individual agents, dealers, and companies
who have their privileges withdrawn at any Department
installation; (2) permit insurers to solicit on Department
installations only if they are licensed under the insurance
laws of the State in which the installation is located; (3)
prohibit Department personnel from representing any insurer or
acting as an agent of an insurer in any official or business
capacity with or without compensation; (4) prohibit the use of
an agent as a participant in any service- sponsored education
or orientation program; and (5) set limits on advertising and
solicitation of personal contact information in connection with
commercial sponsorship of Department morale, welfare, and
recreation programs or events.
The committee believes that the repeal of previous
provisions relating to the Department commercial solicitation
policy in previous authorization and appropriations acts is
necessary to allow the Department to implement changes at the
earliest possible time with the objective of promoting the
welfare of Department personnel as consumers and in order to
prevent abuses of service members by private commercial
interests.

Federal assistance for State programs under the National Guard Youth
Challenge program (sec. 595)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 509(d) of title 32, United States Code, to phase in
over 3 years a change in the federal to state matching funds
ratio for the National Guard Youth Challenge program. The
provision would increase the amount of federal funds that may
be provided in fiscal year 2006 to not more than 65 percent of
a State program's operating costs; 70 percent in fiscal year
2007; and 75 percent in fiscal year 2008 and each subsequent
fiscal year. The provision would also authorize an additional
$15.0 million in Operations and Maintenance, Defense-wide, for
the National Guard Youth Challenge program.

Items of Special Interest

Air Force future total force planning

In section 587 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375),
the committee directed a report by the Air Force describing the
manner in which current blended wings are functioning and the
current and future plans of the Air Force to implement the
blended wing concept.
The Air Force's report focused on the experience of the Air
Force's only blended wing, the 116th Air Control Wing located
at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, which operates the E-8C
Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System. The Air Force
concluded that the 116th Air Control Wing had achieved a
significant number of operational successes since its inception
in 2002. Most significantly the Wing deployed successfully in
support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, with
personnel days deployed totaling 132,674. The unit conducted
292 combat sorties over 3,130 hours with a 96 percent mission
effective rate.
The success of the 116th Air Control Wing is a tribute to
the tenacity and dedication of its assigned personnel and their
leaders. However, this success was achieved despite numerous
organizational, administrative, legal, and cultural barriers to
true integration of Active Duty and Air National Guard units.
The Air Force concluded that the challenges of operating a
blended wing are substantial enough that future ``blending'' is
not advisable in the current legal environment and that, until
the necessary changes are in place, reliance should instead be
placed on ``associate'' models with units that share the weapon
systems of an equipped unit and perform the same mission. Even
some of these models, however, are constrained by legislative
and fiscal law limitations.
The committee supports the Air Force commitment to full
integration of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard
with its active forces, and urges the Air Force to continue to
refine the various models of integration to maximize readiness,
training, and enhanced mission capability. The committee
expects the Secretary of Defense to promptly work towards
addressing the issues identified in the Air Force report that
present barriers to essential Active and Reserve component
integration and expects to be advised of the relevant statutory
issues pursuant to making this integration successful.

Opportunity for general or flag officer review of involuntary
administrative separation of victims of sexual assault and
protection against reprisals for victim advocates

The committee recommends that the Department of Defense
consider, as part of its implementation of policies on sexual
assault, a requirement for victims of sexual assault who are
being involuntarily separated from active-duty service to be
afforded, on a voluntary basis, an opportunity for a general or
flag officer review of their case. The committee believes that
providing an option to victims of sexual assault for general or
flag officer interview and review could be a valuable safeguard
on the ultimate disposition of such cases within the military
departments, especially as newly developed policies and
programs on sexual assault are being implemented.
The committee also recommends that the Department consider
what additional actions, if any, could be taken to ensure
timely and adequate protection against reprisal directed at
victim advocates, to include protection for military members,
Department civilian employees, Department contractors, and
volunteers.
The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to report to
the congressional defense committees by March 1, 2006, on the
Department's review of these matters and what actions it
considers necessary to address them.

Premium conversion/flexible spending account options for service
members

The committee is concerned that uniformed service members
do not have access to premium conversion and flexible spending
account options that allow pre-tax payment of health and dental
insurance premiums and out-of-pocket health care expenses for
family member health care needs. The committee is also
concerned that uniformed service members do not have access to
flexible spending account options that can be used to purchase
child care services. The committee directs the Secretary of
Defense to provide a report to the congressional defense
committees by March 1, 2006, on a plan to evaluate and
implement these programs for uniformed service members,
including identification of any administrative or statutory
barriers to achieving their implementation.
The committee believes that active-duty members and
Selected Reserve members should be able to use premium
conversion to pay dental insurance premiums, and Selected
Reserve personnel should be able to use it to pay TRICARE
Reserve Select premiums authorized by the Ronald W. Reagan
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public
Law 108-375). The committee believes that members should also
have access to flexible spending accounts for the purpose of
paying for child care services. The committee recognizes that
Active-Duty and Reserve family members can incur out-of-pocket
expenses related to dependent care, pharmacy copays, TRICARE
Standard deductibles and copays, dental care deductibles and
copays, expenses for eyeglasses and contact lenses, premium
payments for dental and medical care, and child care.

Western Governors University

Western Governors University (WGU),a competency-based
institution of higher learning, offers a fully accredited
baccalaureate degree based on a direct assessment of student
learning, rather than on an accumulation of credit hours. WGU,
created by 19 Governors from America's Western States, was
included in the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (Public Law
105-244), which made federal financial assistance available to
qualified students. WGU currently has four educational projects
with the Department of Defense supporting the Air War College,
Junior ROTC, Special Operations Command, and Air Force
Community Colleges at Maxwell Air Force Base.
The committee commends the Department and WGU for
partnering to provide educational opportunities for military
personnel, and encourages the Department and WGU to explore
additional opportunities to expand educational opportunities
for service members.
TITLE VI--COMPENSATION AND OTHER PERSONNEL BENEFITS

Subtitle A--Pay and Allowances

Eligibility for additional pay of permanent military professors at
United States Naval Academy with over 36 years of service (sec.
601)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 203 of title 37, United States Code, to authorize
payment of additional pay in the amount of $250 a month to
permanent military professors at the Naval Academy who have
over 36 years of service. This additional pay is already
authorized for permanent professors at the U.S. Military
Academy and the Air Force Academy.
Enhanced authority for agency contributions for members of the Armed
Forces participating in the Thrift Savings Plan (sec. 602)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 211(d) of title 37, United States Code, to authorize
service secretaries to make matching contributions to the
Thrift Savings Fund pursuant to an agreement with an enlisted
member covering the duration of the member's initial
enlistment.
The committee believes that expanding the authority of the
services to match savings contributions of first term enlistees
would encourage habits of financial responsibility among the
most junior military personnel. A matching contributions
program could also provide an effective recruiting incentive
for young men and women who are considering service in the
Armed Forces and would be tested through a limited pilot
program authorized elsewhere in this Act.
Permanent authority for supplemental subsistence allowance for low-
income members with dependents (sec. 603)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 402a of title 37, United States Code, to make permanent
the authority to pay the supplemental subsistence allowance for
low-income members with dependents. The availability of this
allowance enables increases of up to $500 per month in the
basic allowance for subsistence for junior enlisted members who
would otherwise qualify to receive food stamps under state-
administered programs. Since implementation of this allowance
on May 1, 2001, the number of military members who have
qualified for food stamps has significantly declined. The
committee believes this program should be made permanent in
order to continue to assist in meeting the financial needs of
junior enlisted personnel and their families.
Modification of pay considered as saved pay upon appointment of an
enlisted member as an officer (sec. 604)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 907 of title 37, United States Code, with respect to
``saved pay,'' or the stabilization of pay and allowances that
an enlisted member or warrant officer in the grade of W-4 may
receive after accepting an appointment as a commissioned
officer. The provision would update and add to the list of
special and incentive pays and allowances that should be
considered in determining the amount of pay and allowances of a
grade formerly held by an officer who continues to perform the
duties creating the eligibility for such pay and allowances and
may be entitled to saved pay treatment.

Subtitle B--Bonuses and Special and Incentive Pays

One-year extension of certain bonus and special pay authorities for
Reserve forces (sec. 611)

The committee recommends a provision that would extend for
one year the authority to pay the Selected Reserve reenlistment
bonus, special pay for enlisted members assigned to certain
high priority units in the Selected Reserve, the Ready Reserve
enlistment and reenlistment bonus, and the prior service
enlistment bonus. Additionally, the provision would authorize
payment under section 308g(h) of title 37, United States Code,
of the non-prior service enlistment bonus in elements of the
Ready Reserve other than the Selected Reserve. The committee
notes that the Selected Reserve enlistment bonus and the
Selected Reserve affiliation bonus authorized under sections
308c(e) and 308e(e) of title 10, United States Code,
respectively, have been amended and renewed by other provisions
of this Act.

One-year extension of certain bonus and special pay authorities for
certain health care professionals (sec. 612)

The committee recommends a provision that would extend for
one year the authority to pay the nurse officer candidate
accession bonus, the accession bonus for registered nurses,
incentive special pay for nurse anesthetists, special pay for
Selected Reserve health professionals in critically short
wartime specialties, the accession bonus for dental officers,
the accession bonus for pharmacy officers, and to repay
education loans for certain Selected Reserve health
professionals.

One-year extension of special pay and bonus authorities for nuclear
officers (sec. 613)

The committee recommends a provision that would extend for
one year the authority to pay the special pay for nuclear-
qualified officers extending their period of active service,
the nuclear career accession bonus, and the nuclear career
annual incentive bonus.

One-year extension of other bonus and special pay authorities (sec.
614)

The committee recommends a provision that would extend for
one year the authority to pay the aviation officer retention
bonus, assignment incentive pay, the reenlistment bonus for
active members, the enlistment bonus for active members, the
retention bonus for members with critical military skills, and
the accession bonus for new officers in critical skills.

Payment and repayment of assignment incentive pay (sec. 615)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 307a of title 37, United States Code, to authorize
payment of assignment incentive pay in a lump sum or in
installments pursuant to the terms of a written agreement. The
committee believes that the ability of the services to offer
lump sum or installment payments of assignment incentive pay,
in addition to existing authority for monthly payments, would
offer greater flexibility and, in many cases, enhance the
attractiveness of this incentive. In all cases in which lump
sum or installment payments of assignment pay are authorized,
the provision would require that a written agreement be
executed.

Increase in amount of selective reenlistment bonus for certain senior
supervisory nuclear qualified enlisted personnel (sec. 616)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 308 of title 37, United States Code, to authorize
payment of up to $75,000 to an enlisted member of the naval
service who has completed at least 10, but not more than 14,
years of active duty, is currently qualified for duty in
connection with the supervision, operation, and maintenance of
naval nuclear propulsion plants, and is qualified in a military
skill designated as critical by the Secretary of Defense. The
committee believes that authorization of this increase in the
amount of the selective reenlistment bonus for designated
nuclear qualified enlisted personnel above the current limit of
$60,000 is necessary to address shortages and improve retention
of this class of highly trained and experienced personnel.

Consolidation and modification of bonuses for affiliation or enlistment
in the Selected Reserve (sec. 617)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 308c and repeal section 308e of title 37, United States
Code, in order to consolidate these provisions and authorize an
enhanced affiliation bonus in an amount not to exceed $10,000
for service in the Selected Reserve.
In section 618 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375),
the conferees authorized an increase in the maximum amount of
the Selected Reserve enlistment bonus under section 308c to
$10,000. This enlistment bonus assists the Reserve components
in meeting their non-prior service recruiting objectives. The
committee believes that an identical bonus authority is needed
to provide an incentive to members who are separating from
active duty, and who may have a continuing military service
obligation, to affiliate with the Selective Reserve.
The current affiliation bonus under section 308e of title
37, United States Code, is inadequate to encourage members with
active-duty experience to affiliate with the Selected Reserve
with no break in service upon completion of their active-duty
obligation. Because of their military training and experience,
these individuals should be given every reasonable incentive to
continue serving in the Selected Reserve.

Expansion and enhancement of special pay for enlisted members of the
Selected Reserve assigned to certain high priority units (sec.
618)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 308d of title 37, United States Code, to increase the
amount of special pay that may be awarded to members of the
Selected Reserve assigned to certain high priority units from
$10 to $50 for each regular period of instruction or period of
appropriate duty. The committee believes that increasing this
special pay will assist in improving manning, including company
grade officer shortages, in high priority units of the Selected
Reserve.

Retention incentive bonus for members of the Selected Reserve qualified
in a critical military skill or specialty (sec. 619)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
chapter 5 of title 37, United States Code, to authorize a
retention incentive bonus for members of the Selected Reserve
qualified in a critical military skill or specialty. This bonus
would offer an effective retention incentive for individuals
possessing key specialities and qualifications in the Selected
Reserve, and would be structured along the lines of the
critical skills retention bonus offered to active-duty
personnel under section 323 of title 37, United States Code.

Termination of limitation on duration of payment of imminent danger
special pay during hospitalization (sec. 620)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 310 of title 37, United States Code, to extend the
period during which a member who is hospitalized as a result of
injuries or wounds incurred as a result of hostile action may
continue to receive special pay for duty subject to hostile
fire or imminent danger. Under current law, continuation of
such special pay is limited to three months. The committee
believes that eligible members should receive special pay for
the duration of their hospitalization.

Authority for retroactive payment of imminent danger special pay (sec.
621)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 310 of title 37, United States Code, to authorize the
Secretary of Defense to determine the date from which members
assigned to duty in an area in which the members were subject
to the threat of physical harm or imminent danger are eligible
to receive this special pay. This provision would preclude the
need for legislation authorizing back pay as a consequence of
delays within the Department of Defense in determining the
eligibility of members for special pay under section 310. The
most recent example of such legislation was included in section
620 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2004 (Public Law 108-136).

Authority to pay foreign language proficiency pay to members on active
duty as a bonus (sec. 622)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 316 of title 37, United States Code, to authorize
payment of foreign language proficiency pay to members on
active duty as a lump sum bonus. In section 620 of the Ronald
W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2005 (Public Law 108-375) the amount of foreign language
proficiency pay was increased from $300 to $1,000 per month.
The ability to offer a lump sum bonus under certain conditions,
in an amount not to exceed $12,000, would serve to enhance the
effectiveness of this incentive for members skilled in foreign
languages to continue serving on active duty.

Incentive bonus for transfer between the Armed Forces (sec. 623)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
payment of an incentive bonus not to exceed $2,500 to military
members of the Active and Reserve components who transfer from
the regular or Reserve component of one service to the regular
or Reserve component of another service.
The committee notes that the Navy and Air Force intend to
significantly reduce the size of their Active and Reserve
components in anticipation of force structural changes. At the
same time, the Army and Marine Corps are experiencing
recruiting challenges and, in some areas, shortfalls. The
committee believes that the experience and skills accrued by
military members, combined with their possessing required
qualifications and continuing motivation to serve, should be
tapped whenever possible to meet recruiting needs. While so
called ``blue to green'' programs to date have experienced some
success, the committee believes this bonus has the potential to
encourage more individuals to accept the challenges inherent in
such changes in service.

Subtitle C--Travel and Transportation Allowances

Transportation of family members in connection with the repatriation of
service members or civilian employees held captive (sec. 631)

The committee recommends a provision that amends chapter 7
of title 37, United States Code, and chapter 57 of title 5,
United States Code, to authorize travel and per diem allowances
for up to three family members of military personnel or federal
civilian employees who have been held captive, as determined by
the secretary concerned, and who are being repatriated to a
site inside or outside the United States. This provision
ensures that family members of repatriated service personnel
and civilian employees are able to travel to the location of
their loved ones upon their return to U.S. control.

Subtitle D--Retired Pay and Survivor Benefits

Enhancement of death gratuity and life insurance benefits for deaths
from combat-related causes or causes incurred in combat
operations or areas (sec. 641)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
chapter 75 of title 10, United States Code, effective October
1, 2005, to increase the amount of the death gratuity payable
under sections 1475 through 1478 from $12,000 to $100,000 under
certain conditions. Payment in the amount of $100,000 to
survivors would be authorized in the case of a death of a
service member on active duty which resulted from wounds,
injuries, or illnesses incurred under the combat-related
conditions specified in section 1413a(e)(2) of title 10, United
States Code, specifically: (1) as a direct result of armed
conflict; (2) while engaged in hazardous service; (3) in the
performance of duty under conditions simulating war; or (4)
through an instrumentality of war. Additionally, the increased
death gratuity of $100,000 would be payable if the death
occurred in an operation or area designated as a combat
operation or a combat zone, respectively, by the Secretary of
Defense.
The provision would also amend section 1967 of title 38,
United States Code, to increase from $250,000 to $400,000 the
maximum amount of coverage available under the Servicemembers'
Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program. The provision would also
authorize the military services to provide up to $150,000 in
coverage for members who die as a result of wounds, illness, or
injury incurred while serving in an operation or area that the
Secretary designates as a combat operation or a zone of combat,
respectively. The total amount of insurance payable under any
circumstances would not exceed $400,000. In the case of insured
members who are married, the provision would require that
notice be given to spouses regarding an election by the member
to decline coverage under SGLI or to choose coverage in an
amount less than the maximum amount of $400,000. Spouses must
also be notified of a redesignation of a beneficiary or
beneficiaries by an insured member.

Subtitle E--Other Matters

Payment of expenses of members of the Armed Forces to obtain
professional credentials (sec. 651)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
payment to members of the Armed Forces for the costs of
obtaining professional credentials, licenses, and
certifications. The committee notes that this authority is
available to federal civilian employees under section 5757 of
title 5, United States Code. The military services increasingly
have come to rely on commercially available systems, products,
and services with certification standards corresponding to
military occupational specialties in order to avoid duplication
and costs of training programs. This provision would not extend
authority to pay military members for the costs of meeting
basic qualifications for entry into specific communities and
professions, e.g., bar examinations and licensing of health
professionals.

Pilot program on contributions to Thrift Savings Plan for initial
enlistees in the Armed Forces (sec. 652)

The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of the Army to conduct a pilot program in order to
assess the extent to which contributions by the Army to the
Thrift Savings Plan on behalf of first term enlistees would
assist in recruiting non-prior service enlistees and result in
establishing habits of financial responsibility. A separate
provision in the act authorizes the service secretaries to make
matching contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund on behalf of
first term enlistees under section 211(d) of title 37, United
States Code.
The committee expects the Army to develop a pilot program
that will assist in determining the cost and effectiveness of
an enhanced ``matching funds'' Thrift Savings Plan option for
first term enlistees. While enlistment bonuses and education
benefits have proven utility in encouraging voluntary service,
the committee believes that an enhanced Thrift Savings Plan
conducted under the provisions of section 211(d) of title 37,
United States Code, as revised by another provision of this
Act, may assist the Army in meeting recruiting goals. The
committee expects the Army to collect data and conduct surveys
that will allow a determination as to whether a matching funds
Thrift Savings Plan has utility as a recruiting incentive and
separately as a means to encourage participation in the Thrift
Savings Plan among individuals who otherwise would not
participate.
TITLE VII--HEALTH CARE

Subtitle A--Benefits Matters

Clarification of eligibility of Reserve officers for health care
pending active duty following issuance of orders to active duty
(sec. 701)
The committee recommends a technical correction to section
1074, title 10, United States Code, that would clarify the
intent of that section to ensure that Reserve Officers'
Training Corps (ROTC) graduates have access to military health
benefits while awaiting active-duty status. This correction
would ensure that ROTC graduates do not lose their eligibility
for health care under section l074(a), title 10, United States
Code, before they report to active duty.
Limitation on deductible and copayment requirements for nursing home
residents under the pharmacy benefits program (sec. 702)
The committee recommends a provision that would limit out-
of-pocket pharmacy expenses for a beneficiary who is a resident
of a nursing home and who is required, by state law, to use
nursing home pharmacy services utilizing prepackaged
pharmaceuticals, which are not part of the pharmacy network
under TRICARE. The committee recognizes that there are a small
number of individuals who would require such assistance, and
directs the Department of Defense to find the most economical
means available to implement this provision for those
beneficiaries.
Eligibility of surviving active duty spouses of deceased members for
enrollment as dependents in a TRICARE dental plan (sec. 703)
The committee recommends a provision that would expand
eligibility for survivor benefits under the TRICARE dental plan
authorized in section 1076a, title 10, United States Code, to
include the active duty spouse of a member who dies while on
active duty for a period of more than 30 days. The provision
would extend eligibility to a surviving spouse who, because he
or she was also on active duty for a period of more than 30
days, was ineligible to enroll in the TRICARE dental plan.
Increased period of continued TRICARE Prime coverage of children of
members of the uniformed services who die while serving on
active duty for a period of more than 30 days (sec. 704)
The committee recommends a provision that would extend
health care coverage under TRICARE Prime for the children of an
active-duty service member who dies while on active duty for a
period of more than 30 days. The provision would authorize any
dependent child of a deceased service member to continue to
receive benefits under TRICARE Prime as if the service member
parent were still alive, and without annual premiums, until the
age of 21, or 23 if enrolled in an educational program. Under
current law, the children of members who die while on active
duty retain benefits under TRICARE as if the member were still
alive for only three years, at which time the active-duty
benefit is replaced by a benefit equal to that for retirees,
which has a lower priority for access to military treatment
facilities and requires an annual enrollment fee for TRICARE
Prime. The provision would apply to eligible dependent child
survivors of members who have died while on active duty since
October 7, 2001.
The committee believes that this provision will ensure that
families with surviving children will experience no additional
financial hardship or barriers to needed health care services
under TRICARE, following the death of an active-duty service
member.

Subtitle B--Planning, Programming, and Management

TRICARE Standard coordinators in TRICARE regional offices (sec. 711)
The committee recommends a provision that would require the
designation of a position in each TRICARE Regional Office for
the purpose of assisting beneficiaries who use the Standard
option under TRICARE in identifying providers who will
participate in the TRICARE program.
The committee is concerned that there is insufficient focus
within the Department of Defense on assistance to users of
TRICARE Standard, as well as outreach to community providers to
encourage their participation in the TRICARE program. Moreover,
despite statements by the Department that TRICARE contractors
have specific mandates to perform this function, none have
verified that such is the case. Thus, the committee is
concerned that the intent of Congress, clearly expressed in the
National Defense Authorization Act of 2004, to ensure
improvements in access to TRICARE Standard, has not been
fulfilled. The committee continues to receive reports of access
problems, which may increase as members of the Selected
Reserve, who elect coverage under the TRICARE Reserve Select
Program, add to the demand for TRICARE Standard providers in
areas not served by a military treatment facility.
Report on delivery of health care benefits through military health care
system (sec. 712)
The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of Defense to submit a report on the delivery of
health care benefits through the military health system. The
report would contain an analysis of the organization and costs
of delivering health care benefits to current and retired
military personnel and their families; an analysis of the costs
of ensuring medical readiness; an assessment of the role of
health benefits in recruitment and retention of members of the
Armed Forces; and an assessment of the Department of Defense's
experience in recruitment and retention of military and
civilian medical and dental personnel. In addition, the report
would include recommendations for legislative or administrative
action as the Secretary considers necessary to improve
efficiency and quality in the provision of health care benefits
and to ensure the sustainability of such benefits into the
future.
Comptroller General report on differential payments to children's
hospitals for health care for children dependents under TRICARE
(sec. 713)
The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Comptroller General to study the effectiveness of the system
used by the Department of Defense to make differential payments
to children's hospitals for health care services for severely
ill or injured dependent children of members of the uniformed
services under the TRICARE program. The committee is aware of
ongoing reports that children's hospitals are reimbursed for
health care services at levels that are less than the costs
incurred by those hospitals for providing such services. The
committee is concerned that the amount of the differential
payment to children's hospitals (one component of payments to
children's hospitals) has remained unchanged since its
introduction in 1992.
The provision would require a report by the Comptroller
General not later than May 1, 2006, together with such
recommendations as the Comptroller General believes appropriate
for modifications of the current system of differential
payments to children's hospitals.
Repeal of requirement for Comptroller General reviews of certain
Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs projects
on sharing of health care resources (sec. 714)
The committee recommends a provision that would repeal
certain reporting requirements for the Comptroller General on
defense and veterans affairs health resource sharing projects.
The intent of the provision is to eliminate detailed reporting
on individual sharing projects to allow the Comptroller General
to focus on measurement of efforts by the Secretary of Defense
and the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to
institutionalize defense and veterans affairs health resource
sharing projects in both health care systems.
Surveys on TRICARE standard (sec. 715)
The committee recommends a provision that would increase
the survey questions required under section 723(a) of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public
Law 108-136) concerning the continued viability of the TRICARE
Standard option. The committee is concerned that the surveys
carried out by the Department of Defense to date have been
unable to gather sufficient information to permit better
understanding of the availability of civilian medical providers
to participate in the Standard option of the TRICARE program.
The committee believes that this provision would ensure
that surveys capture necessary data on whether providers are
aware of the TRICARE program, the percentage of their patient
populations who receive TRICARE benefits, and whether or not
civilian providers accept patients or new patients under the
Medicare program.
Modification of health care quality information and technology
enhancement report requirements (sec. 716)
The committee recommends a provision that modifies the
annual health care quality reporting requirement of the
Department of Defense to ensure that it more closely resembles
state-of-the-art quality improvement efforts in the civilian
sector as well as those developed by other public health
agencies. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to
undertake a comprehensive review of health care quality
programs of the Department's medical programs, to include
civilian provider networks, in order to ensure that health care
quality is monitored in an aggressive manner that results in
health improvements for all eligible beneficiaries, regardless
of age.
Modification of authorities relating to patient care reporting and
management system (sec. 717)
The committee recommends a provision that would eliminate
the requirement that the Department of Defense Patient Safety
Center be located within the Armed Forces Institute of
Pathology. In doing so, the committee intends to provide the
Secretary of Defense greater flexibility to manage and
consolidate patient safety initiatives for the Department.

Subtitle C--Other Matters

Report on adverse health events associated with use of anti- malarial
drugs (sec. 731)
The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of Defense to conduct a study of adverse health
events that may be associated with the use of anti-malarial
drugs, including mefloquine, also known as Lariam. The study
would require the participation of epidemiological and clinical
researchers outside the Department of Defense. It would also
require an assessment of whether, and to what extent, Lariam
may be a risk factor contributing to suicides among members of
the Armed Forces.
The committee is aware of concerns by service members and
their families that the anti-malarial drug Lariam (mefloquine)
may have side effects which contribute to serious injury and/or
major psychiatric disorders. The committee believes that a
study will assist the Department in a more complete
understanding of the potential effects of Lariam, if any, on
military personnel.
Pilot projects on early diagnosis and treatment of Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder and other mental health conditions (sec. 732)
The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of Defense to carry out a minimum of three pilot
projects to evaluate the efficacy of various approaches to
improving the capability of the military and civilian primary
health care systems to provide early diagnosis and treatment of
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health
conditions experienced by military members returning from
combat.
The provision would require one of the pilot projects to be
carried out at a military medical facility, which supports a
large mobilization and demobilization site in order to evaluate
and produce effective diagnostic and treatment approaches for
use by primary care providers in the military health system. A
second pilot would be carried out at the location of a National
Guard or Reserve unit or units located more than 40 miles away
from a military installation and whose personnel are served
primarily by civilian community health resources. A third pilot
would require the use and evaluation of Internet-based
automated tools to aid military and civilian health care
providers in the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD, as well as
web-based tools available to family members to assist them in
the identification of the emerging symptoms.
Studies of soldiers returning from Operation Enduring
Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom have found that major
depression, generalized anxiety, or PTSD occurred in as many as
17 percent of returning soldiers. Of those who were found to
have a mental disorder, including PTSD, only 23 to 40 percent
sought mental health care. Failure to seek appropriate
treatment due to fear of the stigma associated with seeking
such care, and the failure of the primary health care system to
accurately diagnose PTSD puts service members who have been
exposed to combat at risk for a worsening syndrome that can
lead to severe mental illness, or in extreme cases, suicide.
The committee commends the Department of Defense for its
recent issuance of a policy requiring additional mental health
follow-up visits from 90 to 180 days after redeployment, but
recognizes that more needs to be done to increase the capacity
of the primary health care delivery system to identify and
treat mild forms of these disorders, such as combat stress or
normal depression following separation or reintegration, before
these disorders progress to the point of requiring referral of
the member for specialty mental health care. In addition, tools
are needed to assist family members and military unit members
in identifying and seeking appropriate resources for care of a
member with emerging PTSD or other mental health disorder. The
committee expects the Secretary to leverage emerging
information technology to support the pilot projects required
by this provision.

Items of Special Interest

Active-duty medical extension
The committee is pleased that the Army has taken steps,
through the Medical Retention Processing program, to eliminate
the hardship experienced by injured and ill Reserve component
soldiers who have been erroneously removed from active-duty
status during a period of extended active duty and have lost
pay and benefits. The Comptroller General, in a February 2005
report entitled ``Military Pay: Gaps in Pay and Benefits Create
Financial Hardships for Injured Army National Guard and Reserve
Soldiers'', documented cases of Reserve component soldiers who,
although entitled to continued pay and health benefits when
extended on active duty for the purpose of receiving medical
care, experienced loss of pay and benefits during this crucial
time of recovery because their active-duty status was not
transmitted to the automated systems, which ensure timely pay
and continued eligibility for benefits.
The committee directs the Comptroller General to
periodically monitor implementation of the Medical Retention
Processing program as a follow-up to its February 2005 report
and submit the results of such follow-up to the congressional
defense committees.
Comptroller General study of adequacy of TRICARE reimbursement for
obstetrical, gynecological, and pediatric services
The committee is aware that some doctors and hospitals have
declined to participate in the TRICARE program for obstetrical,
gynecological, and pediatric services because of claims that
reimbursement rates for TRICARE are too low.
The committee directs the Comptroller General to study the
adequacy of reimbursements paid for obstetric, gynecological,
and pediatric services to civilian providers in the TRICARE
system. In carrying out the study, the Comptroller General
shall consider:
(1) how TRICARE reimbursement rates for obstetrical,
gynecological, and pediatric services are determined; (2) how
these reimbursement rates compare to comparable rates paid by
national health care plans offered by the Federal Employees
Health Benefits Program; and (3) the sufficiency of the
Department of Defense's authority to modify these rates when
necessary to ensure access for military beneficiaries to high
quality health care services.
The Comptroller General shall submit a report not later
than April 15, 2006, to the congressional defense committees
containing the results of the study and any recommendations to
improve TRICARE provider participation and satisfaction in
providing obstetric, gynecological, and pediatric services.
Increased awareness for families of TRICARE mental health benefits and
the need for appropriate mental health services for families
overseas
The committee is concerned that many military family
members, including both active and mobilized National Guard and
Reserve families, do not have adequate information about mental
health benefits that are authorized under the TRICARE program.
In light of evidence of the increased need for mental health
services, the committee directs the Department of Defense to
initiate, through appropriate command and communications
channels, an extensive effort to reach all military families
with information about mental health services that are
authorized under the TRICARE program and how to access these
services through both military and civilian providers. These
services include outpatient mental health services,
hospitalization for mental illness, substance abuse treatment,
and partial hospitalization for therapeutic mental health
services.
Additionally, the committee directs the Department to
expand appropriate mental health services to family members in
overseas locations through existing contracting mechanisms,
which provide culturally and language-appropriate services to
families of military personnel. The committee understands that
military mental health resources are appropriately being
directed in support of active-duty members, both in the field
and upon return from deployment, which often leaves families in
overseas locations without access to appropriate and needed
mental health services.
Specialty health care services referrals and authorizations
The committee is concerned that TRICARE beneficiaries have
experienced problems in accessing specialty health care
services as a result of the failure of the Department of
Defense to provide automated support for the process of
obtaining referral and authorization for specialty health care
services, as promised in the transition to new TRICARE
contracts. As a result, health care support contractors and
military treatment facilities instituted costly manual
processes that, although necessary, resulted in delays and long
waiting times on health care information telephone lines for
beneficiaries.
The committee is aware that efforts are now underway to
redesign an automated process for obtaining health care
referrals and authorizations. The committee expects senior-
level involvement throughout the military health system to
ensure its success as rapidly as possible. Further, the
committee expects the Department to take advantage of best
practices in the private sector in specialty referral
management, including its partners-- the U.S. Family Health
Plans. The committee expects the Department to study successful
practices by these plans in specialty referral management to
ensure that the new system that is being developed will result
in timely referrals and complete and accurate reporting from
specialist to primary care provider, with no disruption or
inconvenience to the beneficiary.
TITLE VIII--ACQUISITION POLICY, ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT, AND RELATED
MATTERS

Overview
Introduction. One of the committee's most important duties
is to provide oversight over the management of the hundreds of
billions of dollars that the Department of Defense spends each
year on the acquisition of supplies, services, and equipment--
everything from office supplies to major weapon systems.
The enactment of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act
of 1994 (Public Law 103-355) and the Clinger-Cohen Act in 1996
(as codified in chapter 113 of title 40, United States Code)
signaled a fundamental change in the management of government
acquisition programs. These statutes: (1) made it easier for
federal agencies to purchase commercial items; (2) streamlined
the processes for making small purchases; (3) eliminated the
General Services Administration (GSA) as the gatekeeper for all
federal information technology purchases; and (4) opened the
door to government-wide acquisition contracts and other
flexible multiple-award contracting vehicles.
As a result, the Department of Defense and other federal
agencies gained new flexibility to purchase their own
information technology products, to rapidly access technologies
developed in the commercial marketplace, and to focus their
attention on the larger acquisitions that account for the vast
majority of purchasing dollars. These changes, coupled with the
procurement ``holiday'' of the 1990's, made it possible for the
Department of Defense to save billions of dollars by cutting
its acquisition workforce by almost half in a period of just 10
years.
Unfortunately, the increased flexibility provided by
acquisition reform has not always been used in the best
interest of the Department of Defense and the taxpayer. Over
the last five years, a series of audits of Department of
Defense contracts by the Department of Defense Inspector
General and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have
revealed case after case of inadequate acquisition planning,
insufficient competition, overpriced contracts, inappropriate
expenditures of funds, and lack of attention to contract
management.
As a result, three of the twenty-five high risk areas
across the federal government (those areas identified by GAO as
most susceptible to fraud, waste, and abuse) are directly
related to the Department of Defense acquisition system. These
are: weapon systems acquisition; contract management; and the
management of interagency contracting. Each of these high-risk
areas is addressed in more detail below.
The committee has been aware over the last several years of
emerging problems in each of these areas and has initiated
numerous legislative provisions in an effort to direct the
Department of Defense toward more sound acquisition practices.
While this legislation has resulted in some improvement to the
Department of Defense's acquisition processes, serious
deficiencies remain in each of the high risk areas identified
by GAO.
The committee believes that continuing problems in these
high risk areas are attributable, in significant part, to
inadequate human capital planning and continuing reductions in
the defense acquisition workforce. While it was reasonable to
reduce the size of the workforce after the enactment of
acquisition reform measures in the mid-1990's, these reductions
continued even after the procurement holiday of the 1990's came
to an end and even after the global war on terrorism brought
record levels of procurement expenditures. Moreover, the
Department of Defense made these cuts in a haphazard way,
without giving consideration to the recruitment, training, and
career- building needed to ensure the ongoing vitality of our
acquisition organizations.
At the same time, emerging government requirements have
brought forward new challenges such as the acquisition of
``systems of systems''; the coordination of joint service and
multinational acquisition programs such as the Joint Strike
Fighter; the management of complex software acquisitions; the
negotiation of commercial pricing agreements without access to
traditional cost or pricing data; the development of new
performance-based service contracts; the oversight of huge
time- and-materials contracts; and the management of public-
private competitions. Rather than developing new skills and new
resources to address these new challenges, the Department of
Defense tried to address them with existing resources using an
already undermanned legacy acquisition workforce accustomed to
staffing traditional defense procurements in the 1980's and
early 1990's.
GAO has reported that strategic human capital management
remains a high risk area in the federal government because of
agencies' ``long-standing lack of a consistent strategic
approach to marshaling, managing, and maintaining the human
capital needed to maximize government performance and ensure
its accountability.'' This problem is particularly acute in the
defense acquisition workforce. The Under Secretary of Defense
for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics explained at an April
13, 2005, hearing before the Subcommittee on Readiness and
Management Support of the Committee on Armed Services the
following:

I believe we are at the point where any further
reductions [in the defense acquisition workforce] will
adversely impact our ability to successfully execute a
growing workload. The numbers are startling. The
Defense acquisition workforce has been downsized by
roughly half since 1990 while the contract dollars have
roughly doubled during the same period. * * *
The Global War on Terrorism and increasing Defense
budget places greater demands on acquisition workers
ability to support the warfighter. * * * We need to
continue to renew and restore the defense acquisition
workforce. We need to ensure that we have the right
people in the jobs to perform the functions required to
support our warfighters. Now more than ever, I believe
we need to increase the size of the acquisition
workforce to handle the growing workload, especially as
retirements increase in the coming years.

In this title, section 832 would address the problems in
the defense acquisition workforce by: (1) giving the Secretary
of Defense the authority to realign positions in the
acquisition workforce to reinvest in higher priority
acquisition positions; (2) increasing the overall size of the
acquisition workforce by 15 percent; and (3) requiring the
Secretary to conduct a strategic assessment and develop a human
resources strategic plan for the acquisition workforce.
Department of Defense Weapon Systems Acquisition. Twenty
years ago, the President's Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense
Management (commonly known as the Packard Commission) ushered
in an era of acquisition reform with its finding that the
Department of Defense's ``weapon systems take too long and cost
too much to produce.'' The Packard Commission attributed this
problem in large part to unrealistic budgeting, ``chronic
instability'' in funding, overstated requirements, a dilution
of accountability for results, duplication of programs, and
inadequate testing.
Many of the recommendations of the Packard Commission
report have been implemented by Congress and the executive
branch. These include the creation of the position of the Under
Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics;
the flattening of the organizational structure for acquisition
programs; enhanced developmental and operational testing;
utilization of multiyear procurement authority; use of
performance requirements in lieu of detailed military
specifications; and greater use of commercial items. Congress
significantly streamlined the acquisition laws in the 1990s and
successive administrations have endeavored to eliminate
unneeded federal and Department of Defense acquisition rules
and regulations.
Despite these changes, however, nearly 20 years after the
release of the Packard Commission report and the enactment of
the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act
of 1986 (Public Law 99-433), major weapon systems programs
still cost too much and take too long to field.
Why is it that after all of the ``acquisition reforms'' of
the past two decades, the Department of Defense has still not
been able to fix the underlying problems with major weapon
system acquisition that the Packard Commission identified? The
committee believes that one answer can be found in the
inability of the Department to address the budget and program
stability issues that were identified by the Packard
Commission. Funding and requirements instability continue to
drive up costs and delays the eventual fielding of new systems.
Constant changes in funding and requirements lead to continuous
changes in acquisition approaches.
For example, at a recent hearing held by the Subcommittee
on Seapower of the Committee on Armed Services, representatives
from the shipbuilding industry testified that the acquisition
strategy or procurement profile for the Virginia-class
submarine program had changed 12 times in 10 years. Other
Department of Defense programs have similar track records. The
committee believes that the same focus needs to be placed on
reforming the defense budget and requirements processes as has
been placed on reforming the contracting process over the last
20 years. For this reason, the committee directs the GAO to
review the Department of Defense's budget and requirements
processes and assess how these processes can better support
program stability in major weapon systems acquisition.
The committee is also concerned that problems with
organizational structure, shortfalls in acquisition workforce
capabilities, and personnel instability continue to undermine
the performance of major weapon systems programs. The committee
believes that the Department of Defense should give serious
consideration to longer tenures for program managers and to
taking the steps needed to address shortfalls in the Department
of Defense's systems engineering capability and other critical
acquisition capabilities. It is questionable whether the
Department of Defense can effectively manage major programs as
long as senior officials are changing every 18 months and the
Department continues to rely almost exclusively on contractors
for technical expertise.
While the Congress cannot legislate good long-term
management and stewardship of programs, the committee will
continue to focus attention on issues that will contribute to
better program management. In this regard, the committee
requested the GAO in January 2005 to review the authority and
responsibilities of program managers and to revisit the issue
of program manager tenure. In addition, section 806 in this
title would require the Defense Acquisition University to
review the acquisition organization of the military departments
and defense agencies and report to Congress on any deficiencies
in those organizations.
With regard to the acquisition process, the committee
believes that the Packard Commission correctly emphasized the
need for technological maturity in the acquisition of major
weapon systems. Seven years ago, the committee revisited this
issue and asked the GAO to begin a review comparing the
Department of Defense approach to incorporating technology into
new products to approaches successfully applied in the private
sector. GAO found that private industry fields new products
faster and more successfully because they make sure that new
technologies have been proven in the laboratory before they try
to incorporate them into new products. As the Comptroller
General explained in his April 13, 2005, testimony:

Problems occur because Department of Defense's weapon
programs do not capture early on the requisite
knowledge that is needed to efficiently and effectively
manage program risks. For example, programs move
forward with unrealistic program cost and schedule
estimates, lack clearly defined and stable
requirements, use immature technologies in launching
product development, and fail to solidify design and
manufacturing processes at appropriate junctures in
development.

Over the past several years, the committee has enacted the
following legislative initiatives designed to address these
problems.
Section 804 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (Public Law 107-
107) required the Secretary of Defense to report to the
congressional defense committees any time the
Department decides to incorporate into a major weapon
system a technology that is not yet mature.
Sections 802 and 803 of the Bob Stump
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003
(Public Law 107-314) authorized the Department of
Defense to take advantage of ``spiral'' development and
incremental acquisition techniques, which enable the
Department to acquire new systems in phases, as the
technology matures.
Section 804 of the Bob Stump National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 and
section 801 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-
375) required the Department of Defense to focus
management attention on problems in the development and
acquisition of software, which have frequently resulted
in cost overruns and schedule delays in the acquisition
of major weapon systems.
The committee is also concerned that the Department of
Defense has sometimes tried to address acquisition challenges
through the use of contracting approaches that are not
appropriate to major weapon systems rather than tackle
difficult budgetary, requirements, organizational, and
personnel issues. For example, a recent series of hearings held
by the Subcommittee on AirLand of the Committee on Armed
Services have highlighted continuing problems resulting from so
called ``commercial item strategies'' used by the Department of
Defense to acquire major weapon systems. While the Department
has been able to reduce administrative overhead, commercial
item strategies have required foregoing important provisions
designed for the protection of the taxpayer in the acquisition
of major weapon systems, including the Truth in Negotiations
Act (TINA) (10 U.S.C. 2306a) and the Cost Accounting Standards
(CAS). Waiving these provisions limits the government's insight
into contractor cost and performance, while doing nothing to
overcome the programatic and technical challenges faced in
developing major systems.
Reviews by GAO and the Department of Defense Inspector
General have found that the Department of Defense has
frequently waived TINA and CAS requirements without a valid
legal basis and has failed to conduct adequate price analysis
to support price reasonableness in cases where these
requirements are waived. In the case of the proposed Air Force
tanker lease, the result was a heightened risk of fraud and
abuse, which would have significantly increased costs to the
taxpayer, had the committee not disapproved the lease proposal.
As a result, the Department has recently decided to restructure
two other major defense acquisition programs--the Air Force's
C130J aircraft program and the Army's Future Combat Systems
program--to avoid similar risks.
Over the past several years, the committee has enacted the
following legislative initiatives designed to address such
problems.
Sections 803 and 808 of the Strom Thurmond
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999
(Public Law 105-261) tightened the requirements for
commercial pricing of defense items.
Section 803 of the Floyd D. Spence National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public
Law 106-398) limited the use of so called ``other
transactions'' to projects in which either: (1) at
least one nontraditional contractor is participating to
significant extent; or (2) the contractor agrees to
bear at least one-third of the cost of the project.
Section 817 of the Bob Stump National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 limited
the circumstances in which the TINA could be waived and
required the Department of Defense to report to
Congress on all TINA and CAS waivers granted for major
acquisition programs.
Section 818 of the Ronald W. Reagan National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005
clarified the applicability of TINA to modifications of
commercial items that cost in excess of $500,000 and 5
percent of the value of the contract.
In this title, sections 844 and 804 would build on this
record by: (1) prohibiting ``other transactions'' in excess of
$100.0 million and ensuring that the Procurement Integrity Act
(41 U.S.C. 423) applies to all such transactions; and (2)
requiring a specific authorization for the purchase of major
weapon systems under procedures established for the procurement
of commercial items.
Department of Defense Contract Management. Over the last 15
years, the Department of Defense has dramatically increased its
reliance on contractor-provided information technology and
management support services. By some estimates, the Department
now spends more on the acquisition of services than it does on
the acquisition of products, including major weapon systems.
The Department's acquisition structure and organization has
not kept pace with this dramatic change in the expenditure of
funds. Despite critical reports by GAO and the Department of
Defense Inspector General, the Department still has not
developed a centralized management structure for the
acquisition of services, still has not conducted a
comprehensive spending analysis of its services contracts, and
still has not provided its acquisition professionals with the
training and guidance needed to manage the Department's service
contracts. Rather, the award of services contracts remains
dispersed throughout the Department with little management
oversight.
As a result, the Department of Defense has yet to make
effective use of critical tools, such as performance-based
service contracting (PBSC) and competitive awards under
multiple-award task order contracts, to ensure that funds are
expended in a cost-effective manner. For example, in July 2004,
GAO found that Department of Defense personnel waived
competition requirements for nearly half of the task orders
reviewed. In March 2005, the Comptroller General reported that
the Department of Defense failed to conduct adequate oversight
for 26 of 90 contracts reviewed. Department of Defense managers
told GAO that contract oversight is ``not always a top
priority'' and ``is not given the same importance as getting
the contract awarded.'' GAO found that some oversight personnel
``believe they do not have enough time in a normal workday to
perform surveillance, a factor that may be influenced by
declining personnel levels in Department of Defense functional
offices responsible'' for contract oversight.
Over the past several years, the committee has enacted the
following legislative initiatives designed to address this
problem.
Section 804 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (Public Law 106-
65) required the issuance of government-wide guidance
on the appropriate use of task order and delivery order
contracts.
Section 821 of the Floyd D. Spence National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001
established a preference for PBSC and required the
enhanced training of Department of Defense acquisition
personnel and the establishment of centers of
excellence in services contracting.
Section 801 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 required the
Department to establish a management structure for the
procurement of services, a tracking system for services
contracts, and an approval requirement for services
contracts that do not use PBSC.
Section 802 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 required the
Department to achieve savings in its services contracts
through the use of spending analyses, PBSC, and
competitive award of task orders.
Section 803 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 strengthened
competition requirements for purchases of services
through multiple award task order contracts.
Section 805 of the Bob Stump National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003
established performance goals for the Department of
Defense's use of PBSC and competitive task orders in
its services contracts.
Section 802 of this title would build on this record by
requiring each of the military departments to establish a
Contract Support Acquisition Center to act as the executive
agent for the acquisition of contract services for the military
department. An additional Center would be established to act as
a clearinghouse for the acquisition of contract services by the
Office of the Secretary of Defense and the defense agencies.
Management of Interagency Contracting. The last decade has
seen a proliferation of new types of government-wide contracts
and multi-agency contracts. According to GAO, the GSA alone has
seen a nearly tenfold increase in interagency contract sales
since 1992, pushing its total sales up to $32 billion in fiscal
year 2004. Other agencies, such as the Department of the
Treasury, the Department of Interior, and the National
Institutes of Health, also sponsor interagency contracts worth
billions of dollars a year. The Department of Defense is by far
the largest ordering agency under these contracts, accounting
for 85 percent of the dollars awarded under one of the largest
GSA programs.
These contracts, which permit officials of one agency to
make purchases under contracts entered by other agencies, have
provided federal agencies rapid access to high-tech commercial
products and related services. However, these contracts have
created a chaotic marketplace in which federal agencies are
being offered similar products under a wide array of contracts,
without any easy way of comparing between the products. At the
same time, the Department of Defense does not have an adequate
system to track such basic information as who is using these
contracts, what they are buying, and how much they are paying.
In too many cases, when one agency uses a contract entered
by another agency, it appears that neither agency takes
responsibility for making sure that procurement rules are
followed and good management sense is applied. As a result, the
Department of Defense Inspector General, the GSA Inspector
General, and others have identified a long series of problems
with inter-agency contracts, including lack of acquisition
planning, inadequate competition, excessive use of time and
materials contracts, improper use of expired funds,
inappropriate expenditures, and failure to monitor contractor
performance.
In the past several years, the committee has enacted the
following legislative initiatives designed to address these
problems.
Section 814 of the Strom Thurmond National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 required
approval by a contracting officer (or other official
specifically designated in regulations) for all
Department of Defense purchases under task order
contracts of other federal agencies.
Section 804 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 required the
issuance of government-wide guidance on the appropriate
use of government-wide contracts and an assessment of
the ordering and program practices followed by federal
agencies in using GSA contracts.
Section 824 of the Bob Stump National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 required
an assessment of Department of Defense purchases of
products and services through contracts entered by
other federal agencies, including the costs and
benefits of such purchases.
Section 802 of the Ronald W. Reagan National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 required
a joint review by the Department of Defense Inspector
General and the GSA Inspector General of the procedures
in place to ensure compliance with applicable
requirements of law and regulation in Department of
Defense purchases through the GSA client support
centers.
Section 854 of the Ronald W. Reagan National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 required
the Department of Defense to establish a process for
review and approval of all procurements in excess of
$100,000 through contracts entered by other federal
agencies.
In this title, sections 801 and 805 would build on this
record by requiring that: (1) the Department of Defense
Inspector General conduct joint reviews with the Inspector
Generals of other relevant agencies of all major interagency
contracts used by the Department of Defense, to ensure that
appropriate procedures are in place and to ensure compliance
with applicable requirements of law and regulation; and (2) the
secretary of each military department review and report on
service surcharges imposed on Department of Defense purchases
by other Department of Defense agencies.

Subtitle A--Acquisition Policy and Management

Internal controls for procurements on behalf of the Department of
Defense (sec. 801)

The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Department of Defense Inspector General, in consultation with
applicable Inspector's General of nondefense agencies, to
determine whether the policies, procedures, and internal
controls of nondefense agencies for purchases on behalf of the
Department of Defense are adequate to ensure compliance with
defense procurement requirements of law and regulation. The
provision would allow the Department to continue contracting
after March 15, 2006, with any nondefense agency that is making
significant progress toward implementing effective policies,
procedures, and internal controls. The provision would prohibit
contracting with nondefense agencies after March 15, 2007, if a
required second Inspector General review determined that the
nondefense agency was not compliant with defense procurement
requirements. The provision would also authorize the Under
Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
to continue contracting through a nondefense agency that has
failed to implement appropriate policies, procedures, and
internal controls, if he determines that it is necessary to do
so in the interest of the Department.

Contract Support Acquisition Centers (sec. 802)

The committee recommends a provision that would require the
secretary of each military department to establish a Contract
Support Acquisition Center to act as the executive agent for
the acquisition of contract services for that military
department. The Secretary of Defense would be required to
establish an additional Acquisition Center within the Defense
Logistics Agency to act as the executive agent for the
acquisition of contract services by the defense agencies.
The committee notes that the budget request includes a
reduction of $2.0 billion in funds available for contract
support in fiscal year 2006 and a total planned reduction of
$12.0 billion across the Future Years Defense Program. The
committee believes that the Department of Defense should be
able to achieve a significant portion of these savings through
the improved use of contract management tools, without having
to cut programs or reduce needed services.
In particular, section 802 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (Public Law 107-107), as
amended, establishes an objective for the Department of Defense
to achieve efficiencies in procurements of services through the
increased use of: (1) performance-based service contracting;
(2) competitive procedures for the award of task orders and
contracts; and (3) program review, spending analyses, and
improved management of services contracts. Similar steps have
enabled private sector companies to achieve considerable
savings.
Unfortunately, the goals established in section 802 for
competition in services contracting and the use of performance-
based services contracting have not been met. Moreover, it
appears that the Department has yet to undertake the
comprehensive program review, spending analyses, and improved
management of services contracts envisioned by section 802. The
committee notes that a number of civilian agencies (including
the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Agriculture and
the U.S. Postal Service) report that they have achieved
significant savings through the use of spending analyses and
strategic sourcing decisions.
The committee believes that the Department of Defense has
been unable to achieve comparable savings, in part, because the
decentralized nature of the Department of Defense's services
contracting and the absence of any organization dedicated to
the acquisition of contract support hamper efforts to perform
spending analyses, make strategic sourcing decisions, and
institute comprehensive management improvements. The provision
would address this problem by creating an organizational hub
for the acquisition of contract support services by the
military departments and defense agencies.
The provision would also require the Contract Support
Acquisition Centers to develop and maintain policies,
procedures, and best practices guidelines for contract tracking
and oversight. The committee notes that the Department of
Defense is currently in the process of developing a business
enterprise architecture and transition plan to guide the
modernization of its business systems. The committee expects
the business systems developed by the Department of Defense to
have the capability of tracking basic information about
interagency transactions, including the number and dollar value
of transactions under each interagency contract vehicle, the
status of open transactions, the status of funds under
interagency transactions (including appropriation type;
appropriation year; and fund balance received, obligated,
expended, and available), and the amount of any funds returned
or to be returned to the Department of Defense or to the
Department of Treasury due to the completion or modification of
contracts or the expiration of funds.

Authority to enter into acquisition and cross-servicing agreements with
regional organizations of which the United States is not a
member (sec. 803)

The committee recommends a provision that would permit the
Secretary of Defense to enter into acquisition and cross-
servicing agreements (ACSA) with regional international
organizations of which the United States is not a member. Under
current law, the Secretary may enter into ACSAs only with
regional organizations of which the United States is a member.
Acquisition agreements and cross-servicing agreements
permit the U.S. Armed Forces to obtain specified logistic
support from, and to provide similar support to, the other
party to the agreement on a reimbursable basis. Originally
designed for and limited to North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) nations and organizations, the authority was expanded in
1994 to include certain non-NATO nations and regional
organizations of which the United States is a member.
The Department of Defense has requested the expansion of
this authority to be used in cases similar to the 2003 events
in Liberia. At that time, the U.S. Joint Task Force Liberia was
deployed, but peacekeeping forces were provided by the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS)-- a regional
organization of which the United States is not a member. If the
United States were permitted to negotiate an ACSA with ECOWAS,
the United States could have furnished essential logistic
support. Instead, other, less efficient mechanisms had to be
worked out in order to support African peacekeeping forces in
Liberia.

Requirement for authorization for procurement of major weapon systems
as commercial items (sec. 804)

The committee recommends a provision that would prohibit
the purchase of a major weapon system as a commercial item
unless such purchase is specifically authorized by Congress.
A recent series of hearings held by the Subcommittee on
AirLand of the Committee on Armed Services has highlighted
continuing problems resulting from ``commercial item
strategies'' pursued by the Department of Defense over the last
decade. Under this approach, the Department has attempted to
acquire major weapon systems under streamlined procedures
intended for the purchase of commercial items. Such streamlined
procedures do not require application of the Truth in
Negotiations Act, the Cost Accounting Standards, and other
requirements that are otherwise applicable to the acquisition
of major weapon systems.
The provision would ensure that acquisition procedures
authorized for the acquisition of commercial items are used for
true commercial items and not for the purchase of major weapon
systems.

Report on service surcharges for purchases made for military
departments through other Department of Defense agencies (sec.
805)

The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Department of Defense to review and report on service charges
imposed on one component of the Department for purchases made
through another component of the Department.
Section 854(d) of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375)
required an annual report on service charges imposed on
Department purchases by other federal agencies. The provision
recommended by the committee would extend this requirement to
service charges internal to the Department.

Review of defense acquisition structures (sec. 806)

The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Defense Acquisition University, acting under the direction of
the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and
Logistics, to review and report on the capabilities and
shortfalls of the acquisition organizations of the military
departments and defense agencies. The review would place
particular emphasis on steps needed to improve joint
acquisition and acquisition outcomes.
The review would specifically identify and make
recommendations for addressing any gaps, shortfalls, or
inadequacies in current acquisition organizations that could
make it more difficult for these organizations to provide high-
quality systems to the warfighter on a timely and cost-
effective basis. The committee is particularly concerned that
the military departments appear to have divested much of their
system engineering capability over the last 15 years. In
addition, the committee is concerned that the Department of
Defense has become excessively reliant upon contracts awarded
by other agencies for the acquisition of services and
information technology, and does not appear to have developed
the appropriate structures and competencies needed to
adequately handle these responsibilities.
At an April 14, 2004, hearing of the Subcommittee on
AirLand of the Committee on Armed Services, the Acting
Secretary of the Air Force testified that his department had
gone too far in downsizing its acquisition organization and had
removed critical checks and balances from the acquisition
process. These problems are not unique to the Air Force.
Because the problems in the Air Force acquisition organization
appear to be the most severe, the provision would require an
interim report on the Air Force acquisition organization not
later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act.

Subtitle B--Defense Industrial Base Matters

Clarification of exception from Buy American requirements for
procurement of perishable food for establishments outside the
United States (sec. 811)

The committee recommends a provision that would clarify
that the exception from Buy American requirements for
procurement of perishable food for establishments outside the
United States applies to procurements for an overseas defense
facility, even if the procurements are not conducted by such a
facility. This clarification is necessary because many food
purchases for defense facilities are now made by prime vendors
and other contractors, rather than being made by the facilities
themselves.

Conditional waiver of domestic source or content requirements for
certain countries with reciprocal procurement agreements with
the United States (sec. 812)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Secretary of Defense to annually determine whether a
foreign country with a reciprocal defense procurement
Memorandum of Understanding or agreement with the United States
has qualitatively or quantitatively increased defense exports
to China. If it is determined that no qualitative or
quantitative increase has occurred in the previous year, the
Secretary may on an annual basis waive the application of
statutory domestic source requirements and domestic content
requirements, provided that: (1) the application of the
requirements would impede the reciprocal procurement of defense
items under a Memorandum of Understanding between the United
States and another country; and (2) the other country does not
discriminate against items produced in the United States to a
greater degree than the United States discriminates against
items produced in that country. The proposed waiver is
identical to the standard previously adopted by the Congress
for products covered by the domestic content restrictions in
section 2534 of title 10, United States Code.

Consistency with United States obligations under trade agreements (sec.
813)

The committee recommends a provision that would require
that no provision of this Act, or any amendment made by this
Act, shall apply if the Secretary of Defense, in consultation
with the Secretary of Commerce, the U.S. Trade Representative,
and the Secretary of State, determines that the application of
the provision would be inconsistent with international trade
agreements of the United States.

Identification of areas of research and development effort for purposes
of the Small Business Innovative Research program (sec. 814)

The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of Defense to use criteria and procedures, updated at
least every four years, in the most current version of the
three primary science and technology strategic plans to
identify areas of research and development for the Small
Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program. The three
strategic plans are: the Joint Warfighting Science and
Technology Plan, the Defense Technology Area Plan, and the
Basic Research Plan. The provision would ensure participation
in the SBIR research topic selection process by the immediate
customers of defense research, the program managers, and
program executive officers.
The provision would also require the secretaries of the
military departments to identify successful SBIR Phase II
programs for acceleration into Phase III and rapid transition
into programs of record. All programs identified for rapid
transition would first require a written certification from the
Secretary of Defense that successful completion of the
transition is expected to meet high priority military
requirements.
The committee notes the importance of ensuring transition
of successful SBIR projects into Department of Defense
acquisition programs. Acquisition program managers across the
Department of Defense should be encouraged to utilize the SBIR
program in their planning, budgeting, and requirements process.
The Department of Defense should take the steps necessary to
improve data collection on transition of SBIR projects into
Department of Defense acquisition programs, either directly or
through integration into systems by the prime contractors. The
committee believes the Department of Defense should encourage
the National Research Council's ongoing study of the SBIR
program to address the issue of technology transition and, to
the extent possible, collect data on the rates of transition
success for SBIR Phase II projects.

Subtitle C--Defense Contractor Matters

Requirements for defense contractors relating to certain former
Department of Defense officials (sec. 821)

The committee recommends a provision that would require
companies that receive defense contracts in excess of $10.0
million (other than contracts for the procurement of commercial
items) to report to the Department of Defense on an annual
basis on former DOD officials who receive compensation from the
contractor.
At an April 14, 2005, hearing of the Subcommittee on
AirLand of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, the U.S.
Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia testified that it
has been difficult for him to identify potential ethics
violations by former Department officials who go to work for
defense contractors, because the Department's records in this
area are inadequate. An April 2005 report of the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) also concluded that monitoring of
former Department employees who go to work for defense
contractors is limited. The report states:

Neither the Defense Contract Management Agency nor
the Defense Contract Audit Agency--the agencies
responsible for oversight of defense contractor's
operations--had assessed the adequacy of contractors'
practices of hiring current and former government
employees. An independent review of one of DOD's
largest contractors found that the company lacked the
management controls needed to ensure an effective
ethics program. Instead, the review found that the
company relied excessively on employees to self-monitor
their compliance with post-government employment
restrictions. The review concluded that by relying on
self-monitoring, the company increased the risk of non-
compliance, due to either employees' willful misconduct
or failure to understand complex ethics rules.

The provision should provide a more complete set of records
for the Department of Defense, the GAO, and others to use in
assessing the extent to which former Department employees who
go to work for defense contractors are in compliance with
applicable ethics requirements.

Review of certain contractor ethics matters (sec. 822)

The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of the
Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and the Administrator for
Federal Procurement Policy, to review ethics issues raised by
contractor employees performing functions closely associated
with inherently governmental functions and other contractor
employees performing functions historically performed by
government employees in the federal workplace.
On February 8, 2005, the Acting Director of the OGE
requested that the Services Acquisition Reform Act (SARA)
Advisory Committee conduct an evaluation of ``whether
contractor employees should be subject to some type of ethics
laws, rules or practices designed to prevent conflicts of
interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest.'' The OGE
letter explained:

In recent years, executive branch ethics officials--
particularly those from Department of Defense agencies
and certain civilian agencies--have identified various
issues and concerns that are a result of the growing
presence of contractors in the Federal workplace. The
issues predominantly relate to the fact that, unlike
Government employees, contractor personnel are not
subject to a comprehensive set of ethics rules, yet
they are often performing some of the Government's most
sensitive and critical work. This disparity is true
even when contractor personnel are working side-by-side
with Government employees in the Federal workplace or
on the battlefield, and, for all practical purposes,
may appear to the public to be employees. The problem
is most likely to occur when contractors perform work
that historically was considered a federal function, as
well as when contractors perform functions closely
associated with inherently governmental functions.
Thus, it has been suggested that current laws,
regulations and practices may be inadequate to prevent
certain kinds of conflicts and ethics issues on the
part of contractors. For example, Government employees
are subject to various ``post employment'' restrictions
that prevent them from switching sides and representing
clients back to the government on a matter that they
worked on in the Government. In contrast, contractor
personnel--even those who performed the same or similar
work as their Federal counterparts--are not subject to
similar restrictions after they complete work on a
contract or obtain work with another contractor. In
addition, contractor personnel are not uniformly
subject to gift rules. For example, a contractor
performing an agency's IT function could accept a free
computer at a company-sponsored user conference or
meeting, unless such conduct was prohibited by his
company's internal policies.

The committee supports the OGE request that the SARA
Advisory Committee should look into these issues. In addition,
the committee believes that Congress would benefit from the
views of the Secretary, the Director of OGE, and the
Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy on these issues.
The options listed in the legislation for review by the
Secretary are the same options proposed in the OGE letter.

Contract fraud risk assessment (sec. 823)

The committee recommends a provision that would establish a
risk assessment team to assess the vulnerability of Department
of Defense contracts to fraud, waste, and abuse and require the
Secretary of Defense to develop an action plan to address areas
of vulnerability identified by the risk assessment team.
Recent contracting scandals in the Department of Defense
have lead the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of
Virginia to establish a Procurement Fraud Working Group to
promote early detection and prevention of procurement fraud
through the use of law enforcement measures to increase
prevention and prosecution of fraud-related cases. The
committee strongly supports this effort. However, the committee
believes that more proactive measures can be taken by the
Department to prevent fraud. A combined approach of active
prosecution and proactive Department policies and procedures
directed at areas of potential vulnerability should be
constructive in deterring improper contracting practices.

Subtitle D--Defense Acquisition Workforce Matters

Availability of funds in Acquisition Workforce Training Fund for
defense acquisition workforce improvements (sec. 831)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 37 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41
U.S.C. section 433) to allow the defense acquisition workforce
to benefit from fees collected under inter-agency contracts.
Section 1412 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136) amended section 37 to
establish an Acquisition Workforce Training Fund supporting the
training of the acquisition workforce. The Department of
Defense was excluded from contributing to, or benefitting from,
this fund. The provision would delete this exclusion, enabling
the defense acquisition workforce to benefit from the enhanced
training opportunities made possible by the fund.

Limitation and reinvestment authority relating to reduction of the
defense acquisition and support workforce (sec. 832)

The committee recommends a provision that would require a
15 percent increase in the defense acquisition and support
workforce during fiscal years 2006 through 2008. The Secretary
of Defense would be given the flexibility under this provision
to realign positions in the acquisition workforce to reinvest
in higher priority acquisition positions. The provision would
also require the Secretary to conduct a strategic assessment
and develop a human resources strategic plan for the defense
acquisition and support workforce.

Technical amendments relating to defense acquisition workforce
improvements (sec. 833)

The committee recommends a provision that would make minor
technical changes to the newly revised Defense Acquisition
Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA), chapter 87 of title 10,
United States Code, enacted by section 812 of the Ronald W.
Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005
(Public Law 108-375). These technical changes are necessary to
correct inaccuracies in numbering.
The committee notes that DAWIA, as amended by section 812,
specifies which military positions should be designated as
critical acquisition positions, but gives the Secretary of
Defense broad discretion to determine which civilian positions
should be so designated. The committee expects the Secretary to
use this discretion to ensure parallel treatment of military
and civilian acquisition officials by designating civilian
positions that have a level of responsibility comparable to the
military positions that are designated by statute.

Subtitle E--Other Matters

Extension of contract goal for small disadvantaged business and certain
institutions of higher education (sec. 841)

The committee recommends a provision that would extend
section 2323 of title 10, United States Code, for three years.
Section 2323 establishes a 5 percent goal for Department of
Defense contracting with small disadvantaged businesses and
certain institutions of higher education.

Codification and modification of limitation on modification of military
equipment within five years of retirement or disposal (sec.
842)

The committee recommends a provision that would prohibit
annual expenditures greater than $100,000 to modify an
aircraft, weapon, ship, or other item of equipment that will be
retired or otherwise disposed of within 5 years after
completion of the modification. The secretary of a military
department may waive this restriction if the waiver is
necessary on the basis of national security, and he so notifies
the congressional defense committees in writing. Safety
modifications will not require waivers. This provision would
codify and modify the requirements of section 8053 of the
Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1998
(Public Law 105-56) by establishing an annual $100,000
threshold requirement for congressional notice and departmental
waiver.

Clarification of rapid acquisition authority to respond to combat
emergencies (sec. 843)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 806 of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-314) to give the
Department of Defense greater flexibility to address combat
emergencies. In particular, the provision would: (1) give the
Secretary of Defense authority to address deficiencies that
have resulted in combat casualties, even if they are not
``combat capability deficiencies'' and even if they have not
resulted in fatalities; (2) permit the Secretary to delegate
his authority under the section to the Deputy Secretary of
Defense; and (3) clarify that the category of statutes and
regulations that may be waived if necessary to prevent combat
casualties include domestic source or content restrictions that
would inhibit or impede the rapid acquisition of needed
equipment.

Modification of authority to carry out certain prototype projects (sec.
844)

The committee recommends a provision that would prohibit
the Department of Defense from entering into a transaction
(other than a contract, cooperative agreement, or grant) under
the authority of section 845 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136, 10
U.S.C. 2371 note) for a prototype project that is expected to
cost in excess of $100.0 million. The provision would require
the approval of the senior procurement executive for an agency
before this authority may be used to enter into a transaction
that is expected to cost in excess of $20.0 million.
Section 845 was intended to be used for limited prototype
projects, particularly those in which the Department seeks to
engage nontraditional defense contractors that may be averse to
the requirements imposed by a standard Department procurement
contract. For this reason, the statement of managers
accompanying the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105-261) states:

The conferees continue to believe that the section
845 authority should only be used in the exceptional
cases where it can be clearly demonstrated that a
normal contract or grant will not allow sufficient
access to affordable technologies. The conferees are
especially concerned that such authority not be used to
circumvent the appropriate management controls in the
standard acquisition and budgeting process.

Similarly, section 803 of the Floyd D. Spence National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law 106-
348) expressly limited the use of section 845 authority to
transactions with companies that typically do not do business
with the Department and to transactions in which costs are
shared between the Department and the contractor.
The committee does not believe that the $20.9 billion
agreement entered between the Army and the Lead Systems
Integrator for the Future Combat Systems program was consistent
with the language and intent of these provisions. For this
reason, the committee supports the Army's decision to
restructure its agreement with the Lead Systems Integrator as a
traditional procurement contract.
The provision recommended by the committee would ensure
that section 845 authority is used as intended in the future
for limited prototype projects, not to circumvent the
appropriate management controls in the standard acquisition and
budgeting process.

Extension of certain authorities on contracting with employers of
persons with disabilities (sec. 845)

The committee recommends a provision that would extend for
one year section 853 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375).
This provision would ensure the continuation and completion of
existing contracts (including any options) awarded under the
Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act (41 U.S.C 46 et seq.) and the Randolph-
Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C. 107 et seq.) programs for the operation
of military troop dining facilities, military mess halls, and
other similar military dining facilities.

Items of Special Interest

Commercial satellite bandwidth

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report
in December 2003, at the request of the Subcommittee on
Readiness and Management Support of the Committee on Armed
Services, entitled ``Satellite Communications: Strategic
Approach Needed for DoD's Procurement of Commercial Satellite
Bandwidth.'' Section 803 of the Ronald W. Reagan National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-
375) required the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on
the Department's procurement strategy for commercial
communications satellite services, and how the Department will
address each of the recommendations contained in the GAO
report. It is the committee's understanding that the
Department's report will be delivered in June 2005.
The committee directs the GAO to review the Department's
report to determine the extent to which the recommendations
made by GAO have been addressed by the Department and report to
the committee on the results of this assessment within 25 days
of the release of the Department's report.

Defense trade data

Defense trade impacts several issues of importance to the
Department of Defense, including maintaining a healthy supplier
base, protecting critical technologies, ensuring access to a
secure supply of defense-related items and services, managing
technology transfers, and increasing interoperability with
allies. A critical element to guide decision-makers on defense
trade is access to comprehensive and reliable data. Due to
concerns about the potential inadequacy of defense trade data,
the committee directs the Government Accountability Office
(GAO) to identify: (1) Defense trade data that is collected and
reported by U.S. government agencies; (2) the limitations, if
any, of that data; and (3) reasonable conclusions that can be
made about current trends in defense trade based on that data.
The committee is also concerned about the adequacy of data
on arms sales to China. The European Union's recent proposal to
lift its ban on lethal arms sales to China has generated a need
for the GAO to update its June 1998 report, ``China: Military
Imports from the United States and the European Union since the
1989 Embargoes.'' Accordingly, the committee directs the GAO to
report on arms sales to China over the past five years from the
United States, European Union member countries, and other major
arms exporting countries and determine any quantitative or
qualitative trends in these sales.

Department of Defense anti-tamper program

In the Senate Report accompanying S. 1050 (S. Rept. 108-46)
to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004,
the committee asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO)
to review the Department of Defense's anti-tamper program,
which is designed to protect critical U.S. technologies from
risk of exploitation if they are exported, stolen, or lost
during combat. The GAO reported to the committee in March 2004
and made several recommendations for the Department to improve
its anti-tamper program.
The committee has been informed that the Department has
made progress in implementing some of GAO's recommendations but
has yet to implement others. Specifically, the Department has
made progress in: (1) Developing a tool to help program
managers identify critical technologies in their systems; (2)
creating a technology database to include anti-tamper
technologies and lessons learned; (3) sponsoring training for
verification teams; (4) funding an independent study on anti-
tamper techniques and general effectiveness; and (5) creating
more robust verification and validation teams to assist
programs with anti-tamper implementation and best practices.
The committee understands that the Department has yet to:
(1) Implement a newly drafted policy on anti-tamper; (2)
develop a central review mechanism for consistent
identification of similar critical technologies across
programs; and (3) fully establish a business case that
determines whether the current organizational structure and
resources are adequate to implement anti-tamper protection and,
if not, determine what other actions are needed to mitigate the
risk of compromising critical technologies.
The committee directs the GAO to update its March 2004
report to the committee and evaluate the actions the Department
has taken to date and pursue any necessary follow-up work on
the Department's anti-tamper program.

Industrial base issues

In May 2004, the Department of Defense issued a report
entitled: ``Adequacy of U.S. Beryllium Industrial Base to Meet
Defense Requirements'', dated May 2004. This report clearly
establishes the long-term national security need to ensure a
domestic supply of beryllium to meet defense needs. The
committee urges the Secretary of Defense to include within
future years' budgets a level of funding consistent with the
report's findings, which will lead to the development of a
cooperative public-private partnership in the domestic
beryllium industrial base, to include using funding under the
Defense Production Act (50 U.S.C. App. section 2061 et seq.),
or any other means that the Secretary determines as feasible.
The committee also believes that the Department should
review whether Defense Production Act funding should be used
for (1) a silicon carbide armor manufacturing initiative and
(2) supporting efficient and flexible manufacturing for
producing current and future small arms weapons.

Implementation of authority to enter energy savings performance
contracts

Section 1090 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375)
extended through the end of fiscal year 2006 the authority for
the Department of Defense and other federal agencies to enter
energy savings performance contracts pursuant to section 802 of
the National Energy Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8287a).
When properly used, energy savings performance contracts
enable the Department and other federal agencies to reduce
energy and water consumption through infrastructure upgrades,
such as new thermal storage systems, chillers, boilers, and
lights, with no out-of-pocket cost at all to the government. In
some cases, excess savings from energy improvements can even be
used to offset other base operating support expenses.
Section 802 of the National Energy Policy Act provides that
an energy savings performance contract is a contract which
provides for the contractor to implement energy savings
measures in federal facilities ``in exchange for a share of any
energy savings directly resulting from implementation of such
measures during the term of the contract.'' The statute further
provides that aggregate payments to the contractor ``may not
exceed the amount that the agency would have paid for utilities
without an energy savings performance contract.''
In December 2004, the Government Accountability Office
(GAO) reported that on six energy savings performance contracts
it reviewed (including three contracts entered by the
Department of the Navy), aggregate payments to the contractor
exceeded energy cost savings during the term of the contract.
In each case, the GAO found that the agencies made significant
up-front payments to the contractor and then paid the
contractor all or virtually all of the savings resulting from
the contract. As a result, the total of the up-front payments
and the regular payments during the term of the contract
exceeded the amount of the savings.
The committee is concerned by the appearance that the
Department and other federal agencies may have routinely
violated the requirements of section 802 of the National Energy
Policy Act. Accordingly, the committee directs the Secretary of
Defense to issue guidance to all the Department officials
responsible for entering energy savings performance contracts
reemphasizing the statutory requirement that the cost of an
energy savings performance contract be paid entirely out of the
energy savings resulting from the contract.

National technology and industrial base considerations

The committee notes with concern a number of negative
trends affecting the ability of the national technology and
industrial base to meet the long-term national security
challenges facing the United States. Over the past 20 years,
the U.S. aerospace industrial base has declined from 75
competing companies to the present ``Big Five.'' This is mainly
a result of consolidations and mergers. More than 700,000 jobs
in the aerospace and defense sector have been lost. The average
age of defense industry workers is now over 50, while college
enrollment in defense and aerospace-related engineering
programs continues to decline.
The integration of the commercial and military industrial
bases, so called civil-military integration, has not been as
successful as many advocates had hoped. While military systems
continue to incorporate advanced commercial technology, many
commercial systems have often proven difficult to adapt for
military uses. Also, military technologies have been slow to
develop commercial applications.
The defense industry has found it difficult to use global
sales to stabilize defense production. Cumbersome export
control processes often overly restrict American companies from
selling defense and dual-use products on the international
market and discourage international cooperation on new
aerospace and defense technologies.
The committee recognizes that private sector manufacturers
have a responsibility to investors and shareholders to be
profitable and competitive. Industries supporting national
defense must compete with other industries in the U.S. economy
for investment capital. The Department of Defense should
consider reviewing profit policies to accurately reflect risk
and achieve better performance in defense contracting.
The Department of Defense, industry, and the Congress must
work together to ensure that the defense industry continues on
the path of integration with the commercial sector, remains
globally competitive, and attracts new generations of
scientists, engineers, and other skilled workers. To that end,
the committee urges the Department to work with industry to:
(1) Maintain stable federal funding for core production
capabilities and the critical Research Development Test and
Evaluation infrastructure supporting defense programs; (2)
maintain a stable annual science and technology budget at the
Department consistent with the 3 percent goal established in
legislation, to develop innovative technologies designed to
meet future national security threats; (3) work with
universities and the defense manufacturing community to develop
a plan to train and build a skilled aerospace and defense
workforce; (4) provide appropriate incentives to encourage the
participation of small businesses and independent entrepreneurs
from nondefense sectors in the Defense Industrial Base; (5)
eliminate obstacles in the export licensing process that
restrict international sales of defense and dual-use products
without providing a corresponding national security benefit;
(6) facilitate and encourage international joint programs with
allies; and (7) promote greater interoperability among both
defense and commercial defense systems, domestically and
internationally.
TITLE IX--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT

Subtitle A--Duties and Functions of Department of Defense Officers and
Organizations

Directors of small business programs (sec. 901)
The committee recommends a provision that would change the
title of the Department of Defense's ``Office of Small and
Disadvantaged Business Utilization'' to the ``Office of Small
Business Programs'' to more clearly represent the office's span
of authority. The name would not reflect a change in emphasis
or support for disadvantaged businesses, but rather would
clarify that the Office of Small Business Programs has the full
range of authority over many other small business programs that
presently are not reflected in the office's title. The new
title would capture the overarching nature of the program,
which encompasses the small disadvantaged business, service-
disabled veteran-owned small business, qualified historically
underutilized business zone small business, women-owned small
business, and the very small business programs.
Executive agent for acquisition of capabilities to defend the homeland
against missiles and other low-altitude aircraft (sec. 902)
The committee recommends a provision that would direct the
Secretary of Defense to establish an executive agent in the
Department of Defense to manage the acquisition of capabilities
necessary to defend the homeland against cruise missiles,
unmanned aerial vehicles, and other low-altitude air threats.
The provision would require the executive agent to coordinate
with the Missile Defense Agency, the Joint Theater Air and
Missile Defense Organization, U.S. Northern Command, U.S.
Strategic Command, and other appropriate U.S. government
agencies to ensure unity of effort and to avoid unnecessary
duplication. Additionally, the Secretary is required to submit
to the congressional defense committees, no later than 180 days
after enactment of this Act, a plan for the defense of the
United States against cruise missiles, unmanned aerial
vehicles, and other low-altitude air threats. The Secretary
shall coordinate this plan with other Department plans for the
defense of the homeland against short- to medium-range
ballistic missiles.
The committee has been concerned about the increasing
threat posed by cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and
other low-altitude threats against the United States.
Accordingly, Congress directed the Secretary, in the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-
136), to provide a report on the U.S. military's ability to
address these threats. The report entitled ``Cruise Missile
Defense,'' submitted to the Congress in September 2004,
addressed the challenges cruise missiles and other low-altitude
threats pose to the air defense of the United States and noted
that a comprehensive interagency approach was necessary to
address the problem. The report further noted that while
technology demonstration programs were underway in the
Department for homeland airspace surveillance and defense, it
would be necessary to establish acquisition programs with
appropriate funding to acquire capabilities that were
successfully demonstrated.
The committee notes that it is the mission of NORAD, a
component of U.S. Northern Command, to defend the United States
against cruise missiles and other air threats. NORAD is
currently developing a document under the U.S. Joint Staff's
Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System to define
the family-of-systems capabilities needed to defend the United
States against low-altitude air threats. The committee
understands, however, that while U.S. NORTHCOM is responsible
for the defense of the homeland against these threats, it does
not have the authority or funding to acquire needed
capabilities.
To enhance efforts to protect the homeland from cruise
missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other low-altitude air
threats, the committee believes that there should be a single
official within the Department responsible for coordinating,
integrating, funding, and acquiring the surveillance and
interceptor programs necessary for a cohesive defense of the
homeland against these threats, and that there should be a plan
for such defense. Additionally, these efforts to defend against
low-altitude air threats should be coordinated with ongoing
Missile Defense Agency efforts to address the short- to medium-
range ballistic missile threat to the United States.

Subtitle B--Space Activities

Advisory committee on Department of Defense requirements for space
control (Sec. 911)
The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of Defense to establish an advisory committee on the
current and future space control requirements of the United
States, including the means of meeting those requirements.
According to U.S. ``National Space Policy,'' last
promulgated in September 1996, the United States will develop,
operate, and maintain space control capabilities to ensure
freedom of action in space and, if directed, deny such freedom
of action to adversaries. In March 2005, senior administration
officials testified before the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
of the Committee on Armed Services that this remains official
U.S. policy. The space control mission area includes three
important components: (1) space situational awareness; (2)
defensive counterspace operations; and (3) offensive
counterspace operations.
The committee recognizes the growing reliance of the United
States on space operations for its security. This reliance
creates a potential vulnerability should adversaries develop
capabilities for interdicting or destroying U.S. space assets
or ground support infrastructure. The committee is concerned
that given the potential threats to U.S. and allied space
operations, the Department of Defense may not be allocating
sufficient funding for space control when compared with other
military space mission areas. The committee therefore believes
an advisory committee of experts can provide a valuable
assessment of current and future space control requirements, to
include the adequacy of means for meeting those requirements.

Subtitle C--Other Matters

Acceptance of gifts and donations for Department of Defense regional
centers for security studies (sec. 921)
The committee recommends a provision that would provide
authority for the Secretary of Defense to accept gifts and
donations on behalf of each of the Department of Defense
regional centers for security studies. The provision would
define the sources from which gifts and donations may be
accepted, and criteria for acceptance of such gifts and
donations. The provision would also establish an account on the
books of the Treasury to be known as the Regional Centers for
Security Studies Account into which monetary donations would be
credited and made available for expenditure to defray the
costs, or enhance the operation, of the regional centers.
This provision would consolidate a set of laws into one
provision that would provide uniform and consistent authority
for the Secretary to accept gifts and donations on behalf of
each of the Department regional centers for security studies.
Operational files of the Defense Intelligence Agency (sec. 922)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), in
coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, to
exempt specifically defined operational files of certain
elements of the DIA from disclosure under the Freedom of
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). Judicial review would be
available for allegations of improper withholding of material,
subject to certain protections for classified material. All
exempted operational files would be subject to a 10-year review
to determine whether the protected files should be removed from
the exempted operational files. This provision would provide
DIA with protection of its most sensitive operational files.
The committee notes that such protections are currently
authorized for the Central Intelligence Agency, the National
Security Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the
National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, under title VII of the
National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 431 et. seq.).
Prohibition on implementation of certain orders and guidance on
functions and duties of the General Counsel and the Judge
Advocate General of the Air Force (sec. 923)
The committee recommends a provision that would prohibit
the obligation or expenditure of funds authorized to be
appropriated by the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2006 to implement or enforce either: (1) the order
of the Secretary of the Air Force, dated May 15, 2003, and
entitled ``Functions and Duties of the General Counsel and the
Judge Advocate General;'' or (2) any internal operating
instruction or memorandum issued by the General Counsel of the
Department of the Air Force in reliance upon the Secretary's
May 15, 2003, order.
Since the enactment of the Goldwater-Nichols Department of
Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-433), the
Congress has strongly supported the existence of separate
military and civilian staffs in the area of legal services and
elsewhere. In section 574 of the Ronald W. Reagan National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-
375), the Congress enacted explicit protection for the ability
of the Judge Advocates General to give independent legal advice
to the service secretaries and service chiefs, and for the
ability of judge advocates to give such advice to commanders.
In the statement of managers accompanying that Act, the
conferees directed the Secretary of the Air Force to rescind
the above order, which violated the principles of the
Goldwater-Nichols Act by elevating the General Counsel to a
position of supremacy over Air Force legal services. The
conferees further directed the General Counsel to rescind any
operating instructions or memoranda issued in reliance upon the
Secretary's order. Neither of these has been done. Accordingly,
the committee recommends the inclusion of the present
provision.
TITLE X--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Subtitle A--Financial Matters

Transfer authority (sec. 1001)
The committee recommends a provision that would provide for
the transfer of funds authorized in division A of this Act for
unforeseen higher priority needs in accordance with normal
reprogramming procedures.
Incorporation of classified annex (sec. 1002)
The committee recommends a provision that would incorporate
the classified annex prepared by the Committee on Armed
Services into the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2006.
United States contribution to NATO common-funded budgets in fiscal year
2006 (sec. 1003)
The resolution of ratification for the Protocols to the
North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of Poland,
Hungary, and the Czech Republic contained a provision (section
3(2)(c)(ii)) requiring a specific authorization for U.S.
payments to the common-funded budgets of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) for each fiscal year, beginning in
fiscal year 1999, in which U.S. payments exceed the fiscal year
1998 total. The committee recommends a provision to authorize
the U.S. contribution to NATO common-funded budgets for fiscal
year 2006, including the use of unexpended balances from prior
years.
Reduction in certain authorizations due to savings relating to lower
inflation (sec. 1004)
The Department of Defense assumed an inflation rate of 2.1
percent in its fiscal year 2006 budget submission. However,
according to the Senate Budget Committee's report (S.Prt 109-
18, p. 10) accompanying the Senate Concurrent Resolution of the
Budget for FY 2006 (S.Con.Res. 18), the Congressional Budget
Office's estimate of inflation is 0.5 percentage points lower
than the administration's estimate for 2006. The savings
resulting from lower-than-expected inflation for fiscal year
2006 is $1.3 billion.
Authorization of supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2005 (sec.
1005)
This provision would authorize the supplemental
appropriations for fiscal year 2005 enacted in the Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on
Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005 (Public Law 109-13, as adopted
by the House of Representatives on May 5, 2005 and the Senate
on May 10, 2005).
Increase in fiscal year 2005 transfer authority (sec. 1006)
The committee recommends a provision that would increase
fiscal year 2005 transfer authority from $3.5 billion to $6.185
billion for transfers among accounts in division A of the
Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375) for unforeseen higher priority
needs in accordance with normal reprogramming procedures.
Monthly disbursement to States of state income tax voluntarily withheld
from retired or retained pay (sec. 1007)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 1045(a) of title 10, United States Code, to authorize
the service secretaries, pursuant to an agreement with any
State, to disburse state income tax on a monthly, vice
quarterly, basis that is collected from the monthly retired or
retainer pay of any service member or former service member
entitled to such pay who voluntarily requests such withholding.
Reestablishment of limitation on payment of facilities charges assessed
by Department of State (sec. 1008)
The committee recommends a provision that would permit the
Secretary of Defense to offset, on an annual basis, any fees
charged to the Department of Defense by the Department of State
for the maintenance, upgrade, or construction of U.S.
diplomatic facilities by the total amount of the unreimbursed
costs incurred by the Department of Defense for providing goods
and services to the Department of State during that year.
While the committee recognizes the need to upgrade and
construct new diplomatic facilities, the committee opposes the
use of the capital cost sharing program as a means of
accomplishing this goal. The capital cost sharing program does
not take into account the substantial amount of goods and
services that the Department of Defense provides to the
Department of State at no cost. The committee urges the
administration to request sufficient funds in future year
budget requests to provide for the costs of upgrading or
constructing U.S. diplomatic facilities.

Subtitle B--Naval Vessels and Shipyards

Transfer of battleship (sec. 1021)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Secretary of the Navy to strike the U.S.S. Wisconsin from
the Naval Register, and transfer it by gift or otherwise,
provided that the transferee locate the ship in the
Commonwealth of Virginia. The provision would also stipulate
that any costs associated with the transfer will be borne by
the transferee, notwithstanding section 7306b(d) of title 10,
United States Code.
The committee notes that the U.S.S. Wisconsin is currently
berthed in the Commonwealth of Virginia, where it is open to
the general public for tours. The committee expects the
Secretary to ensure that any group who accepts transfer will
use it to promote the traditions of the Navy.
Conveyance of Navy Drydock, Jacksonville, Florida (sec. 1022)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Secretary of the Navy to convey all right, title, and
interest of the United States in and to Navy Drydock No. AFDM-7
(the Sustain) to Atlantic Marine Property Holding Company,
located in Duval County, Florida.
The provision would include the condition that the drydock
remain at the facilities of the Atlantic Marine Property
Holding Company until September 30, 2010. The provision would
also require the Atlantic Marine Property Holding Company to
pay an amount determined by the Secretary to be the fair market
value of the drydock. The provision would also authorize the
Secretary to require any additional terms and conditions
determined appropriate to protect the interests of the United
States.

Subtitle C--Counterdrug Matters

Use of unmanned aerial vehicles for United States border reconnaissance
(sec. 1031)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
chapter 18 of title 10, United States Code, to authorize the
Secretary of Defense to use Department of Defense personnel and
equipment to conduct aerial reconnaissance within the area of
responsibility of the U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) with
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in order to conduct certain
operations. These operations would be to detect, monitor, and
communicate on the movement of air and sea traffic along the
U.S. border and on surface traffic that is outside of the
geographic boundary of the United States or up to 25 miles
inside the border of the United States, if that traffic was
detected outside the boundary of the United States.
The provision would specify that the purposes of this
aerial reconnaissance would be to detect and monitor suspicious
air, sea, and surface traffic; and to communicate information
on such traffic to appropriate federal, state, and local law
enforcement officials. The provision would make funds available
to the Department of Defense for counterdrug activities
available for the other activities authorized by this
provision.
The provision would stipulate that any limitations and
restrictions under chapter 18, title 10, United States Code,
would apply with respect to the use of personnel, equipment,
and facilities. The provision would define the term
``suspicious air, sea, and surface traffic'' as that which is
suspected of illegal activities, including activities that
would constitute a violation of any provision of law in section
374(b)(4)(A) of title 10, United States Code. The provision
would define state law enforcement officials as including
authorized members of the National Guard, operating under
authority of title 32, United States Code. The provision would
require an annual report from the Secretary of Defense to the
congressional defense committees that would describe the UAV
operations conducted under the authority of this provision for
the previous year.
The committee understands that the Department of Homeland
Security has initiated its own efforts to use UAVs to patrol
the borders of the United States. The authorization for the
Department of Defense to engage in similar activities should
complement, not replace, these efforts by civil authorities to
develop their own aerial reconnaissance capabilities. The
committee urges the Department of Defense to provide technical
and other assistance to the Department of Homeland Security so
that the civil agencies with the primary responsibility for
border enforcement will have the robust capabilities necessary
to detect, track, investigate, and apprehend illicit cross-
border traffic.
At a hearing of the Committee on Armed Services on March
15, 2005, the Commander, NORTHCOM, who is the combatant
commander charged with the defense of the continental United
States, stated that he would investigate the potential for UAVs
to support the homeland security mission along the borders. The
authority provided by this provision would enable NORTHCOM to
more actively participate in defense of U.S. borders,
communicating information to trained military National
Guardsman and other law enforcement officials who can actively
engage those who might want to render harm to the United
States.
Use of counterdrug funds for certain counterterrorism operations (sec.
1032)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Department of Defense to utilize funds available for drug
interdiction and counterdrug activities in fiscal years 2006
and 2007, as well as for the related detection, monitoring, and
interdiction of terrorists, terrorism-related activities, and
other related transnational threats on the borders and within
the territorial waters of the United States. The committee
believes that many narcotics trafficking activities are related
to the financing of terrorist activities and may also include
the illegal infiltration of criminal and terrorist elements
into the United States. The committee believes that the
Department of Defense can make significant contributions to the
efforts of the Department of Homeland Security and related
national, regional, and local law enforcement agencies to
enhance the security of U.S. borders and territorial waters.
Support for counterdrug activities through bases of operation and
training facilities in Afghanistan (sec. 1033)
The committee recommends a provision that would clarify
section 1004 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 1991 (Public Law 101-510), as amended, expressly
authorizing the Secretary of Defense to permit the use of U.S.
bases of operation or training facilities to facilitate the
conduct of counterdrug activities in Afghanistan, including
support for counterdrug related Afghan criminal justice
activities. The committee understands that an effective Afghan
legal structure is an essential aspect of a meaningful Afghan
counterdrug strategy and supports the request of the Department
of Defense to provide assistance in all aspects of counterdrug
activities in Afghanistan, including detection, interdiction,
and related criminal justice activities.

Subtitle D--Reports and Studies

Modification of frequency of submittal of Joint Warfighting Science and
Technology Plan (sec. 1041)
The committee recommends a provision that would permit the
Secretary of Defense to submit the Joint Warfighting Science
and Technology Plan to Congress every two years, rather than
annually. The comprehensive plan provides key guidance for
development of responsive science and technology priorities and
should be written to coincide with the Department of Defense's
budgeting process and major decision-making cycle.
Review and assessment of Defense Base Act insurance (sec. 1042)
The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Office of
Management and Budget, the Department of Labor, the Department
of State, and the United States Agency for International
Development, to review current and future needs, options, and
risks associated with Defense Base Act insurance.
Congress enacted the Defense Base Act (DBA), 41 U.S.C.
section 1651 et seq., in 1941 to provide workers' compensation
to employees of government contractors working at U.S. defense
bases overseas. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has
reported significant confusion among federal agencies and
contractors over the application of DBA requirements in Iraq
and other overseas locations.
The Department of Defense recently initiated a one-year
pilot contract for a single insurer to provide DBA insurance
for all Army Corps of Engineers contractors performing
overseas. While this pilot program appears to be a constructive
step, the committee believes that further guidance may be
required to ensure that DBA requirements are clearly understood
and consistently applied in a manner that provides the greatest
benefits to the federal government and its contractor employees
overseas.
Comptroller General report on corrosion prevention and mitigation
programs of the Department of Defense (sec. 1043)
The committee recommends a provision that would direct the
Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a report on
the effectiveness of the corrosion prevention and mitigation
programs of the Department of Defense. The report shall include
assessments of the following: (1) the Department's November
2004 ``Long-Term Strategy to Reduce Corrosion and the Effects
of Corrosion on the Military Equipment and Infrastructure of
the Department of Defense''; (2) the adequacy of the funding
requested in the budget proposal for fiscal year 2006 and the
adequacy of the funding programmed in the associated Future
Years Defense Program to support that strategy; (3) the
adequacy and effectiveness of the Department's organizational
structure in implementing that strategy; (4) the progress made
to date in establishing common corrosion and corrosion-related
metrics, definitions, and procedures throughout the Department;
(5) the progress made to date in establishing a baseline
estimate of the scope of the Department's corrosion problem;
(6) the extent to which the Department's strategy has been
revised to incorporate the recommendations of the October 2004
Defense Science Board report on corrosion control; (7) the
implementation of the Department's corrosion prevention and
mitigation programs during fiscal year 2006; and (8) the
Comptroller General's recommendations for addressing any
shortfalls or areas of potential improvement identified in the
course of preparing the report. The provision would require the
Comptroller General to submit the report to the congressional
defense committees not later than April 1, 2007.
Section 1067 of the Bob Stump National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-314)
required the Comptroller General (1) to monitor the
implementation of the Department's long term strategy to reduce
corrosion and the effects of corrosion on military equipment
and infrastructure and (2) to provide an assessment to Congress
on the extent to which that strategy has been implemented. The
Comptroller General's assessment was provided to the Congress
in June 2004. The committee believes that a follow-on report by
the Comptroller General on Defense Department corrosion program
management will support the committee's oversight of corrosion
awareness and prevention and the role of the Department's
Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight in departmental
planning, programming, and budgeting. The committee believes
that the Department should continue to work on efforts to
realize the large potential savings available from the
prevention and mitigation of the impact of corrosion. The
committee is concerned that the current organizational
structure of the Department's corrosion prevention and
mitigation program, and the funding requested for that program,
may not allow the Department to achieve potential savings in a
timely manner.

Subtitle E--Technical Amendments

Technical amendments relating to certain provisions of environmental
defense laws (sec. 1051)
The committee recommends a provision that would make
technical and conforming changes to the definition of
``military munitions'' in section 101 of title 10, United
States Code, and to the cross-reference to ``unexploded
ordnance'' in section 2703 of that title.

Subtitle F--Military Mail Matters

Safe delivery of mail in the military mail system (sec. 1061)
The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of Defense to promptly develop and implement a plan
to ensure that the mail within the military mail system is safe
for delivery. The plan would provide for the screening of all
mail within the military mail system in order to detect the
presence of biological, chemical or radiological weapons,
agents or pathogens, or explosive devices before the mail is
delivered to its intended recipients. The provision would
require the Secretary to include in the fiscal year 2007 budget
request and future years defense plan a description of the
amounts required in each fiscal year to carry out the plan.
The provision would also require the Secretary to submit a
report on the plan to the congressional defense committees
within 120 days of enactment of this Act. The report would
include an assessment of any deficiencies in the military mail
system with respect to safety; the plan developed pursuant to
this provision; an estimate of the time and resources required
to implement the plan; and a description of any delegation
within the Department of Defense of responsibility for ensuring
that mail within the military mail system is safe for delivery.
The provision would define mail within the military mail
system as mail that is posted through the Military Post Offices
(including Army Post Offices and Fleet Post Offices), the
Department mail centers, military Air Mail Terminals, and
military Fleet Mail Centers; any mail or package posted in the
United States that is addressed to an unspecified member of the
Armed Forces; and any official mail posted by the Department.
Mail that has been screened for safety for delivery by the U.S.
Postal Service (USPS) is excepted.
The committee believes that the Secretary must elevate the
priority of ensuring the safety of the mail within the military
mail system. Toward that end, the Department should develop
uniform standards, concepts of operation, tactics, techniques,
and procedures for screening against biological, chemical or
radiological weapons, agents or pathogens, or explosive devices
at mail centers. An example of the lack of standards or failure
to comply with established standards was illustrated in the
events surrounding the March 14, 2005, detection of anthrax in
the Pentagon Remote Delivery Facility (RDF) and a later
presumed detection of anthrax in a TRICARE mail sorting room.
In both cases, established Department protocols were either not
followed due to lack of knowledge or were ignored. Events at
both the RDF and TRICARE facility highlight the lack of uniform
standards and methods for ensuring that the Department mail is
safe for delivery. It is apparent that to ensure uniformity and
avoid errors, a standardized system must be developed that
provides a reasonable level of capability and imposes uniform
standards and methods. There are no current Department
requirements for mail centers to operate collectively, either
locally or regionally, to provide layers of defense to mitigate
risk.
The committee recognizes that there is a large number of
military mail delivery nodes and mail centers, and that
screening every piece of mail entering the system is a
challenging task. However, most mail entering the Department
system goes through centralized sorting and transfer points at
which effective monitoring can and should be implemented.
Because the USPS screens mail that it delivers, there is no
need for the Department to screen mail heading from the
Department into the USPS, or mail received through and already
screened by the USPS.
Elsewhere in this report, the committee recommends
authorizing an additional $12.0 million in Procurement and
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation funding in fiscal
year 2006 for military mail screening system development and
demonstration, and procurement of military mail screening
equipment and augmented laboratory testing capabilities. The
committee recommends these increases to ensure that resources
are available to begin implementation of the plan as soon as
possible.
Delivery of mail addressed to any service member (sec. 1062)
The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of Defense to carry out a program through which mail
and packages addressed to any American service member would be
delivered to deployed members of the Armed Forces overseas. The
provision would require the Secretary to designate appropriate
overseas addresses to serve as hubs for the receipt of such
mail, and would also require that such mail be screened to
detect the presence of biological, chemical or radiological
weapons, agents or pathogens, or explosive devices before it is
delivered to members of the Armed Forces. The provision would
require the Secretary to ensure that such mail and packages are
widely distributed on an equitable basis, and that information
is provided to the public regarding this program.
The committee's intent is to establish a program such as
that originally established in 1967. The Department of Defense
worked cooperatively to facilitate the delivery of mail
addressed to any service member until October 30, 2001, when,
in response to the anthrax attack involving U.S. postal
offices, mail to unspecified service members was suspended.
The committee believes that the generosity of the American
people in supporting American service members overseas should
be encouraged by the Department. The committee acknowledges the
growth in access to electronic communications and the
popularity of such communications with American service
members, but believes that there is no substitute for a letter
or package from home, especially for a service member who may
not otherwise receive such communication.
The committee is mindful of the importance of ensuring the
safe delivery of mail in the military mail system. Elsewhere in
this report, the committee recommends a provision that would
require the Secretary to promptly develop and implement a plan
to ensure that all mail within the military mail system,
including mail and packages addressed to unspecified members of
the Armed Forces, is screened for the presence of biological,
chemical or radiological weapons, agents or pathogens, or
explosive devices to ensure that it is safe for delivery.

Subtitle G--Other Matters

Policy on role of military medical and behavioral science personnel in
interrogation of detainees (sec. 1071)
The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of Defense to establish a uniform policy on the role
of military medical and behavioral science personnel in
interrogation of persons detained by the Armed Forces. The
committee expects that in the development of the policy, the
Department of Defense will seek the views of medical and
behavioral health experts outside of the Department, including
medical and behavioral science personnel, physicians, nurses,
and psychologists; and scholars in medical ethics--scholars
with civilian backgrounds.
The committee is aware that the Assistant Secretary of
Defense (Health Affairs) has directed a policy review of the
role of medical personnel in detainee operations, including
humane medical treatment of detainees, reporting of alleged
abuses, and maintenance of medical records. In addition, the
committee is aware that the Surgeon General of the Army has
directed an assessment of the role of medical personnel in
detainee operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The committee is
concerned that the February 2005 report of Vice Admiral Albert
T. Church, III, on Department of Defense detention operations,
found that ``since neither the Geneva Conventions nor U. S.
military medical doctrine specifically address the issue of
behavioral science personnel assisting interrogators in
developing interrogation strategies, this practice has evolved
in an ad hoc manner.'' The committee concurs with the need for
clarity on the role and status of medical personnel in
interrogations, and believes that the Secretary should promptly
address this issue.
Clarification of authority to issue security regulations and orders
under Internal Security Act of 1950 (sec. 1072)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 21(a) of the Internal Security Act of 1950 (Public Law
81-831; 50 U.S.C. 797(a)) to authorize delegation of the
authority to issue security regulations to civilian or military
directors. The statute presently authorizes the Secretary of
Defense to issue such regulations, as well as any military
commander designated by the Secretary. The growth of defense
agencies and field activities in the past 50 years has resulted
in more installations and entities being headed by civilians or
by military personnel who are not ``commanders'' in the formal
sense. The provision would update the statute to recognize this
change in organizational structure and enable the Secretary to
designate either military commanders or military or civilian
directors, as appropriate, to issue these essential
regulations.

Items of Special Interest

Strategic seaports
In a statement for a hearing of the Subcommittee on
Seapower of the Committee on Armed Services, the Commander,
Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), stated that 95 percent of
all material for Operation Iraqi Freedom was shipped by sea.
This high volume of shipment by sea is consistent with past
conflicts. The Mobility Capabilities Study has not yet been
received by Congress, but is expected to address the role of
TRANSCOM as the distribution process owner for the Department.
A vital part of this distribution is the movement of goods and
materials to ports of embarkation. The committee is concerned
that certain ongoing processes within the Department may change
the current requirements at these strategic seaports. The
Quadrennial Defense Review could lead to changes in force
structure. Both the Integrated Global Presence and Basing
Strategy and the Base Realignment and Closure process could
realign where personnel and equipment will be located.
The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to deliver a
report to the congressional defense committees by September 30,
2006, that includes an examination of projected requirements
for throughput at strategic seaports, and any improvements
required for rail facilities and port facilities and any other
infrastructure necessary to achieve the required throughput.
TITLE XI--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CIVILIAN PERSONNEL POLICY

Extension of authority for voluntary separations in reductions in force
(sec. 1101)
The committee recommends a provision that would extend
until September 30, 2010, the authorities contained in section
3502(f) of title 5, United States Code, which govern the order
of retention of civilian personnel in a reduction in force.
This extension is necessary as the Department of Defense
prepares for 2005 Base Realignment and Closure.
Compensatory time off for certain nonappropriated fund employees (sec.
1102)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Secretary of Defense to grant nonappropriated fund
employees time off instead of overtime pay for overtime work,
if requested by the employee.
The provision makes available to nonappropriated fund
employees the same compensatory time off allowance available to
other employees as contained in section 5543 of title 5, United
States Code.
Extension of authority to pay severance payments in lump sums (sec.
1103)
The committee recommends a provision that would extend
until October 1, 2010, the authority contained in section
5595(i)(4) of title 5, United States Code, for the Secretary of
Defense or the secretary of the military department concerned
to pay the entire amount of an employee's severance pay in one
lump sum.
This provision is necessary to support force shaping and as
the Department of Defense prepares for 2005 Base Realignment
and Closure.
Continuation of Federal Employee Health Benefits program eligibility
(sec. 1104)
The committee recommends a provision that would extend the
requirement for the Department of Defense to pay the employer
portion of Federal Employee Health Benefit premiums for 18
months for employees involuntarily separated, or voluntarily
separated from a surplus position, due to a reduction in force.
This extension is necessary as the Department prepares for 2005
Base Realignment and Closure.
Permanent and enhanced authority for Science, Mathematics, and Research
for Transformation (SMART) defense education program (sec.
1105)
The committee recommends a provision that would modify the
Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART)
pilot program that was initiated in the Ronald W. Reagan
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public
Law 108-375). The provision would make the program permanent
and would provide additional authorities to the Department of
Defense for implementation. Under the provision, the Department
could provide fellowship as well as scholarship assistance to
individuals pursuing technical degrees critical to national
security. The provision would allow the Department to award
financial assistance directly to an individual or to an
administering entity, reducing the management burden on the
Department. The provision would modify Section 1105 of the
Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375) to permit the Department to hire
individuals participating in the program, which would expedite
security clearances and other personnel processes.
The provision modifies the service requirement to include
post-graduation time served in an interim position for up to
two years as part of the individual's payback to the
Department. Finally, the provision clarifies commitments of all
program participants to repay the Department for financial
assistance, if they voluntarily choose to drop out of the
program, if they fail to maintain satisfactory academic
progress, or if they are dropped from the program due to
misconduct.
The committee established the SMART pilot scholarship
program in fiscal year 2005 to address growing deficiencies in
the numbers and types of scientists and engineers comprising
our national security workforce. The committee commends the
Department for quickly implementing the pilot program and notes
that, in just the first year, hundreds of qualified individuals
submitted applications for approximately 30 available
scholarships. A permanent SMART program would maintain the
committee's original goal of providing targeted educational
assistance to individuals seeking a baccalaureate or an
advanced degree in science and engineering disciplines deemed
critical to national security by the Department.
The committee continues to believe that future U.S.
technical dominance relies on a rapid, well-managed infusion of
defense science and engineering personnel who are experts in
21st century defense-related critical skills. The committee
authorizes the Department's budget request of $10.3 million for
the SMART defense education program for fiscal year 2006, which
would more than double the number of scholarships and
fellowships available for the next school year.

Items of Special Interest

Comptroller General report on policy concerning Department of Defense
civilians deployed in support of contingency operations

The committee understands that the Department of Defense is
increasingly reliant on civilian employees who volunteer to
serve in a theater of operation in support of military
contingencies. The committee recognizes that guidelines and
procedures have been established by the Department of Defense,
applicable to civilians, covering roles, responsibilities, pay,
compensation, and support in the event of injury or death. The
committee believes that a review of current policy, procedures,
and guidelines regarding civilian employees serving in support
of contingency operations is warranted.
The committee directs the Comptroller General to conduct a
review of Department policies concerning deployment of civilian
employees in support of contingency operations. The review
should include:
(1) an examination of compliance by Department of
Defense components with department-wide policies on
deployment of civilian employees to Iraq and
Afghanistan;
(2) examination of lessons learned from those
deployments regarding deployment of Department civilian
personnel;
(3) a comparison of mission, roles, and compensation
for Department civilian personnel with those for
military personnel; and
(4) such recommendations as the Comptroller General
concludes are appropriate regarding policies and
benefits for Department civilian employees serving in
support of contingency operations.
The committee directs the Comptroller General to deliver
the required review to the congressional defense committees by
March 1, 2006.
TITLE XII--MATTERS RELATING TO OTHER NATIONS

Commanders' Emergency Response Program (sec. 1201)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Secretary of Defense to use up to $500.0 million in
operations and maintenance funding in each of fiscal years 2006
and 2007 for the Commanders' Emergency Response Program (CERP),
under which commanders in Iraq receive funds for use in small
humanitarian and reconstruction projects in their areas of
responsibility, and for a similar program in Afghanistan. The
provision would require the Secretary to provide quarterly
reports to the congressional defense committees on the source,
allocation, and use of funds pursuant to this authority. The
committee expects the quarterly reports to include detailed
information regarding the amount of funds spent, the recipients
of the funds, and the specific purposes for which the funds
were used.
The committee directs that funds made available pursuant to
this authority be used in a manner consistent with the CERP
guidance that the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
issued in a memorandum dated February 18, 2005. This guidance
directs that CERP funds be used to assist the Iraqi and Afghan
people in the following representative areas: water and
sanitation; food production and distribution; agriculture;
electricity; healthcare; education; telecommunications;
economic, financial and management improvements;
transportation; irrigation; rule of law and governance; civic
cleanup activities; civic support vehicles; repair of civic and
cultural facilities; and other urgent humanitarian or
reconstruction projects.
The committee notes that the Ronald W. Reagan National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-
375) required the Secretary to submit a report within 120 days
of enactment to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate
and the House of Representatives identifying all provisions of
law that, if not waived, would prohibit, restrict, limit, or
otherwise constrain implementation of the CERP program in Iraq
and Afghanistan. The committee has not yet received that report
and directs that it be provided expeditiously.
Enhancement and expansion of authority to provide humanitarian and
civic assistance (sec. 1202)
The committee recommends a provision that would expand the
current authority of the Secretary of Defense to provide
humanitarian and civic assistance in conjunction with military
operations to include: (1) an increase to $10.0 million in
funding that may be used to conduct detection and clearance of
landmines and other unexploded remnants of war; (2) authority
to restore or develop the capacity of the host nation's
information and communications infrastructure as necessary to
provide basic information and communications services; and (3)
authority to provide training, education, and technical
assistance related to medical, dental, and veterinary care that
is provided as part of humanitarian and civic assistance.
The provision would acknowledge that restoration or
development of basic information and communications capacity
should be considered a fundamental element of humanitarian and
civic assistance, and that a functioning information and
communications infrastructure is vital to the successful
conduct of humanitarian missions. The provision would also
acknowledge that medical, dental, and veterinary care provided
to the host nation can be sustained and enhanced by the
provision of related education, training, and technical
assistance. Finally, the provision would recognize that the
cost of equipment for the detection and clearance of landmines
continues to increase, and that funding to support such
activities must be periodically adjusted.
Modification of geographic limitation on payment of personnel expenses
under bilateral or regional cooperation programs (sec. 1203)
The committee recommends a provision that would provide
flexibility to combatant commanders to pay expenses for
personnel from developing countries, even if the personnel are
from a developing country that is not located within a
combatant commander's area of responsibility.
Payment of travel expenses of coalition liaison officers (sec. 1204)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 1051a, title 10, United States Code, to authorize the
Secretary of Defense to pay the travel expenses of certain
foreign military officers assigned to U.S. combatant commands,
component commands, or subordinate operational commands, when
that travel is directed by the U.S. commander of such command
in support of U.S. national interests. Additionally, the
provision would extend the authority to provide administrative
and fiscal support to coalition liaison officers through fiscal
year 2009.
The committee acknowledges that contemporary military
operations are almost always conducted in conjunction with
allied nations and that foreign military officers increasingly
play critical planning and operational roles within U.S.
military headquarters. The committee believes that providing
reasonable fiscal support to certain foreign military officers
to facilitate U.S. and coalition military operations is
warranted and appropriate.
TITLE XIII--COOPERATIVE THREAT REDUCTION WITH STATES OF THE FORMER
SOVIET UNION

Specification of Cooperative Threat Reduction programs and funds (sec.
1301)
The committee recommends a provision that would define the
Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) programs; define the funds
as those authorized to be appropriated in section 301 of this
Act; and authorize the CTR funds to be available for obligation
for three fiscal years.

Funding allocations (sec. 1302)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
$415.5 million, the amount included in the budget request, for
the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) program. This provision
would also authorize specific amounts for each CTR program
element; require notification to Congress 30 days before the
Secretary of Defense obligates and expends fiscal year 2006
funds for a purpose other than the purposes described in each
of the CTR program elements; and provide limited authority to
exceed the amount authorized for a specific CTR program
element.

Permanent waiver of restrictions on use of funds for threat reduction
in states of the former Soviet Union (sec. 1303)

The committee recommends a provision that would make
permanent the President's authority to waive, on an annual
basis, restrictions and eligibility requirements under the
Cooperative Threat Reduction Act of 1993 (22 U.S.C. 5952) and
section 502 of the Freedom Support Act (22 U.S.C. 5852). The
President's current authority to waive these restrictions and
requirements will expire on September 30, 2005. This provision
would retain the requirements under the previous authority
that, for any year in which a waiver is exercised, the
President must submit a written certification to Congress that
the waiver is important to the national security interests of
the United States and a report. The report should explain: why
a state does not satisfy the eligibility requirements; why a
waiver is in the U.S. national security interests; and what the
President's strategy is for promoting the commitment of that
state to meeting the eligibility requirements for Cooperative
Threat Reduction and Freedom Support Act assistance.

Modification of authority to use Cooperative Threat Reduction funds
outside the former Soviet Union (sec. 1304)

The committee recommends a provision that would modify the
authority of the Department of Defense to use Cooperative
Threat Reduction (CTR) funds outside the former Soviet Union by
changing the existing requirement for a presidential
determination and certification to a requirement for a
determination and certification made by the Secretary of
Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State. The
provision would require the Secretary of Defense to notify the
congressional defense committees not later than 15 days before
obligating CTR funds pursuant to this authority.
The committee recommends this provision in order to
increase the flexibility of the Department of Defense to
respond quickly to an urgent new requirement for using CTR
funds in an important nonproliferation project or activity
outside of the former Soviet Union.
The committee believes that CTR funds should continue to be
used primarily for the purpose of reducing weapons of mass
destruction and proliferation threats from the states of the
former Soviet Union. However, the committee supports the use of
CTR funds outside of the former Soviet Union in order to
address a specific, unanticipated and urgent threat, such as
the recent use of this authority to assist in the destruction
of newly discovered chemical weapons stocks in Albania. The
committee expects that should a project or activity initiated
pursuant to this authority require additional funding in future
years, that specific project or activity would be budgeted for
and would appear as a separate CTR program element in the
President's budget request for future fiscal years.
The committee is supportive of the President's
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and urges the
Department to establish a separate funding line for that
purpose, should it be required. The committee does not believe
that PSI activities in states outside of the former Soviet
Union should be funded with CTR funds as a routine matter.

Repeal of requirement for annual Comptroller General assessment of
annual Department of Defense report on
activities and assistance under Cooperative Threat Reduction
programs (sec. 1305)

The committee recommends a provision that would repeal the
requirement for the Comptroller General to provide to Congress
an assessment of the annual Department of Defense report to
Congress on the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) programs.
The committee has been satisfied with the thoroughness of the
Department annual reports on the CTR programs over the past
several years. The annual assessments from the Comptroller
General have confirmed that the Department annual reports have
been comprehensive and accurate, and have met the requirements
of the legislation mandating their submission to Congress.
Therefore, the committee believes there is no reason to
maintain the requirement for a Comptroller General assessment
of the annual Department reports to Congress on the CTR
programs.
TITLE XIV--AUTHORIZATION FOR SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR IRAQ,
AFGHANISTAN, AND THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM

Overview
The committee recommends a supplemental authorization of
$50.0 billion in funds to be appropriated for fiscal year 2006
to support operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the global war
on terrorism. The committee notes that H. Con. Res. 95 of the
109th Congress, establishing the congressional budget for the
Government for fiscal year 2006 and setting forth budgetary
levels for fiscal year 2005 and 2007 through 2010, included
$50.0 billion for fiscal year 2006 in anticipation of
additional needs in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the global war on
terrorism. Providing authorization of these funds in advance of
need ensures our troops in the field will be given adequate
resources to meet ongoing demands of current military
operations and any emergent needs of the ongoing global war on
terrorism.
Summary table of authorization
The following table summarizes authorizations included in
this title for ongoing operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the
global war on terrorism for fiscal year 2006.

Purpose (sec. 1401)
This section would establish this title as an authorization
of appropriations for the Department of Defense for fiscal year
2006, in addition to the amounts otherwise authorized in this
Act $50.0 billion to be available for activities in support of
operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the global war on
terrorism.
Designation as emergency amounts (sec. 1402)
This section designates the authorization of appropriations
in this title as an emergency requirement in accordance with H.
Con. Res. 95 of the 109th Congress.
Army procurement (sec. 1403)
This section would authorize an additional $369.8 million
for fiscal year 2006 Army procurement.
Of these funds, the committee recommends $120.0 million be
provided to acquire additional up armored high (UAH) mobility
multipurpose wheeled vehicles, wheeled vehicle add-on armor
protection, or M1151/M1152 high mobility multipurpose wheeled
vehicles (HMMWV), if the requirement for such vehicles is
identified by a combatant commander and validated by the
Secretary of the Army. The committee understands that the
M1151/M1152 HMMWV is an improved version of the standard HMMWV.
The M1151/M1152 HMMWV has a heavier chassis and improved engine
that enable the use of removable add-on armor protection that
provides the Army greater flexibility when deploying units.
M1151/M1152 provides the same level of protection as an UAH.
Providing armored vehicles to our Armed Forces deployed in
contingency operations has been an issue of great concern to
this committee for the past two years. While the committee
acknowledges that there were problems in rapidly supplying UAH
and add-on armor for Army and Marine Corps tactical wheeled
vehicles when the insurgency began in Iraq in the fall of 2003,
the committee also commends the Department of Defense for
taking aggressive steps to satisfy the evolving force
protection requirements of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
The Congress also responded quickly to the force protection
requirements of CENTCOM. From fiscal year 2003 to fiscal year
2005, the Congress added $1.9 billion to the President's
requests to increase UAH production and almost $1.6 billion to
increase the production of add-on armor protection for tactical
wheeled vehicles for the Army and Marine Corps. In the
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the
Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief Act, 2005 (H.R. 1268,
as adopted by the House of Representatives on May 5, 2005 and
the Senate on May 10, 2005), the Congress added $150.0 million
for up-armored HMMWVs and $610.9 million for add-on armor for
tactical wheeled vehicles. With this funding, all current
CENTCOM UAH and add-on armor requirements will be addressed.
The committee understands that UAH and add-on armor
requirements are continuously under review. If the Commander,
U.S. CENTCOM should submit an urgent needs statement for
additional UAH or add-on armor, the committee believes that the
Secretary should have funds immediately available to address
that requirement. The committee recommends an increase of
$120.0 million in Other Procurement, Army, to provide the
Secretary with the flexibility to immediately address any
additional CENTCOM requirements for armored vehicles or add-on
armor.
Navy and Marine Corps procurement (sec. 1404)
This section would authorize an additional $573.8 million
for fiscal year 2006 Navy and Marine Corps procurement.
Air Force procurement (sec. 1405)
This section would authorize an additional $156.6 million
for fiscal year 2006 Air Force procurement.
Operation and Maintenance (sec. 1406)
This section would authorize an additional $32.0 billion
for fiscal year 2006 operation and maintenance programs.
Of the additional $22.1 billion authorized for fiscal year
2006 in Operation and Maintenance, Army, the committee
recommends that $200.0 million may be utilized to obtain
linguistic support for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The committee is aware of an urgent need for additional
linguistic support to military operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan. The Commander, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), has
identified this shortfall in communications with the Department
of Defense and in testimony before the committee. The committee
urges the Department of the Army to address this urgent
requirement of the Commander, CENTCOM.
Defense Health Program (sec. 1407)
This section would authorize an additional $977.8 million
to the Defense Health Program for operation and maintenance for
fiscal year 2006.
Military personnel (sec. 1408)
This section would authorize an additional $11.6 billion
for fiscal year 2006 to the Department of Defense for military
personnel. As described elsewhere in this report, some of this
funding provides for the additional cost of increased Army and
Marine Corps personnel end strength.
Iraq Freedom Fund (sec. 1409)
This section would authorize an additional $4.3 billion for
an Iraqi Freedom Fund to be available until expended for
activities in support of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and
the global war on terrorism. These funds would be available for
transfer to other accounts in this title, subject to a 5 day
prior notification to the congressional defense committees.
Of the amounts provided in this section, not less than
$500.0 million is dedicated to the support of activities of the
Joint Improvised Explosive Device Task Force. The funding
provided for the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Task Force
would ensure the rapid development and deployment of
intelligence; tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP);
training; and the associated procurement of equipment to
counter IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The budget request included no funding for the procurement
of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) countermeasures. The
committee has closely monitored the efforts of the Department
of Defense to provide force protection capabilities to our
soldiers and Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan for countering the
threat posed by IEDs. In October 2003, the Chief of Staff of
the Army directed the formation of an IED task force to
orchestrate Army efforts to eliminate IED threats, recommend
best available responses, and direct the development and
fielding of selected solutions. In June 2004, the Commander,
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) asked the Secretary of Defense
for an integrated Department response to the IED threat. On
July 12, 2004, the Deputy Secretary of Defense approved the
establishment of an Army-led Joint IED Defeat Integrated
Process Team (IPT), which was organized around the existing
Army IED Task Force, to immediately focus all counter-IED
efforts within the Department.
The committee understands that the IPT identifies,
prioritizes, and resources materiel and non-materiel solutions
to the IED threat in a coordinated response across the services
and the Department. The IPT, augmented by Joint Service staff,
performs the counter-IED operational mission as the Joint IED
Defeat Task Force (TF).
The committee understands that the Joint IED TF has
expended much effort and funding to provide electronic
countermeasure systems for the protection of U.S. convoys in
Iraq and is working to procure thousands of additional jamming
devices. The committee also understands that the procurement of
current technology must be supplemented by the development of
new counter-IED devices and employment of innovative
techniques, tactics and procedures. The committee believes that
the Joint IED TF should have dedicated funding to facilitate
the rapid development of new technology and the rapid
deployment of current IED countermeasures.
Transfer authority (sec. 1410)
This section would provide fiscal year 2006 transfer
authority of $2.5 billion to the Department of Defense for the
authorizations contained in this title.

Budget Items

UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters
The budget request included $562.0 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Army (APA), for 41 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters,
including $61.0 million for six UH-60 Black Hack helicopters
lost in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring
Freedom (OEF). The Army has lost 13 UH-60 Black Hawk
helicopters since the onset of OIF and OEF. Using October 1,
2004 as a cutoff date, the Army requested $50.8 million in the
fiscal year 2005 supplemental budget for five UH-60 Black Hawk
helicopters lost in OIF and OEF. The committee notes that the
Army has an unfunded requirement for the replacement of two UH-
60 Black Hawk helicopters; therefore, the committee recommends
an increase of $20.3 million in APA, for two additional UH-60
Black Hawk helicopters, for a total authorization of $582.3.
UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter modifications
The budget request included $33.3 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Army (APA), for UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter
modifications, but included no funding for HH-60L Black Hawk
helicopter Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Medical Equipment
Packages (MEP). The Army has a requirement for 336 HH-60L
MEDEVAC helicopters, including 156 MEDEVAC helicopters in the
Active component and 180 MEDEVAC helicopters in the Reserve
component, but only 24 HH-60L MEDEVAC helicopters in the
inventory or scheduled for delivery in fiscal year 2005. The
committee understands that the Army is using over 300 UH-60A
Black Hawk helicopters without MEP kits to perform MEDEVAC
missions, of which 75 are currently deployed in support of
Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Given the
shortfall in MEDEVAC helicopters and the high operational
demand, the committee recommends an increase of $50.0 million
in APA, for 10 additional HH-60L MEP kits, for a total
authorization of $83.3 million.
M107 sniper rifle
The budget request included $9.7 million in Weapons and
Tracked Combat Vehicles, Army (WTCV), for the procurement of
the M-107 .50 caliber sniper rifle. The M107 sniper rifle
provides a man-portable, material destruction capability that
enables sniper teams to employ greater destructive force at
greater ranges and at a higher rate of fire that exceed the
terminal effect capability of the M24 Sniper Weapon System. The
Army has an inventory objective of 3,143 M107 sniper weapons
but only has 1,300 fielded to soldiers in support of Operations
Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Additional funding for the
M10 sniper rifle is on the Chief of Staff of the Army's
unfunded priorities list. The committee recommends an increase
of $9.3 million in WTCV, for 774 additional M107 sniper rifles,
for a total authorization of $19.0 million.
Rapid fielding initiative
The budget request included $15.4 million in Procurement of
Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles Army (WTCV), to procure
ancillary small arms equipment as part of the Rapid Fielding
Initiative (RFI), an Army program to respond quickly to
individual soldier equipment requirements and to provide
soldiers engaged in or preparing for Operation Iraqi Freedom
and other operations, with state-of-the-art individual weapons,
clothing, and equipment, including radios. Additional funding
for this initiative is on the Chief of Staff of the Army's
unfunded priorities list. The committee continues to support
this worthwhile program and remains committed to ensuring that
the individual soldier, Active and Reserve, is personally
equipped for advantage in combat and contingency operations.
The committee recommends an increase of $18.5 million in WTCV
to procure M240B medium machine gun, M249 squad automatic
weapon, and Soldier Enhancement Program ancillary equipment,
for a total authorization of $33.9 million for the RFI.
Night vision enhancements
The budget request included $247.4 million in Other
Procurement, Army (OPA), for the procurement of night vision
enhancements, including $16.6 million for the AN/PAQ-4 laser
aiming light, $42.9 million for the AN/PVS-6 Mini Eyesafe Laser
Infrared Observation Set and the Target Acquisition Laser
Observation Night (TALON) device, and $83.7 million for the
night vision thermal weapon sight (TWS). Lessons learned from
Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have shown that
night vision equipment increases survivability and lethality of
soldiers in combat and has been used for force protection
missions, convoy operations, and perimeter security missions.
Additional funding for the procurement of AN/PAQ-4 laser aiming
lights, TALONs, and TWSs has been identified on the Chief of
Staff of the Army's unfunded priorities list. The committee
recommends an increase of $117.1 million in OPA for the
procurement of 40,182 aiming lights, 712 TALONs, and 2,528
TWSs, for a total authorization of $364.5 million.
Lightweight laser designation rangefinder
The budget request included $12.7 million in Other
Procurement, Army (OPA), for the procurement of the Lightweight
Laser Designation Rangefinder (LLDR), a man-portable, modular
system designed for day and night, all weather target
acquisition. The LLDR meets a critical requirement for
precision target location and engagement for artillery fire
support teams and is in high demand in Operations Iraqi Freedom
and Enduring Freedom. Additional funding for LLDR procurement
is on the Chief of Staff of the Army's unfunded priorities
list. The committee recommends an increase of $4.6 million in
OPA for the procurement of 15 additional LLDRs, for a total
authorization of $17.3 million.
Mounted battle command on the move
The budget request included $870,000 in Other Procurement,
Army (OPA), for the Mounted Battle Command on the Move (MBCOTM)
system, which provides a battle command platform for maneuver
commanders for echelons from calvary squadron through unit of
employment. The MBTCOM will be hosted on the Bradley Fighting
Vehicle, the Stryker Command Vehicle, and the High Mobility
Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). The MBCOTM will provide
commanders with an automated tactical command post for mobile
operations, rather than relying on a fixed site command post.
The committee understands that the Army intends to field this
capability in fiscal year 2006 for units deploying to Operation
Iraqi Freedom. Additional funding for MBCOTM procurement has
been identified on the Chief of Staff of the Army's unfunded
priorities list. The committee recommends an increase of $30.0
in OPA for the procurement of 15 MBTCOM systems to be mounted
on the HMMWV, for a total authorization of $30.9 million.
The committee notes that the Marine Corps has a similar
initiative for on-the-move communications under the Control On-
The-Move Network, Digital Over the Horizon Relay program and
encourages the Army-Marine Corps Board to review these programs
for cooperative development and efficiencies.
UH-1Y helicopters
The budget request included $307.5 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Navy (APN), for the procurement of UH-1Y and AH-1Z
helicopters. There is no UH-1 manufacturing line to build
helicopters to replace UH-1N helicopters lost in Operations
Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. However, the Marine Corps
does have a program to acquire new-build UH-1Y helicopters as
replacement aircraft. The program is currently in low-rate
initial production. The Marine Corps needs to replace four
aircraft lost during current operations. The committee
recommends an increase of $74.0 million in APN for four
additional UH-1Y helicopters.
The Marine Corps needs to procure 18 sets of government
furnished equipment (GFE) to retain the UH-1N utility
helicopters until new UH-1Y helicopters are procured. Without
this funding, the operational force inventory will be reduced
by 14 UH-1Ns for 12 months until UH-1Ys can be delivered. The
committee recommends an increase of $10.8 million in APN for
UH-1 GFE.
The committee notes that the procurement of UH-1Y
helicopters and government furnished equipment are on the
Commandant of the Marine Corps' unfunded priorities list. The
committee recommends a total authorization of $392.3 million in
APN, for the procurement of UH-1Y and AH-1Z helicopters.
EA-6B ICAP III
The budget request included $120.6 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Navy (APN), for modifications to the EA-6B,
including $52.2 million for the procurement of Improved
Capabilities III (ICAP III) systems modifications.
The EA-6B is a high-demand, low-density key enabler for
joint combat operations. The ICAP III systems modification
removes over 70 aging and unreliable weapons replaceable
assemblies (WRAs). The procurement of seven additional EA-6B
ICAP III kits meets the Navy's minimum requirement for ICAP III
equipped EA-6B aircraft. Procurement of ICAP III is included on
the Chief of Naval Operations' unfunded priorities list. The
committee recommends an increase of $73.0 million in APN for
the procurement of seven additional EA-6B ICAP III kits.
Low band transmitters for EA-6B aircraft
The budget request included $120.6 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Navy (APN), for modifications to the EA-6B
aircraft, including $9.6 million for procurement of low band
transmitters. The EA-6B is a high-demand, low-density
electronic warfare aircraft that is being heavily used in the
global war on terrorism. The low band transmitter gives the EA-
6B aircraft expanded jamming capability and is more reliable
and maintainable than the current system. The procurement of
additional EA-6B aircraft low band transmitters has been
included on the Chief of Naval Operations' unfunded priorities
list. The committee recommends an increase of $16.4 million in
APN for the procurement of 11 EA-6B aircraft low band
transmitters to ensure sufficient numbers are available to
support critical global war on terrorism missions.
CH-53E Helicopter Night Vision Systems
The budget request included $14.9 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Navy, for H-3 helicopter modifications, including
$600,000 for the procurement of CH-53E Helicopter Night Vision
System (HNVS) Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) kits. The
committee notes that, currently, the Marine Corps has 71 FLIRs
to share among 148 aircraft, with 26 on contract to be
delivered in fiscal years 2005 and 2006. Another 51 aircraft
have FLIR installation provisions, but do not have FLIR turrets
to install. The HNVS FLIR improves the CH-53's ability to
operate in night operations in the austere mountainous and
desert terrain typical of the U.S. Central Command area of
operations. Additional funding for HNVS FLIR procurement for
the CH-53 helicopter is on the Commandant of the Marine Corps'
unfunded priorities list. The committee recommends an increase
of $9.6 million in APN for the procurement of 16 additional
HNVS FLIRs, for a total authorization of $24.5 million.
Hellfire missiles
The budget request included no funds in Weapons
Procurement, Navy (WPN) for the procurement of AGM-114 Hellfire
missiles. The Hellfire is a laser-guided missile primarily
employed against point targets by Navy and Marine Corps rotary
wing aircraft. Total Navy and Marine Corps use of the two
variants of Hellfire in the global war on terrorism exceeds 900
missiles. The Navy's intent was to replace its inventory of
these missiles with the Joint Common Missile, but this program
has recently been terminated by the Department of Defense, and
there is a projected inventory shortage of AGM-114 Hellfire
missiles for the Marine Corps. Additional funding for Hellfire
is included on the Chief of Naval Operations' unfunded
priorities list. The committee recommends an increase of $122.0
million in WPN for the procurement of Hellfire missiles.
Small arms
The budget request included $22.6 million in Weapons
Procurement, Navy (WPN) for the initial procurement,
modernization, standardization, and stock replenishment of a
wide variety of small arms and weapons. Fleet and joint force
protection requirements have expanded as a result of the global
war on terrorism. Explosive ordnance disposal teams and naval
coastal warfare units, in particular, need small arms for their
own protection. Additional funding for small arms has been
included on the Chief of Naval Operations' unfunded priorities
list. The committee recommends an increase of $36.8 million in
WPN for the procurement of small arms.
Pioneer tactical unmanned aerial vehicle
The budget request included $1.9 million in Weapons
Procurement, Navy (WPN) for modernization efforts for the
Pioneer tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (TUAV). The Pioneer
TUAV provides near real-time reconnaissance, surveillance,
target acquisition, combat assessment, and battlefield
management within line-of-sight of a ground control station.
The Pioneer TUAV is being heavily used in Operation Iraqi
Freedom. Additional funding for 12 Pioneer engines and
avionics, due to its high usage rates, has been requested on
the Chief of Naval Operations' and the Commandant of the Marine
Corps' unfunded priorities list. The committee recommends an
increase of $6.7 million in WPN for the procurement of engines
and avionics for the Pioneer TUAV.
Dual mode laser guided training bombs
The budget request included $24.6 million in Procurement of
Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps (PANMC), for dual mode laser
guided training bombs. The committee notes that the dual mode
laser guided training bomb improves the use of laser guided
bombs (LGBs) in combat. The training bomb provides actual
hardware for aircrews and tactics development at a reduced cost
while maintaining inventories of LGBs. The committee recommends
an increase of $2.0 million in PANMC for dual mode laser guided
training practice bombs.
Small arms and landing party ammunition
The budget request included $35.6 million in Procurement of
Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps (PANMC), for small arms and
landing party ammunition. The committee notes that small arms
training requirements for force protection, homeland defense,
maritime interdiction operations, and security force operations
have increased by 50 percent since the commencement of the
global war on terrorism. Additional funding for small arms and
landing party ammunition has been identified on the Chief of
Naval Operations unfunded priorities list. The committee
recommends an increase of $16.0 million in PANMC for small arms
and landing party ammunition.
M80/M62 7.62mm cartridge
The budget request included $7.9 million in Procurement of
Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps (PANMC), for the Cartridge
M80 7.62mm four-ball cartridge and one tracer M62 linked.
According to Marine Corps officials, this munition is currently
experiencing an extremely high rate of use in operations in
support of the global war on terrorism. Additional funding for
the Cartridge M80 7.62mm four-ball cartridge and one tracer M62
linked has been identified on the Commandant of the Marine
Corps unfunded priorities list. The committee recommends an
increase in PANMC of $1.5 million for the M80 7.62mm four-ball
cartridge and one tracer M62 linked.
.50 caliber linked armor piercing cartridge with tracer
The budget request included $28.0 million in Procurement of
Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps (PANMC), for the .50 caliber
linked armor piercing cartridge with tracer. Additional funding
for the .50 caliber linked armor piercing cartridge with tracer
has been identified on the Commandant of the Marine Corps
unfunded priorities list. Marine Corps officials also note that
this munition is currently experiencing an extremely high rate
of use in support of the global war on terrorism. The committee
recommends an increase of $13.0 million in PANMC for the .50
caliber linked armor piercing cartridge with tracer.
M430 40mm high explosive dual purpose
The budget request included $40.7 million in Procurement of
Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps (PANMC), for the M430 40mm
high explosive dual purpose cartridge. According to Marine
Corps officials, this munition is currently experiencing an
extremely high rate of use in support of the global war on
terrorism. Additional funding for the M430 40mm high explosive
dual purpose cartridge has been identified on the Commandant of
the Marine Corps unfunded priorities list. The committee
recommends an increase of $30.0 million in PANMC for the M430
40mm high explosive dual purpose cartridge.
M830A1 120mm high explosive with tracer cartridge
The budget request included no funding in Procurement of
Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps (PANMC), for the M830A1 120mm
high explosive with tracer cartridge. According to Marine Corps
officials, this munition is extremely effective against
buildings, bunkers, and light armored vehicles and experienced
an extremely high usage rate in Operations Iraqi Freedom and
Enduring Freedom. Additional funding for the M830A1 120mm high
explosive with tracer cartridge has been identified on the
Commandant of the Marine Corps unfunded priorities list in
order to replenish deleted stocks and ensure proper munitions
inventory. The committee recommends an increase of $10.0
million in PANMC for the M830A1 120mm high explosive with
tracer cartridge.
XM1028 120mm tank cartridge
The budget request included no funding in Procurement of
Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps (PANMC), for the XM1028 120mm
tank cartridge. The committee notes the utility of the XM1028
120mm canister round in improving the M1A1 Main Battle Tank's
urban warfare capability, improving its survivability against
massed assaulting infantry with hand held anti-tank and
automatic weapons. Additional funding for the XM1028 120mm tank
cartridge has been identified on the Commandant of the Marine
Corps unfunded priorities list. The committee recommends an
increase of $3.0 million in PANMC for the XM1028 120mm tank
cartridge in support of the Marine Corps' total munition
requirement.
M72A7 66mm high explosive rocket
The budget request included no funding in Procurement of
Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps (PANMC), for the M72A7 66mm
high explosive rocket. According to Marine Corps officials,
this munition was recently identified as an urgent requirement
in support of the global war on terrorism. Additional funding
for the M72A7 66mm high explosive rocket has been identified on
the Commandant of the Marine Corps unfunded priorities list.
The committee recommends an increase of $11.0 million in PANMC
for the M72A7 66mm high explosive rocket.
MK154 non-electric detonator
The budget request included no funding in Procurement of
Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps (PANMC), for the MK154 non-
electric detonator. The committee notes that the budget request
procures only 4 percent of the approved acquisition objective
(AAO) of the MK154 non-electric detonator. The committee
believes that constrained procurement of the MK 154 non-
electric detonator can be problematic given the usage rates in
support of the global war on terrorism. Additional funding for
the MK154 non-electric detonator has been identified on the
Commandant of the Marine Corps unfunded priorities list in
order to increase procurement toward the AAO and ensure proper
munitions inventory. The committee recommends an increase of
$10.0 million in PANMC for the MK154 non-electric detonator.
M762A1 electronic time fuze
The budget request included no funding in Procurement of
Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps (PANMC), for the M762A1
electronic time fuze. The committee notes that the M762A1 is
replacing less capable fuzes in the inventory. Additional
funding for the M762A1 electronic time fuze has been identified
on the Commandant of the Marine Corps unfunded priorities list.
The committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PANMC
for the M762A1 electronic time fuze.
M782 multi-option fuze for artillery
The budget request included $2.2 million in Procurement of
Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps (PANMC), for the M782 multi-
option fuze for artillery. The committee notes that the M782
multi-option fuze for artillery is the replacement for five
different types of fuzes in the current Marine Corps inventory.
Additional funding for the M782 multi-option fuze for artillery
has been identified on the Commandant of the Marine Corps
unfunded priorities list. The committee recommends an increase
of $6.0 million in PANMC for the M782 multi-option fuze for
artillery.
Explosive ordnance disposal equipment allowance for naval coastal
warfare units
The budget request included $28.4 million in Other
Procurement, Navy (OPN) for explosive ordnance disposal
equipment. Naval coastal warfare (NCW) units are being heavily
used in the global war on terrorism, with NCW mobile inshore
undersea warfare units providing the security for the oil
platforms in much of the U.S. Central Command's area of
responsibility. These units have certain explosive ordnance
disposal equipment shortages, including cargo trucks,
generators, forklifts, and water trailers. Additional funding
for this equipment has been requested on the Chief of Naval
Operations' unfunded priorities list. The committee recommends
an increase of $7.0 million in OPN for explosive ordnance
disposal equipment for naval coastal warfare units.
Amphibious equipment allowance for naval coastal warfare units
The budget request included $149.7 million in Other
Procurement, Navy (OPN) for amphibious equipment. Naval coastal
warfare (NCW) units are being heavily used in the global war on
terrorism, with NCW mobile inshore undersea warfare units
providing the security for the oil platforms in much of the
U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility. These units have
identified shortages of cargo trucks, generators, forklifts,
and water trailers. Additional funding for this equipment has
been included on the Chief of Naval Operations' unfunded
priorities list. The committee recommends an increase of $8.3
million in OPN for amphibious equipment for naval coastal
warfare units.
Equipment and trainer for maritime interdiction operations
The budget request included $60.8 million for command
support equipment in Other Procurement, Navy (OPN). A key
mission for the Navy in the global war on terrorism has been to
conduct maritime interdiction operations (MIO), where naval
teams visit, board, and search vessels, some of which are non-
compliant. Additional funding is required to improve the MIO
teams' abilities to protect themselves from terrorist-related
threats. Additional funding for the necessary weapons, body
armor, helmets, communications gear, breaching and boarding
equipment, and medical supplies has been requested on the Chief
of Naval Operations' unfunded priorities list. The Chief of
Naval Operations' unfunded priorities list also requests
additional funding for a visit, board, search and seizure
trainer (VBSST) at the Navy Center for Anti-terrorism. The
committee recommends an increase of $4.3 million in OPN for the
procurement of the necessary MIO equipment, and an increase of
$11.2 million in OPN for the procurement of the VBSTT.
High mobility artillery rocket system
The budget request included $176.8 million in Procurement,
Marine Corps (PMC), for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket
System (HIMARS). HIMARS provides Marine forces immediate,
precision fires with its 24 hour, all weather long-range
precision strike capability. The committee understands that
with additional funding the Marine Corps could accelerate the
fielding of a guided munitions capability, by procuring Guided
Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets. GMLRS rockets
are the tactical munitions for HIMARS. With these rockets, the
Marine Corps could accelerate HIMARS fielding within 18 months
to support the global war on terrorism, particularly Operation
Iraqi Freedom. Additional funding for procurement of GMLRS
rockets is on the Commandant of the Marine Corps' unfunded
priorities list. The committee recommends an increase of $54.4
million in PMC, for the procurement of 480 GMLRS rockets, for a
total authorization of $231.2 million.
AN/TPS-59(V3) radar system array rebuild
The budget request included $12.2 million in Procurement,
Marine Corps (PMC), for radar systems, including $5.6 million
for the rebuild of one AN/TPS-59(V3) radar system array. The
AN/TPS-59 radar is a critical low-density item being used
extensively in current global war on terror operations. The AN/
TPS-59(V)3 radar system is the only long-range, three-
dimensional surveillance radar in the Marine Corps inventory.
The high ops tempo and harsh environmental conditions of
Operation Iraqi Freedom have caused antennas to degrade and
require additional maintenance. The Marine Corps requested
funding to rebuild one AN/TPS-59(V3) radar in fiscal year 2005,
but the requirement remains unfunded. The committee believes
that rebuilding two AN/TPS-59(V3) radars will allow the Marine
Corps to maintain the reliability, availability, and
maintainability of the radar. Additional funding for the
rebuild of one additional AN/TPS-59(V3) is on the Commandant of
the Marine Corps' unfunded priorities list. The committee
recommends an increase of $7.5 million in PMC, for the AN/TPS-
59(V3) radar system, for a total authorization of $19.7
million.
Enhanced position location reporting system
The budget request included $29.0 million in Procurement,
Marine Corps (PMC), for radio systems, but included no funding
for the Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS), a
tactical data radio which provides the only dedicated source of
wireless data connectivity for tactical Marine Corps units
above regimental level of command, extending to battalion and
company level headquarters. The committee understands that the
Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) was intended to fill this
capability gap, but the committee recently learned that JTRS
development will be delayed for 30 months. The committee
understands that additional funding would enable the Marine
Corps to procure EPLRS radio sets, their associated network
management platforms, and the increased requirement for EPLRS
radio sets throughout Marine operating forces to support the
expanded use of Command and Control On the Move Network Digital
Over the Horizon Relay (CONDOR). This item is on the Commandant
of the Marine Corps' unfunded priorities list. The committee
recommends an increase of $17.9 million in PMC, for the
procurement of 425 EPLRS radio sets, for a total authorization
of $46.9 million.
The committee strongly encourages the Assistant Secretary
of Defense for Networks and Information Integration to
immediately waive JTRS compliance for the procurement of EPLRS
radios for the Marine Corps. The committee also notes that the
Army has a similar initiative for on-the-move communications
under the Mounted Battle Command on the Move program and
encourages the Army-Marine Corps Board to review these programs
for cooperative development and efficiencies.
Explosive ordnance disposal equipment
The budget request included $42.6 million in Procurement,
Marine Corps (PMC), for explosive ordnance disposal equipment,
but included no funding for the hardened engineer vehicle. The
Marine Corps has an immediate need for hardened engineer and
explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) vehicles with a V-shaped hull
designed to withstand both anti-personnel and anti-tank mine
blasts and an nuclear, biological and radiological overpressure
system. This item is on the Commandant of the Marine Corps'
unfunded priorities list. The committee recommends an increase
of $9.4 million in PMC for hardened engineer vehicles, for a
total authorization of $52.0 million.
C-5 aircraft missile warning system upgrade
The budget request included $71.1 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Air Force (APAF), for modifications to the C-5
aircraft, but included no funding to upgrade the AAR-47 missile
warning sets (MWSs) on the aircraft. With the proliferation of
man-portable air defense systems, airlift aircraft are
vulnerable to the shoulder-launched infrared surface-to-air
missiles. The AAR-47 MWS is currently installed on 50 C-5B and
one C-5A aircraft. An upgrade is available to this MWS which
would provide a new processor, improved system sensors, a new
control indicator unit, and a new laser warning detection
system. Funding for this upgrade has been included on the Chief
of Staff of the Air Force's unfunded priorities list. The
committee recommends an increase of $7.7 million in APAF to
upgrade the AAR-47 MWS on the C-5 aircraft.
C-17 aircraft infrared countermeasures
The budget request included $260.8 million in Aircraft
Procurement, Air Force (APAF), for modifications to the C-17
aircraft, including $84.5 million for the installation of the
large aircraft infrared countermeasure system (LAIRCM). This
system provides protection against man-portable air defense
systems (MANPADS), which are widely available and have been
used by terrorists in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi
Freedom against both military and commercial aircraft.
Additional funding for LAIRCM is included on the Chief of Staff
of the Air Force's unfunded priorities list. The committee
recommends funding this increase of $97.0 million for the
procurement of LAIRCM for the C-17 aircraft.
Mobile approach control system
The budget request included $16.8 million in Other
Procurement, Air Force (OPAF), for air traffic control and
landing systems, including $11.8 million for the modification
and refurbishment of the mobile approach control system (MACS),
but included no funding for the procurement of MACS. MACS is a
deployable radar approach control system that provides airspace
control and precision approach control capability. The
committee is concerned that the Air Force was unable to provide
all of the MACS that were requested during Operations Enduring
Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Procurement for MACS has been
included on the Chief of Staff of the Air Force's unfunded
priorities list. The committee recommends funding an increase
of $51.9 million in OPAF for the procurement of three mobile
approach control systems.
Body armor
The budget request included $40.0 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Army (OMA), for body armor, $3.3 million in
Operation and Maintenance, Navy (OMN), for body armor, $2.2
million in Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps (OMMC), for
body armor, but no funding in Operation and Maintenance, Air
Force (OMAF), for body armor. Body armor, composed of outer
tactical vests, small armor protective inserts, and deltoid
armor protection, continues to provide superior personal
protection to service members deployed in support of the global
war on terrorism. The committee remains committed to ensuring
that the individual soldier, sailor, airman, and Marine, Active
and Reserve, has the equipment necessary to ensure individual
safety and combat lethality across the full spectrum of
operations. In addition, the committee believes that recent
technological advances in protective and safety equipment must
be delivered to deployed service members as soon as possible.
The committee recommends an increase of $117.8 million for
interceptor body armor or body armor components including:
$57.4 million in OMA for enhanced SAPI plates; $3.1 million in
OMN for interceptor body armor; $2.4 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Navy Reserve (OMNR), for interceptor body armor;
and $54.9 million in OMAF for deltoid armor protection. The
committee expects that the Army will ensure the provision of
enhanced SAPI plates to all members of the U.S. Armed Forces
and appropriate civilian personnel deployed in the U.S. Central
Command area of responsibility.
Expanded maritime interdiction operations training and outfitting
The budget request included no funding in Operation and
Maintenance, Navy (OMN), for expanded maritime interdiction
operations (MIO) training and outfitting. The committee notes
that the Navy has an urgent requirement to train and outfit the
MIO visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) teams of 58 ships
deploying in support of the global war on terrorism and the
Proliferation Security Initiative. Additional funding for
expanded MIO training and outfitting has been identified on the
Chief of Staff of the Army unfunded priorities list. The
committee recommends an increase of $6.2 million in OMN for
expanded maritime interdiction operations outfitting.
Small caliber weapons and mounts repair and replacement
The budget request included $5.7 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Navy (OMN), for the repair or replacement of small
caliber weapons and weapon mounts. According to Navy officials,
there has been a rapid growth in small caliber weaponry
sustainment requirements due to the global war on terrorism.
The committee understands that deployments of Naval Coastal
Warfare personnel in support of Persian Gulf oil platform
security and Naval Construction Force personnel in support of
Iraq and Afghanistan infrastructure development has increased
small caliber weapons readiness requirements. Additional
funding for the repair or replacement of small caliber weapons
and weapon mounts has been identified on the Chief of Naval
Operations unfunded priorities list. The committee recommends
an increase of $24.0 million in OMN for the repair or
replacement of small caliber weaponry and weapon mounts.
Field medical equipment
The budget request included $6.5 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Marine Corps (OMMC), for field medical equipment.
According to Marine Corps officials, current medical
inventories, which support operating rooms, aid stations,
laboratories, and individual units, have been depleted in the
conduct of contingency operations. Additional funding for field
medical equipment has been identified on the Commandant of the
Marine Corps unfunded priorities list. The committee recommends
an increase of $19.0 million in OMMC for field medical
equipment.
M1A1 tank depot maintenance
The budget request included $9.6 million in Operation and
Maintenance, Marine Corps (OMMC), for M1A1 tank depot
maintenance. Additional funding for the M1A1 tank depot
maintenance has been identified on the Commandant of the Marine
Corps unfunded priorities list. According to Marine Corps
officials, this unfunded priority supports the reset of tanks
returning from contingency operations. The committee
understands that average usage on tanks deployed in support of
contingency operations is 3,000 kilometers per year. This is 10
times the quantity of miles historically executed in support of
peacetime training. The committee also notes that the Marine
Corps continues to effectively manage depot maintenance
programs. The committee recommends an increase of $40.0 million
in OMMC for M1A1 tank depot maintenance.
DIVISION B--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATIONS

Explanation of funding tables
Division B of this Act authorizes funding for military
construction projects of the Department of Defense. It includes
funding authorizations for the construction and operation of
military family housing and military construction for the
Reserve components, the defense agencies, and the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment program. It
also provides authorization for the base closure account that
funds environmental cleanup and other activities associated
with the implementation of base closure rounds.
The following tables provide the project-level
authorizations for the military construction funding authorized
in Division B of this Act and summarize that funding by
account.
The budget request for fiscal year 2006 included
authorization of appropriations for military construction and
housing programs totaling $12,051,611,000. Of this amount, the
budget request included authorization of appropriations for
$1,880,466,000 to implement the results of the 2005 Defense
Base Closure and Realignment round. The amount authorized for
appropriation is included in the following table in a line
designated Base Realignment & Closure V.
The committee recommends authorization of appropriations
for military construction and housing programs totaling
$12,051,611,000. The total amount authorized for appropriations
reflects this committee's commitment to continue a strong
investment in the recapitalization of facilities and
infrastructure in the United States, while continuing to invest
prudently in overseas installations that are identified in the
Integrated Global Presence and Basing Strategy released by the
President in September 2004 as enduring installations with
firmly defined, long-term operational missions.

Short title (sec. 2001)
The committee recommends a provision that would cite
Division B of this Act as the Military Construction
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006.
TITLE XXI--ARMY

Summary
The budget request included authorization of appropriations
of $1,480.0 million for military construction and $1,362.6
million for family housing for the Army in fiscal year 2006.
The committee recommends authorization of appropriations for
$1,604.0 million for military construction and $1,362.6 million
for family housing for fiscal year 2006.
The committee recommends a decrease of $15.0 million to the
authorization of appropriations for three projects in Korea due
to the recent award of similar construction contracts by the
Army in Korea at amounts substantially less than appropriated
by Congress in previous fiscal years. The committee anticipates
that this trend of favorable contract award amounts will
continue for the Army in fiscal year 2006.
The committee recommends increasing the authorization of
appropriations by $1.8 million for planning and design to
complete design for the projects added by the committee.
Authorized Army construction and land acquisition projects (sec. 2101)
This provision contains the list of authorized Army
construction projects for fiscal year 2006. The authorized
amounts are listed on an installation-by-installation basis.
The State list contained in this report is the binding list of
the specific projects authorized at each location.
Family housing (sec. 2102)
This provision would authorize new construction and
planning and design of family housing units for the Army for
fiscal year 2006. It would also authorize funds for facilities
that support family housing, including housing management
offices and housing maintenance and storage facilities.
Improvements to military family housing units (sec. 2103)
This provision would authorize improvements to existing
Army family housing units for fiscal year 2006.
Authorization of appropriations, Army (sec. 2104)
This provision would authorize specific appropriations for
each line item contained in the Army's military construction
and family housing budget for fiscal year 2006. This provision
would also provide an overall limit on the amount the Army may
spend on military construction projects.

Items of Special Interest

Report on permanent facilities for new Army units

On January 30, 2004, the Office of the Secretary of Defense
approved a request by the Chief of Staff of the Army to
increase the number of active modular Brigade Combat Team Units
of Action (BCT(UA)) from 33 to 43 between fiscal years 2004 and
2006. On July 23, 2004, the Army announced the temporary
locations for the UA's listed below, and will recommend
permanent stations for the units as part of the 2005 round of
Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).

[Dollars in millions]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost of
Location Personnel temporary
increase facilities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fort Stewart, Georgia......................... 1,700 $108.0
Fort Campbell, Kentucky....................... 3,000 94.7
Fort Drum, New York........................... 4,200 188.0
Fort Benning, Georgia......................... 3,800 134.5
Fort Hood, Texas.............................. 5,000 152.8
Fort Polk, Louisiana.......................... 300 4.8
Fort Lewis, Washington........................ 3,900 98.8
Fort Richardson, Alaska....................... 2,600 78.4
Fort Bliss, Texas............................. 3,800 131.2
Fort Riley, Kansas............................ 3,400 138.5
Fort Bragg, North Carolina.................... 5,300 152.4
Fort Carson, Colorado......................... 3,700 128.5
-------------------------
Total................................... 40,700 1,410.6
------------------------------------------------------------------------

In order to support the rapid reorganization of combat
units, the Secretary of the Army is using emergency authorities
pursuant to section 2803, title 10, United States Code, to
carry out military construction projects not otherwise
authorized by law. The projects install utilities and prepare
sites for the purchase and installation of temporary facilities
to provide barracks and work areas for the new UAs. The 19,250
families of service members relocated as part of the
reorganization are being absorbed within local communities in
existing schools and into existing installation support
facilities, such as child development centers and medical
centers.
The temporary facilities, consisting of modular buildings
and trailers, have a design life of five to seven years,
depending on local climate. The trailers serving as barracks
for permanently assigned military personnel have under-sized
sleeping areas and gang latrines that do not meet minimal
standards established by the Department of Defense for
unaccompanied housing. Because the Army purchased the trailers
as equipment items, no maintenance plan has been established,
and therefore no funds have been programmed for the sustainment
of the trailers.
The committee is concerned that the Army has not included
funds to sustain or replace these trailers with permanent
facilities in their Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP).
Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to
submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate by
April 1, 2006, a report with the following information:
(1) an inventory of the temporary facilities
installed to meet requirements for the establishment of
10 (BCT(UA));
(2) an estimate of the scope and costs to maintain
the temporary facilities through the end of their
current use;
(3) a proposed time line to replace the temporary
facilities with permanent facilities;
(4) a description and cost estimate for construction
of permanent facilities required to replace the
temporary facilities;
(5) an assessment by location of the scope and cost
to add to or alter existing facilities required to
support military personnel and their families;
(6) an assessment of the impact on local communities
and actions taken by the Army to address those issues;
and
(7) an estimate of the date that the Army will meet
the Department goal to eliminate inadequate
unaccompanied housing.
In addition, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense
to report to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate by
February 15, 2006, on the Department's guidance relating to the
procurement and use of temporary facilities to support
personnel relocations related to BRAC 2005 and global presence
changes.
TITLE XXII--NAVY

Summary
The budget request included authorization of appropriations
of $1,029.2 million for military construction and $812.6
million for family housing for the Navy in fiscal year 2006.
The budget request also included a proposal to use $92.4
million in prior year unobligated funds authorized for military
construction to reduce the request for authorization of
appropriation for the Navy in fiscal year 2006. The committee
recommends authorization of appropriations of $1,102.7 million
for military construction and $815.8 million for family housing
for fiscal year 2006.
The committee believes that the Navy should not use annual
budget requests to carry out the reprogramming of unobligated
funds from prior years. Therefore, the committee recommends
rescinding $92.3 million as a general reduction from prior year
authorization of appropriations for military construction and
housing projects for the Navy. The committee further recommends
an authorization of appropriations for seven construction
projects at their fully authorized amount as shown in the
table, FY 2006 Authorization of Appropriations for Military
Construction and Family Housing.
The committee recommends deferring the authorization of
appropriations of $13.7 million to construct a bachelor
enlisted quarters at Naval Base Coronado, California under a
pilot program authorized by section 2881a of title 10, United
States Code, to enter into a public-private venture, until the
authority in title 10, United States Code, is amended to
authorize a fourth pilot project.
The committee also recommends deferring the authorization
of appropriations of $39.0 million to upgrade wharfs, first
increment at world-wide locations, until final basing
arrangements negotiated as part of the Integrated Global
Presence and Basing Strategy are finalized with the host
nation.
The committee recommends increasing the authorization of
appropriations by $4.0 million for planning and design to
complete design for the projects added by the committee.
Authorized Navy construction and land acquisition projects (sec. 2201)
This section contains the list of authorized Navy
construction projects for fiscal year 2006. The authorized
amounts are listed on an installation-by-installation basis.
The State list contained in this report is the binding list of
the specific projects authorized at each location.
Family housing (sec. 2202)
This section would authorize new construction and planning
and design of family housing units for the Navy for fiscal year
2006. It would also authorize funds for facilities that support
family housing, including housing management offices and
housing maintenance and storage facilities.

Improvements to military family housing units (sec. 2203)

This section would authorize improvements to existing Navy
and Marine Corps family housing units for fiscal year 2006.

Authorization of appropriations, Navy (sec. 2204)

This section would authorize specific appropriations for
each line item in the Navy's military construction and family
housing budget for fiscal year 2006. This section also provides
an overall limit on the amount the Navy may spend on military
construction projects.

Modification of authority to carry out certain fiscal year 2004 project
(sec. 2205)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 2201 of the Military Construction Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2004 (division B of Public Law 108-136) to increase
a project authorization for Naval Weapons Station Earle, New
Jersey.

Modification of authority to carry out certain fiscal year 2005
projects (sec. 2206)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 2201 of the Military Construction Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2005 (division B of Public Law 108-375) to increase
project authorizations at an unspecified world-wide location
and at Quantico, Virginia.

Hockmuth Hall, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia

The budget request included authorization of appropriations
of $2.6 million to construct the first increment of an addition
to Hockmuth Hall at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. The
budget request also included authorization for the full
requirement of $14.2 million for the addition to Hockmuth Hall.
Section 2807 of the Military Construction Act for Fiscal
Year 2000 (Public Law 106-65) expressed a sense of Congress
that, in preparing the budget for each fiscal year for military
construction for submission to Congress under section 1105 of
title 31, United States Code, the President should request an
amount of funds for each proposed military construction project
that is sufficient to produce a complete and usable facility or
a complete and usable improvement to an existing facility. The
committee notes that in limited instances, large military
construction projects with a total cost exceeding $50.0 million
may be funded in phases consistent with established practices
for such projects.
The budget request for the addition to Hockmuth Hall did
not comply with congressional intent. Therefore, the committee
recommends an increase of authorization of appropriations of
$1.4 million to construct the first phase of an addition to
Hockmuth Hall, resulting in a complete and useable facility.
The committee further directs the Navy to include a request for
authorization of appropriations for the full remainder of the
military construction requirement for this project in the
fiscal year 2007 budget request.
TITLE XXIII--AIR FORCE

Summary
The budget request included authorization of appropriations
of $1,069.6 million for military construction and $2,018.0
million for family housing for the Air Force in fiscal year
2006. The committee recommends authorization of appropriations
of $1,207.4 million for military construction and $1,909.9
million for family housing for fiscal year 2006.
The committee recommends deferring authorization of
appropriations of $10.0 million to install an erosion control
stabilization system at Fourth Cliff Recreation Annex,
Massachusetts, until the Air Force can justify the military
requirement.
The committee also recommends deferring the authorization
of appropriations of $45.4 million to construct family housing
at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, until force structure
requirements can be finalized within the Integrated Global
Presence and Basing Strategy. The committee also directs the
Air Force to reassess their plan to divest 331 adequate housing
units at the former Bitburg Air Force Base, Germany, from the
Air Force inventory.
The committee further recommends deferring the
authorization of appropriations by $48.7 million to replace
family housing and $11.1 million to improve housing at Bolling
Air Force Base, Washington, DC., to allow the Air Force to
pursue the replacement of inadequate housing using the
alternative authority for the acquisition and improvement of
military housing provided in subchapter 4 of chapter 169, title
10, United States Code.
The committee recommends decreasing the authorization of
appropriations by $7.7 million for two projects in Korea due to
the recent award of similar construction contracts by the Air
Force in Korea at amounts substantially less than appropriated
by Congress in previous fiscal years. The committee anticipates
that this trend of favorable contract award amounts will
continue for the Air Force in fiscal year 2006.
The committee recommends increasing the authorization of
appropriations by $4.7 million for planning and design to
complete design for the projects added by the committee.
Authorized Air Force construction and land acquisition projects (sec.
2301)
This section contains the list of authorized Air Force
construction projects for fiscal year 2006. The authorized
amounts are listed on an installation-by-installation basis.
The State list contained in this report is the binding list of
the specific projects authorized at each location.
Family housing (sec. 2302)
This section would authorize new construction and planning
and design of family housing units for the Air Force for fiscal
year 2006. It would also authorize funds for facilities that
support family housing, including housing management offices
and housing maintenance and storage facilities.
Improvements to military family housing units (sec. 2303)
This section would authorize improvements to existing Air
Force family housing units for fiscal year 2006.
Authorization of appropriations, Air Force (sec. 2304)
This section would authorize specific appropriations for
each line item in the Air Force's budget for fiscal year 2006.
This section would also provide an overall limit on the amount
the Air Force may spend on military construction projects.

Items of Special Interest

Planning and design, Air Force
The committee directs that the amount of $1.6 million,
added to the authorization of appropriation for planning and
design for the Air Force, be used to complete the design of a
headquarters facility for the 70th Intelligence Wing at Fort
Meade, Maryland.
TITLE XXIV--DEFENSE AGENCIES

Summary
The budget request included authorization of appropriations
of $1,042.7 million for military construction and $48.9 million
for family housing for defense agencies in fiscal year 2006.
The committee recommends authorization of appropriations for
$1,042.7 million for military construction and $48.9 million
for family housing for fiscal year 2006.
The budget request also included authorization of
appropriations of $377.8 million to carry out environmental
activities related to the previous rounds of Base Realignment
and Closure (BRAC), and authorization of appropriations of
$1,880.5 million to initiate the decisions of the 2005 BRAC
round.
The budget request included an analysis that, of the
$1,880.5 million for the 2005 BRAC round, $376.0 million would
remain unobligated at the end of fiscal year 2006 and would
carry over into fiscal year 2007. The committee is also aware
that the budget request was developed at a time when the
Department of Defense of Defense anticipated reducing the
capacity of military installations by 20-25 percent. The
Secretary of Defense recently stated that, for the 2005 BRAC
round, ``the actual number will be less than the lower end of
that range.''
Also, documents submitted to support the budget request did
not account for savings to be realized from the cancellation of
construction projects authorized in previous years. These
savings would be available for transfer into the BRAC account
in 2006 to augment funds for initial BRAC requirements.
Therefore, the committee recommends a decrease of $376.0
million to the authorization of appropriations to initiate the
decisions of the 2005 BRAC round. The committee also recommends
that no funds may be obligated to initiate the decisions of the
2005 BRAC round until 21 days after the Secretary submits a
report to the congressional defense committees describing the
programs, projects, or activities to be carried out with funds
from this account.
Authorized defense agencies construction and land acquisition projects
(sec. 2401)
This section contains the list of authorized defense agency
construction projects for fiscal year 2006. The authorized
amounts are listed on an installation-by-installation basis.
The State list contained in this report is the binding list of
the specific projects authorized at each location.
Energy conservation projects (sec. 2402)
This section would authorize the Secretary of Defense to
carry out energy conservation projects.
Authorization of appropriations, defense agencies (sec. 2403)
This section would authorize specific appropriations for
each defense agency military construction program for fiscal
year 2006. This provision also would provide an overall limit
on the amount that may be spent on such military construction
projects.
TITLE XXV--NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION SECURITY INVESTMENT
PROGRAM

Summary
The Department of Defense requested authorization of
appropriation of $206.9 million for the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization Security Investment Program for fiscal year 2006.
The committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of
$206.9 million for fiscal year 2006.
Authorized NATO construction and land acquisition projects (sec. 2501)
This provision would authorize the Secretary of Defense to
make contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Security Investment Program in an amount equal to the sum of
the amount specifically authorized in section 2502 of this
title and the amount of recoupment due to the United States for
construction previously financed by the United States.
Authorization of appropriations, NATO (sec. 2502)
This provision would authorize appropriation of $206.9
million for the United States' contribution to the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program for
fiscal year 2006.
TITLE XXVI--GUARD AND RESERVE FORCES FACILITIES

Summary
The Department of Defense requested authorization of
appropriations of $722.8 million for military construction in
fiscal year 2006 for National Guard and Reserve facilities. The
committee recommends authorizations of appropriations for
fiscal year 2006 of $961.2 million to be distributed as
follows:
Account Millions
Army National Guard........................................... $464.7
Air National Guard............................................ 245.9
Army Reserve.................................................. 121.1
Air Force Reserve............................................. 79.3
Naval and Marine Corps Reserve................................ 50.2
--------------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________

Total................................................. 961.2

Authorized Guard and Reserve construction and land acquisition projects
(sec. 2601)

This provision would authorize appropriations for military
construction for the National Guard and Reserve by service
component for fiscal year 2006. The state list contained in
this report is the binding list of the specific projects
authorized at each location.

Items of Special Interest

Unspecified minor construction, Army National Guard

The committee authorizes the Secretary of the Army, using
funds authorized for unspecified minor construction for the
Army National Guard, to construct an addition and alteration to
a readiness center for $1.5 million at Waterloo, Iowa.

Unspecified minor construction, Air National Guard

The committee authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force,
using funds authorized for unspecified minor construction for
the Air National Guard, to construct an addition and alteration
to a field maintenance shop for $1.5 million at Fort Dodge,
Iowa.

Planning and design, Army National Guard

The committee directs that the amount of $3.0 million,
added to the authorization of appropriation for planning and
design for the Army National Guard, be used to complete the
design of a Joint Armed Services Reserve Center at Naval Air
Station Brunswick, Maine.
TITLE XXVII--EXPIRATION AND EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATIONS

Expiration of authorizations and amounts required to be specified by
law (sec. 2701)
This provision would provide that authorizations for
military construction projects, repair of real property, land
acquisition, family housing projects, contributions to the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization infrastructure program, and
National Guard and Reserve military construction projects would
expire on October 1, 2008, or the date of enactment of an act
authorizing funds for military construction for fiscal year
2009, whichever is later. This expiration would not apply to
authorizations for projects for which appropriated funds have
been obligated before October 1, 2008, or the date of enactment
of an act authorizing funding for military construction for
fiscal year 2009, whichever is later.
Extension of authorizations of certain fiscal year 2003 projects (sec.
2702)
This section would extend the authorizations for certain
fiscal year 2003 military construction projects until October
1, 2006, or the date of enactment of an act authorizing funds
for military construction for fiscal year 2007, whichever is
later.
Extension of authorizations of certain fiscal year 2002 projects (sec.
2703)
This section would extend the authorizations for certain
fiscal year 2002 military construction projects until October
1, 2006, or the date of enactment of an act authorizing funds
for military construction for fiscal year 2007, whichever is
later.
Effective date (sec. 2704)
This provision would provide that titles XXI, XXII, XXIII,
XXIV, XXV, and XXVI of this Act shall take effect on October 1,
2005, or the date of enactment of this Act, whichever is later.
TITLE XXVIII--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Subtitle A--Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing
Changes

Increase in thresholds for unspecified minor military construction
projects (sec. 2801)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 2805(a)(1) of title 10, United States Code, by raising
the threshold of the cost of a construction project authorized
by this section from $1.5 million to $2.5 million. This
provision would also raise the threshold of the cost of a
construction project intended solely to correct a deficiency
that is life-threatening, health-threatening, or safety-
threatening from $3.0 million to $4.0 million.
The committee notes that the Government Accountability
Office, in a report released in February 2004 entitled ``Long-
term Challenges in Managing the Military Construction
Program'', estimated that construction costs for the military
have increased by an average of 41 percent since the thresholds
amended in this provision were last adjusted.
Modification of cost variation authority (sec. 2802)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 2853 of title 10, United States Code, to establish a
minimum amount for which the cost of a military construction
project or for the construction, improvement, or acquisition of
a military family housing project cannot vary. This provision
would authorize the secretary concerned to carry out a project
of which the cost varies beyond the minimum amount after the
secretary concerned notifies the congressional defense
committees and waits 21 days before carrying out the project.
Department of Defense housing funds (sec. 2803)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 2883 of title 10, United States Code, to require the
Secretary of Defense to fund certain acquisitions and
improvements of military housing solely through accounts
established for that purpose. This provision would also amend
section 2884 of title 10, United States Code, to add a
requirement for the Secretary to report to the congressional
defense committees annually with a summary of the funds
obligated from defense housing accounts. This provision would
improve the ability of Congress to account for funds obligated
to carry out a contract for the acquisition or construction of
family housing units using alternative authorities provided
under subchapter IV of chapter 169, title 10, United States
Code.
Temporary authority to use minor military construction authority for
construction of child development centers (sec. 2804)
The committee recommends a provision that would direct the
Secretary of Defense to carry out a temporary program for the
construction of child development centers operated by the
Department of Defense. This provision would increase the
threshold in section 2805(a)(1) of title 10, United States
Code, to $7.0 million for unspecified minor construction
projects carried out to construct child development centers.
This provision would also increase the threshold in section
2805(a)(1) of title 10, United States Code, to $8.0 million if
the unspecified minor construction project is intended solely
to correct a deficiency in a child development center that
threatens the life, safety, or health of the occupants. This
provision would also increase other thresholds in section 2805
of title 10, United States Code, to ensure continuity of the
temporary authority. This provision would provide for the
expiration of the authority on September 30, 2007.
This provision would also require the Secretary to
establish procedures for the review of each project to be
carried out under this section, and to report to the
congressional defense committees by March 1, 2007, with a list
and description of the projects carried out under this program,
as well as recommendations for extension of the temporary
authority.
The committee is concerned that the Department has a
deficiency of approximately 38,000 spaces, equating to 167
child development centers, for the care of children of service
members between the ages of 6 weeks and 5 years. In many cases,
a family must wait 18 months before they can be accommodated at
existing centers on military installations, resulting in the
use of off-base facilities at a much greater cost and
inconvenience for families. This deficiency has increased
significantly in the past two years and adds a substantial
burden to the families of deployed service members. Aside from
housing, access to quality child care offered at military
installations has become the top quality of life concern among
military personnel.
It is the committee's intent that the authorities provided
in this provision would be used to increase the options
available to the Department to quickly address the shortfall in
child development centers with temporary facilities and to
transfer existing funds from other accounts to construct new
centers.
Inapplicability to child development centers of restriction on
authority to acquire or construct ancillary supporting
facilities (sec. 2805)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 2881(b) of title 10, United States Code, to exempt
child development centers from the restriction for ancillary
facilities authorized to be constructed using the alternative
authority for acquisition and improvements of military housing
provided in subchapter IV of chapter 169, title 10, United
States Code. The committee intends this provision to increase
the options available to the Department of Defense to quickly
address the shortfall in child development centers by including
the construction of permanent facilities as part of
transactions carried out under the alternative authority for
acquisition and improvements of military housing.
In order to enhance the quality of life provided to
military members and their families, the committee encourages
the Department to include the construction and operation of
child development centers in all future plans to construct or
improve family housing communities.
Authority to carry out exchanges of facilities including associated
utilities, equipment, and furnishings (sec. 2806)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 18240 of title 10, United States Code, to amend the
definition of ``facility'' in section 18240 to include
utilities, equipment, and furnishings required to be installed
in a facility.
Increase in number of family housing units in Korea authorized for
lease by the Army at maximum amount (sec. 2807)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 2828(e)(4) of title 10, United States Code, to increase
from 2,400 to 2,800 the number of family housing units the
Secretary of the Army may lease in Korea, for which the maximum
annual lease cost per unit is $35,000.
The committee recommends this provision in order to allow
the Secretary to provide leased housing units for military
personnel and their families that meet the Department of
Defense's guidelines for adequate force protection/anti-
terrorism measures in facilities, while supporting the U.S.
military force structure and basing plans of the Commander,
U.S. Forces, Korea.

Subtitle B--Real Property and Facilities Administration

Authority to lease non-excess property of Department of Defense field
activities (sec. 2821)
The committee recommends a provision that would amend
sections 2667a of title 10, United States Code, to authorize
the Secretary of Defense to lease non-excess property that is
under the control of a Department of Defense field activity.
This provision would grant field activities the same
authorities currently available to defense agencies under
section 2667a of title 10, United States Code.
Modified criteria for agreements to limit encroachments and other
constraints on military training, testing and operations (sec.
2822)
The committee recommends a provision that would modify
section 2684a of title 10, United States Code, to clarify that
agreements to limit encroachments and other constraints on
military training, testing, and operations authorized under
that section may include ecologically-related real property and
the airspace of a military installation. The provision also
requires that agreements initiated after the date of enactment
of this Act shall provide for equal sharing of the acquisition
costs of such property and interests and that the acquisition
costs of any lesser property interest, such as an easement, may
not exceed 70 percent of the appraised value of the land.
The committee believes that the authority created in
section 2811 of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2003, and codified at section 2684a of
title 10, is a potentially useful tool to create mutually
beneficial relationships between the Department, State and
local governments, and private organizations by promoting
cooperation in maintaining military readiness and meeting
environmental goals.
The committee believes that the changes proposed by this
provision will strengthen existing law by clarifying that such
cooperative conservation agreements may extend to the airspace
of the installation and to real estate that conserves species
habitat to the Department's benefit, even if that real estate
is not directly adjacent to the installation. The committee
also believes that the partner entities should, absent
circumstances in which the potential impact of encroachment or
development on the installation's mission is particularly
great, equally share acquisition costs with the Department.
The committee intends to closely monitor implementation of
this authority and recommends adding an annual reporting
requirement.

Subtitle C--Land Conveyances

Part I--Army Conveyances

Land conveyance, Helena, Montana (sec. 2841)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Secretary of the Army to convey by quitclaim deed to the
Helena Indian Alliance, a parcel of property consisting of
approximately 3 acres located at the Sheridan Hall Army Reserve
Center, Helena, Montana for the purpose of supporting Native
American health care, mental health counseling, and the
operation of an educational training center. This provision
would also require the Secretary to seek reimbursement from the
Helena Indian Alliance for costs related to the conveyance.

Land conveyance, Army Reserve center, Bothell, Washington (sec. 2842)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Secretary of the Army to convey, without consideration, to
the Snohomish County Fire Protection District #10 a parcel of
property consisting of approximately 1 acre located at the Army
Reserve Center, Bothell, Washington for the purpose of
permitting the fire district to operate a fire station on the
property.
This provision would authorize the Secretary to include a
reversionary clause in the terms of the conveyance, in the
event the property conveyed was not used in accordance with the
purpose stated in the authorization. This provision would also
authorize the Secretary to seek reimbursement from the fire
district for costs related to the conveyance.

Part II--Air Force Conveyances

Acquisition of build-to-lease family housing at Eielson Air Force Base,
Alaska (sec. 2861)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
the Secretary of the Air Force, if determined to be in the best
economic interest of the Air Force, to purchase the entire
interest in a family housing project consisting of 300 units at
Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, which is being leased from a
private entity by the Secretary under section 801 of the
Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1984
(Public Law 98-115). The Secretary would be authorized to
provide consideration for the project at an amount not to
exceed fair market value, as determined by the Secretary.
The authorization provided by this provision is similar to
the authorization provided to the Secretary to purchase 366
family housing units at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska under
section 2804 of the Military Construction Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105-261). The Air Force requires
the family housing units to be obtained by both purchases to
meet the total housing requirement for Eielson Air Force Base.

Subtitle D--Other Matters

Reorganization and technical improvement of codified laws applicable to
real property of the Department of Defense (sec. 2881)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
sections 2663 and 2664 of title 10, United States Code, to
consolidate and clarify authorities available for real property
administration. This provision would also repeal sections 2672,
2672a, and 2676 of title 10, United States Code, that would be
superceded as a result of the consolidations. This provision
would also amend section 2661 of title 10, United States Code,
to clarify the application of the section to the Pentagon
Reservation.

Report on application of force protection and anti-terrorism standards
to leased facilities (sec. 2882)

The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the congressional
defense committees no later than May 1, 2006, on the
application of Department of Defense anti-terrorism/force
protection (AT/FP) standards to all facilities leased by the
Department of Defense, or leased by the General Services
Administration (GSA) on the Department's behalf, that house
more than 11 personnel in service to, or employed by the
Department. The report would include:
(1) a description of all facilities;
(2) a threat and vulnerability assessment;
(3) a description of actions to mitigate risk; and
(4) a description and cost estimate of the actions to
be carried out to meet force protection/anti-terrorism
standards.
The committee is committed to ensuring that AT/FP standards
applied to defense installations to protect military personnel
should also be applied to leased facilities. The standards, set
forth in Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) 4-010-01, ``DOD
Minimum AT Standards for Buildings,'' were established in
October 2003 to provide a prescriptive set of design conditions
in which all leased facilities were to be in full compliance by
October 2009. No facilities currently leased by the Department
or GSA, most of which are in highly urban areas, meet the AT/FP
standards. Yet, as of this date, the Department has not
released a plan or investment strategy required to achieve the
goal.
The committee encourages the Department to work with leased
facility owners to seek options in the management and upgrade
of existing leased facilities that could mitigate risk to an
acceptable level, while saving the Department the costs of the
relocation of personnel.

Construction at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, for Reserve components
(sec. 2883)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 1507(b)(2) of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law 106-398) to
remove the restriction on construction of facilities for
Reserve component or non-appropriated fund projects.

Authority to use Papago Park Military Reservation, Arizona, for general
military purposes (sec. 2884)

The committee recommends a provision that would amend
section 1 of the Act of April 7, 1930 (46 Stat. 142, chapter
107) to change the designation of land reserved for the State
of Arizona. The Act of April 7, 1930, abolished the Papago
Saguaro National Monument and reserved specific land for
military purposes for use by the National Guard of the State of
Arizona as a rifle range. This provision would designate the
use of specific land as a military installation known as the
Papago Park Military Reservation, thereby allowing the State of
Arizona to incorporate other military requirements on the
specific land.

One-year extension of Department of Defense laboratory revitalization
program (sec. 2885)

The committee recommends a provision that would extend by
one year the authorization provided by section 2891 of the
Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005
(division B of Public Law 108-375) for the Secretary of Defense
to carry out a program for the revitalization of laboratories
operated by the Department of Defense. This provision would
provide for the expiration of the authority on September 30,
2006.
Initial authorization for this program was provided under
section 2892 of the Military Construction Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 1996 (division B of Public Law 104-106). The
authority for the program was extended and amended under
section 2871 of the Military Construction Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 1999 (division B of Public Law 105-261) and resumed
under section 2891 of the Military Construction Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (division B of Public Law 108-375).
The committee intends the extension of the revitalization
program for defense laboratories to allow the Secretary of
Defense to use the increased thresholds in section 2805 of
title 10, United States Code, to address unique revitalization
requirements for defense laboratories which typically cost more
than the revitalization of comparative-sized military
facilities.

Sense of Congress on establishment of Bakers Creek memorial (sec. 2886)

The committee recommends a provision that would describe
the circumstances surrounding the crash at Bakers Creek,
Australia, of a U.S. B-17C aircraft transporting 6 crew members
and 35 servicemen from Mackay, Australia, to Port Moresby, New
Guinea, on June 14, 1943, and that would express the sense of
the Congress that the Secretary of the Army may establish an
appropriate marker, at a site to be chosen at the discretion of
the Secretary, to commemorate the event and the military
members who died in that tragedy.

Items of Special Interest

Report on host nation agreements for overseas installations

The President released the Integrated Global Presence and
Basing Strategy (IGPBS) in August, 2004. Within the strategy a
series of world-wide military installations, designated as
forward operating sites and cooperative security locations,
were identified as having an ``enduring presence'' to support
both the permanent presence of U.S. military personnel and
rotating units for training and regional operations. The
Department of Defense provided a report to Congress on March 3,
2005, which provided an overview by location of the broad
purpose, planned capability, estimates of U.S. military
population, and general facility requirements needed by fiscal
year 2011. The report noted that ``requirements may change as
discussions and negotiations with host nations mature and
individual investment strategies are finalized.''
The Departments of Defense and State are now in the process
of negotiating formal agreements with host nations to implement
the strategy. The agreements will establish the status of U.S.
forces, funding responsibilities, burden-sharing arrangements,
and basing plans to include the number of U.S. military
personnel to be stationed in the host country. Many of the
sites will require a substantial investment of funds for new
construction and infrastructure, either to be funded by the
host nation, or by the United States, to meet the intent of the
strategy.
To ensure a wise use of taxpayer dollars, the committee
directs the Secretary of Defense to ensure host nation
agreements for the status of forces, funding responsibilities,
and basing plans are secured before including authorization of
funds for military construction projects in future President's
budget requests or in future supplemental appropriations
requests. In addition, the Secretary shall ensure that burden-
sharing arrangements are pursued with host nations in order to
minimize the impact on Department of Defense's budgets for the
support of mutual national security interests.
The committee also directs the Secretary to establish
installation development master plans that will cover all
facility and infrastructure requirements, total estimated
costs, and anticipated funding sources before expending funds
for new construction and replacement of expeditionary
facilities. These plans would serve as essential guides to
ensure that priorities are developed with comprehensive designs
that guide prudent investment decisions, and that preclude the
waste of funds on facilities that do not address long-term
military requirements. These base development master plans, and
particularly the extent of permanent facilities for exclusive
use by U.S. forces, must be established in close cooperation
with host nations to avoid planning conflicts and to be able to
address mutual requirements.
The committee directs the Secretary to submit to the
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate not later than April
15, 2006, a report that includes the following information for
overseas locations:
(1) a description and status of all host nation
agreements established, or in negotiation, for each
installation identified in the IGPBS as a forward
operating site or cooperative security locations that
will have an enduring presence of U.S. military
personnel;
(2) a description of the base development master plan
for each site or location to include a specific list of
facility improvement or construction projects and costs
to complete all known requirements to support the
estimated U.S. military population; and
(3) an estimate by site or location of the annual
cost to operate and sustain the installation.

Training facilities for military operations in urban terrain

In the Senate report accompanying S.2514 (S. Rept. 107-
151), the committee required a report by the Secretary of
Defense that would establish the requirements within the
Department of Defense for facilities that support training for
military operations in urban terrain (MOUT).
The committee is aware that the Department study requested
by the committee is ongoing. At the same time, requirements for
new MOUT training capabilities, driven by lessons learned
during Operation Iraqi Freedom, are increasing within each
service. The services will continue to address MOUT
requirements and expend resources independently with minimal
coordination and cooperation until a comprehensive joint MOUT
training plan and investment strategy are approved and
implemented within the Department.
The committee is concerned that a critical opportunity to
develop capabilities for joint training in urban operations is
not effectively being pursued within the Department. Therefore,
the committee directs the Department to complete the required
study by November 1, 2005, and to establish a requirements
baseline against which the capabilities within each service and
across the Department can be measured. The committee expects
the results of the study to be incorporated into fiscal year
2007 budget decisions.

Relocation of Reserve component military units at Lambert International
Airport, St. Louis, Missouri

The committee is aware of current negotiations between the
Secretary of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, and the
City of St. Louis Airport Authority to support expansion of
Lambert International Airport in St. Louis by relocating
Reserve component military installations at the airport. The
committee is concerned that the current location of the 131th
Air National Guard Fighter Wing and a Navy Marine Corps Reserve
Center (NMCRC) may impede safe operations of a new runway being
constructed at the airport and the installation of navigational
equipment required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
for the new runway.
Therefore, the committee urges the Secretary of the Air
Force and the Secretary of the Navy to complete negotiations
with the airport authority that will result in an agreement to
relocate the 131st Fighter Wing and the NMCRC at the expense of
the airport authority before the new airport runway is
completed in June 2006. The agreement should also address the
issue of FAA access to the military installations prior to the
completion of the relocation of the military units in order to
install Instrument Landing System equipment, obstruction
lights, and power cables for the new runway 29 CAT III
approach.
DIVISION C--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL SECURITY AUTHORIZATIONS AND
OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS

TITLE XXXI--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAMS

Overview
Title XXXI authorizes appropriations for atomic energy
defense activities of the Department of Energy (DOE) for fiscal
year 2006, including: the purchase, construction, and
acquisition of plant and capital equipment; research and
development; nuclear weapons; naval nuclear propulsion;
environmental restoration and waste management; operating
expenses; and other expenses necessary to carry out the
purposes of the Department of Energy Organization Act (Public
Law 95-91). This title authorizes appropriations in four
categories, which include National Nuclear Security
Administration (NNSA); defense environmental management; other
defense activities; and defense nuclear waste disposal.
The budget request for atomic energy defense activities at
DOE totaled $16.4 billion, a 1.4 percent decrease below the
fiscal year 2005 appropriated level. Of the total amount
requested, $9.4 billion is for NNSA, of which $6.6 billion is
for weapons activities, $1.6 billion is for defense nuclear
nonproliferation activities, $786.0 million is for naval
reactors, and $343.9 million is for the Office of the
Administrator; $6.0 billion is for defense environmental
management, of which $5.2 billion is for defense site
acceleration completion, and $831.3 million is for defense
environmental services; $636.0 million is for other defense
activities; $351.4 million is for defense nuclear waste
disposal; and $12.0 million is for energy supply.
The committee recommends $16.4 billion for atomic energy
defense activities at DOE, the amount of the budget request. Of
the amounts authorized for the NNSA, $6.6 billion is for
weapons activities, a decrease of $39.8 million below the
budget request; $1.6 billion is for defense nuclear
nonproliferation activities, the amount of the budget request;
$786.0 million is for naval reactors, the amount of the budget
request; and $343.9 million is for the Office of the
Administrator, the amount of the budget request. The committee
recommends $6.2 billion for the defense environmental
management activities, an increase of $174.4 million above the
budget request. Of the amounts authorized for defense
environmental management, $5.3 billion is for defense site
acceleration completion, an increase of $152.1 million above
the budget request; and $853.6 million is for defense
environmental services, an increase of $22.3 million above the
budget request. The committee recommends $563.4 million for
other defense activities, a reduction of $72.6 million below
the budget request. The committee recommends $301.4 million for
defense nuclear waste disposal, a reduction of $50.0 million
below the budget request. The committee recommends no funds for
energy supply, a reduction of $12.0 million.
The following table summarizes the budget request and the
authorizations:

Subtitle A--National Security Programs Authorizations

National Nuclear Security Administration (sec. 3101)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize a
total of $9.4 billion for the Department of Energy (DOE) in
fiscal year 2006 for the National Nuclear Security
Administration (NNSA) to carry out programs necessary to
national security.
Weapons activities
The committee recommends $6.6 billion for weapons
activities, a $39.8 million reduction below the amount
requested in fiscal year 2006. The committee authorizes the
following activities: $1.4 billion for directed stockpile work;
$2.1 billion for campaigns; $1.7 billion for readiness in the
technical base; $216.1 million for secure transportation asset;
$740.5 million for safeguards and security; and $313.5 million
for facilities and infrastructure. The budget request included
$174.4 million for environmental projects and operations. The
committee recommends no funds for these activities within the
NNSA.
Directed stockpile work
The committee recommends $1.4 billion for directed
stockpile work, the amount of the budget request. The directed
stockpile account supports work directly related to weapons in
the stockpile, including day-to-day maintenance as well as
research, development, engineering, and certification
activities to support planned life extension programs. This
account also includes fabrication and assembly of weapons
components, feasibility studies, weapons dismantlement and
disposal, training, and support equipment.
Campaigns
The committee recommends $2.1 billion for campaigns, the
amount of the budget request. The campaigns focus on science
and engineering efforts involving the three weapons
laboratories, the Nevada Test Site, and the weapons plants.
Each campaign is focused on a specific activity to support and
maintain the nuclear stockpile without underground nuclear
weapons testing. These efforts maintain and enhance the safety,
security, and reliability of the existing stockpile. The
campaigns are divided into three major categories: science
campaigns, readiness campaigns, and engineering campaigns.
Readiness in the technical base
The committee recommends $1.7 billion in readiness in the
technical base and facilities (RTBF), a $68.6 million increase
above the budget request. This account funds facilities and
infrastructure in the weapons complex to ensure the operational
readiness of the complex and includes construction funding for
new facilities.
The $68.6 million increase in RTBF should be used to limit
any additional deferred maintenance. This amount includes $20.0
million for fire safety and air handling systems, capital
equipment upgrades, and infrastructure improvements at the
Kansas City Plant, which plays a critical role in the warhead
life extension programs by producing and supporting the non-
nuclear components of nuclear warheads. Additionally, this
amount includes $12.0 million to accelerate design of the
Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security
Complex of which $5.0 million is included in project 06-D-140
and $25.6 million for operations of facilities for maintenance
projects, equipment replacements, and the upgrade of production
bays at the Pantex Plant of which $5.6 million is included in
project 05-D-401.

Secure transportation asset

The committee recommends $216.1 million for the secure
transportation asset, a $4.0 million increase above the budget
request. The secure transportation asset is responsible for
transportation of nuclear weapons, weapons materials and
components, and other materials requiring safe and secure
transport.
The committee notes that demand for secure transportation
assets has continued to grow in recent years as sites have
identified special nuclear material (SNM) excess to program
needs and consolidated the storage of these materials in fewer
locations. These actions can improve the security posture of
DOE sites. The committee encourages DOE to continue to identify
opportunities and accelerate the consolidation of SNM storage
at its sites, where appropriate.

Safeguards and security

The committee recommends $740.5 million for weapons
safeguards and security, a $32.0 million increase above the
budget request. This amount includes $20.0 million for security
upgrades at the Y-12 National Security Complex and $12.0
million for security upgrades at the Pantex Plant.
The committee notes that DOE has increased the amount of
funding for safeguards and security in the Future Years Nuclear
Security Program (FYNSP) in response to the concern raised by
the committee last year; however, the committee remains
concerned about the pace of DOE efforts to respond to current
postulated threats. Further, DOE has not responded aggressively
to this committee's direction from last year to invest in force
multiplying construction and technologies to help increase
security capabilities. The committee has recommended additional
funds within the Office of Security and Safety Performance
Assessment to accelerate the demonstration and deployment of
security technology at DOE nuclear sites.

Facilities and infrastructure

The committee recommends $313.5 million for the Facilities
and Infrastructure Recapitalization Program (FIRP), a $30.0
million increase above the budget request and the same as the
amount appropriated in fiscal year 2005. The additional funding
provided should be used to complete projects on the approved
FIRP integrated project list, including deferred maintenance on
heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems at the Y-12
National Security Complex and at Sandia National Laboratories;
deferred maintenance and electrical system deficiencies at the
Pantex Plant and at Los Alamos National Laboratory; and for
electrical substation equipment at the Nevada Test Site.
The FIRP program will sunset in the year 2011. The FYNSP
provided with the budget request projects a 30 percent
reduction in FIRP funding below the fiscal year 2005 FYNSP. The
committee does not expect that DOE can meet the FIRP program
objective of elimination of certain deferred maintenance under
the new FYNSP. The committee directs DOE to reevaluate FIRP
funding and to submit with the fiscal year 2007 budget request
a FYNSP sufficient to meet program goals by the program sunset
date.

Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Program

The committee recommends $1.6 billion for the Defense
Nuclear Nonproliferation Program, the amount of the budget
request. The NNSA has management and oversight responsibilities
for the nonproliferation programs of the Defense Nuclear
Nonproliferation Program. The committee recommends funding for
these programs, as follows: $358.2 million for nonproliferation
and verification research and development, an increase of $86.0
million above the budget request; $80.2 million for
nonproliferation and international security; $363.4 million for
international nuclear materials protection and cooperation, an
increase of $20.0 million above the budget request; $37.9
million for global initiatives for proliferation prevention;
$20.5 million for highly-enriched uranium transparency
implementation; $212.0 million for elimination of weapons-grade
plutonium production, an increase of $80.0 million above the
budget request; $453.1 million for fissile materials
disposition, a decrease of $200.0 million below the budget
request; and $112.0 million for the Global Threat Reduction
Initiative, an increase of $14.0 million above the budget
request.
The committee notes that continued delays in the
commencement of construction activities under the fissile
materials disposition program make it unlikely that the DOE
will be able to fully obligate the budget request for that
program in fiscal year 2006. The committee remains concerned by
the delays in the fissile materials disposition program, as
well as in several other cooperative nonproliferation programs
with Russia, as a result of a dispute between the United States
and Russia over what liability standards should apply to the
work under the programs. Continued delays in the fissile
materials disposition program have significant domestic, as
well as international, ramifications because work at the U.S.
MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility is being delayed to ensure
parallelism with the Russian program. The committee fully
supports the goals of the MOX program and urges the
administration to give this matter sustained high-level
attention with the aim of resolving the dispute as quickly as
possible so that reasonable liability standards are established
that will be protective of U.S. interests and will allow the
program to proceed. However, the committee does not support the
use of program funds for site preparation or equipment
procurement for the Russian MOX facility until an agreement on
liability has been reached.
The committee believes that the nonproliferation and
verification research and development program is supporting
valuable basic and applied research in radiation detection that
would benefit from the additional resources the committee
recommends authorizing for this program. The committee notes
the creation of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office in the
Department of Homeland Security and underscores the importance
of properly coordinating the work of that office with the long-
standing efforts and technical expertise resident in the DOE in
this critical area. The committee further understands that the
DOE will retain responsibility for the implementation of
international nonproliferation programs involving the
deployment of radiation detection equipment overseas.
The committee recommends authorizing additional resources
for the elimination of weapons-grade plutonium production
program to accelerate the construction of a fossil-fuel power
plant at Zheleznogorsk in order to meet the goal of shutting
down the Zheleznogorsk plutonium-producing nuclear reactor by
2011.
The committee recommends authorizing additional resources
for the international nuclear materials protection and
cooperation program to accelerate security upgrades at Russian
Strategic Rocket Forces sites, at Russian 12th Main Directorate
sites as they become available for safety upgrades, and to
accelerate the installation of equipment at additional
Megaports.
The committee recommends authorizing additional resources
for the Global Threat Reduction Initiative to accelerate the
conversion of domestic research reactors so that they are
fueled with low-enriched uranium-fuel rather than highly-
enriched uranium-fuel, which poses a higher proliferation risk.

Naval Reactors

The committee recommends $786.0 million for Naval Reactors,
the amount of the budget request.

Office of Administrator

The committee recommends $343.9 million for program
direction for the NNSA, the amount of the budget request. This
account includes program direction funding for all elements of
NNSA, except for the Naval Reactors Program and the Secure
Transportation Asset.

Environmental Projects and Operations

The budget request included $174.4 million for
environmental projects and operations. The committee recommends
no funds for these activities within the NNSA. Congress
established the NNSA under title 32 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (Public Law 106-65) to
separate the defense activities of DOE from its other disparate
missions such as energy research, operation of the federal
power marketing administrations, and cleanup of the Cold War
environmental legacy. The environmental management program
exists for the express purpose of addressing the Cold War
environmental legacy at DOE sites. Under the Act, the Secretary
of Energy may transfer any environmental remediation and waste
management activity at NNSA nuclear weapons production
facilities or at NNSA national security laboratories from the
NNSA to another element of DOE. In providing this authority,
Congress recognized the possibility that DOE may encounter the
need to migrate a particular facility, program, or activity out
of the NNSA should it evolve principally into an environmental
cleanup activity. This provision allows such activity only to
be transferred out of the NNSA. In proposing the transfer of
environmental management activities into the NNSA, the budget
request does not comply with the Act. The committee has
authorized the activities requested under environmental
projects and operations within defense environmental
management, where they are currently conducted and where they
appropriately reside.

Reliable replacement warhead

The committee recommends $9.4 million to continue the
reliable replacement warhead (RRW), the amount of the budget
request. The committee understands from the testimony of the
Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration
(NNSA) that the goals of this program are: (1) to increase the
security and reliability of the nuclear weapons stockpile; (2)
to develop replacement components for nuclear warheads that can
be more easily manufactured with more readily available and
more environmentally benign materials; (3) to develop
replacements that can be introduced into the stockpile with
assured high confidence regarding their effect on warhead
safety and reliability; (4) to develop these replacements on a
schedule that would reduce the possibility that the United
States would ever be faced with the need to conduct a nuclear
test in order to diagnose or remedy a reliability problem in
the current stockpile; (5) to reduce infrastructure costs
needed to support the stockpile, while increasing the
responsiveness of that infrastructure; and (6) to increase
confidence in the stockpile to a level such that significant,
additional reductions in numbers of non-deployed ``hedge''
warheads can be made.
The committee supports these goals and this modest
investment in feasibility studies, as described in the NNSA
testimony before the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces of the
Committee on Armed Services, with the goal of substantially
increasing the safety, security, and reliability of the nuclear
weapons stockpile and with the ultimate objective of achieving
the smallest stockpile consistent with our nation's security.
The Administrator of the NNSA shall submit to the congressional
defense committees, no later than February 6, 2006, a report
describing the activities undertaken or planned for any RRW
funding in fiscal years 2005, 2006, and 2007.

Robust nuclear earth penetrator

The committee recommends $4.0 million for the robust
nuclear earth penetrator (RNEP), the amount of the budget
request. Funding is provided to prepare and execute the sled
track impact test at Sandia National Laboratories on the
feasibility of case hardening and target penetration. The
committee has received testimony from the Secretary of Defense
and the Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, on the continued
proliferation of hard and deeply buried targets and the
resulting military utility of completing the RNEP feasibility
study.
The committee notes that section 3117 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-
136) prohibits the Secretary of Energy from commencing the
engineering development phase (Phase 6.3) of the nuclear
weapons development process, or any subsequent phase, of a
robust nuclear earth penetrator unless specifically authorized
by Congress. The funding requested is for Phase 6.2 feasibility
study only.
The committee has not included the $4.5 million requested
within the Air Force budget for the development of logistics,
integration, and hardware requirements for carriage of the RNEP
on the B-2 aircraft. The committee does not believe that these
activities are necessary to evaluate the feasibility of RNEP.

Defense environmental management (sec. 3102)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize a
total of $6.2 billion for the Department of Energy (DOE) in
fiscal year 2006 for environmental management (EM) activities,
a $174.4 million increase above the budget request. This amount
includes $174.4 million for the activities proposed to be
funded as environmental projects and operations within the
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The National
Defense Authorization Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-65), which
established the NNSA, did not grant the Secretary of Energy
authority to transfer environmental remediation and waste
management activities into the NNSA. The committee does not
support the transfer into the NNSA of legacy environmental
liabilities from weapons production during the Cold War. The
defense environmental management program exists to accomplish
the express purpose of addressing this legacy.

Defense site acceleration completion

The committee recommends $5.3 billion for defense site
acceleration completion, an increase of $152.1 million above
the budget request. The committee authorizes the following
activities: $1.0 billion for 2006 accelerated completions, an
increase of $30.5 million above the budget request; $2.0
billion for 2012 accelerated completions, an increase of $41.7
million above the budget request; $2.0 billion for 2035
accelerated completions, an increase of $79.9 million above the
budget request; $287.2 million for safeguards and security, the
amount of the budget request; and $21.4 million for technology
development and deployment, the amount of the budget request.
The committee does not support the requested transfer of
environmental management activities into the NNSA, and has
provided authorization for these activities in the accelerated
completion accounts under which they are currently funded.
The committee is concerned with the pace at which sites
under the EM program are adopting the measures necessary to
come into compliance with the new design basis threat. The
committee encourages DOE to evaluate promptly all EM sites
currently storing nuclear materials excess to mission needs and
to execute plans to move excess materials to consolidated, more
highly secure storage locations.

Defense environmental services

The committee recommends $853.6 million for defense
environmental services, an increase of $22.3 million above the
budget request. The committee authorizes the following
activities: $87.4 million for non-closure environmental
activities, the amount of the budget request; $66.4 million for
community and regulatory support, an increase of $4.4 million
above the budget request; $451.0 million for the federal
contribution to the uranium enrichment decontamination and
decommissioning fund, the amount of the budget request; and
$248.8 million for program direction, an increase of $17.9
million above the budget request. The committee does not
support the requested transfer of environmental management
activities into the NNSA, and has provided authorization for
these activities in the environmental services accounts under
which they are currently funded.

Other defense activities (sec. 3103)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
$563.4 million for the Department of Energy (DOE) for other
defense activities, $72.6 million below the budget request.

Security and Safety Performance Assurance

The committee recommends $316.1 million for security and
safety performance assurance, an increase of $15.0 million
above the budget request. This increase provides an additional
$15.0 million for security technology deployment to mitigate
security weaknesses, to evaluate how technology may be used to
reduce security costs, and to adapt technology for physical
security applications where current technologies are inadequate
to meet DOE requirements. The committee encourages DOE to use a
portion of these additional funds for the demonstration and
field testing of promising security technologies.
The committee notes that security costs have increased
rapidly as DOE implements needed security upgrades to protect
its facilities against the design basis threat issued by DOE in
2004. The committee is concerned that DOE is relying
disproportionately on increasing the number of armed security
personnel at each site to defeat the new threats. The committee
encourages DOE to adopt state-of-the-art approaches to guard
those targets at greatest risk, including the use of technology
and innovative deployment strategies for protective forces.
The Office of Security and Safety Performance Assurance has
conducted site assistance visits to review security strategies
at each DOE site. The committee urges DOE to develop a set of
effective and cost-efficient strategies for protecting against
the new design basis threat based on these site visits and to
promulgate these strategies as security guidance throughout the
DOE.

Environment, Safety and Health

The committee recommends $77.0 million for environment,
safety and health, the amount of the budget request.

Office of Legacy Management

The committee recommends $45.1 million for the Office of
Legacy Management, the amount of the budget request.

Nuclear Energy

The committee recommends $123.9 million for nuclear energy,
the amount of the budget request.

Defense Related Administrative Support

The budget request included $87.6 million for national
security programs administrative support. The committee
recommends no funds for these activities. The committee views
these administrative support activities as inherently part of
the nondefense activities. The committee does not support the
use of Atomic Energy Defense funds for nondefense activities.

Office of Hearings and Appeals

The committee recommends $4.4 million for the Office of
Hearings and Appeals, the amount of the budget request.

Energy security and assurance

The budget request included $12.0 million for energy
security and assurance and program direction within the Office
of Electric Transmission and Distribution. The Department of
Energy continues to request funds for efforts to secure the
civilian electricity distribution system as an Atomic Energy
Defense activity. The committee does not support this
categorization. These responsibilities constitute a coordinated
function between the Departments of Energy and Homeland
Security related to the civilian energy infrastructure. The
committee recommends no funds for these activities. The
committee does not support using Atomic Energy Defense funds
for nondefense activities.

Defense nuclear waste disposal (sec. 3104)

The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
$301.4 million for defense nuclear waste disposal, a decrease
of $50.0 million below the budget request but $72.3 million
above the amount appropriated in fiscal year 2005. The
committee notes that the budget request for defense nuclear
waste disposal increased by 270 percent between the fiscal year
2005 and fiscal year 2006 budget requests. Given the long
duration of the development period for the geologic repository,
the committee encourages the Department of Energy to reduce the
volatility of the funding amount requested for defense nuclear
waste disposal from year to year.

Subtitle B--Other Matters

Report on compliance with design basis threat (sec. 3105)

The committee recommends a provision that requires the
Secretary of Energy, not later than 180 days after the
enactment of this Act, to submit to the congressional defense
committees a report describing plans for upgrading the security
posture of the Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear
Security Administration (NNSA) in response to the design basis
threat (DBT) issued by the Secretary of Energy in October 2004.
The report shall include implementation plans and funding
required to achieve compliance with the design basis threat by
September 30, 2007, at DOE and NNSA sites, which contain
nuclear weapons or special nuclear material. The report shall
also include an evaluation of technologies and force deployment
strategies to improve security efficiency and effectiveness
against threats postulated in the DBT.
The committee is concerned with the pace of security
enhancements at DOE and NNSA sites in the face of threats
assessed by the intelligence community since the attacks of
September 11, 2001. While both DOE and NNSA have undertaken
commendable near-term efforts to hire additional security
personnel and reinforce operational security, longer-term
efforts to harden facilities physically and to apply security
technology have lagged. The Secretary of Energy testified
before the committee that full protection against the DBT will
not be achieved before 2008. The committee encourages DOE to
accelerate the achievement of compliance at those sites
containing assets of gravest concern--nuclear weapons and
special nuclear material.

Cost estimate for Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant project,
Hanford Site, Richland, Washington (sec. 3106)

The committee is aware of significant design changes being
made at the Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) at the Hanford site
near Richland, Washington, due in part to increased
understanding of seismic criteria for the facility. The
committee is concerned that the approach to this project--one
where design and construction take place concurrently--may lead
to significant cost escalation. Prior to the most recent design
changes, the total estimated project cost for the WTP was
approximately $6.0 billion.
The committee understands that the Department of Energy has
tasked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to update its prior
cost estimate of the WTP. The committee directs that this
effort by the Corps of Engineers be expanded to include the
development of a full independent cost estimate of the Waste
Treatment and Immobilization Plant project. The committee
directs that the independent cost estimate shall include the
total cost to complete the project and annual funding required
to complete the project, enumerated by year. The independent
cost estimate shall include the total and annual costs to
complete the project for a project completion date in each of
the following years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. The
Secretary of Energy shall provide this new cost estimate to the
congressional defense committees no later than March 1, 2006.

Report on international border security programs (sec. 3107)

The committee recommends a provision that would require the
Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretaries of
Defense, State and, as appropriate, Homeland Security, to
submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the
Senate and the House of Representatives within 120 days after
enactment of this Act on the management of border security
programs in the countries of the former Soviet Union and in
other countries. The report would include: (1) a description of
the roles and responsibilities of each U.S. department and
agency in international border security programs; (2) a
description of the interactions and coordination among U.S.
departments and agencies that are conducting international
border security programs; (3) a description of the mechanisms
that exist to ensure coordination, avoid duplication, and
provide a means to resolve conflicts or problems that might
arise in the implementation of international border security
programs; (4) a discussion of whether there is existing
interagency guidance that addresses the roles, interactions,
and dispute resolution mechanisms for departments and agencies
of the U.S. government that are conducting international border
security programs, and the adequacy of such guidance if it
exists; and (5) recommendations to improve the coordination and
effectiveness of international border security programs.
The committee notes that a January 2005 report of the
Government Accountability Office (GAO) entitled ``Weapons of
Mass Destruction: Nonproliferation Needs Better Integration''
identified a strong need for government-wide guidance to
delineate the roles, interactions, and responsibilities of
agencies--in particular, the Departments of Energy, Defense,
and State--in managing international border security programs.
The committee further notes that a March 2005 GAO report
entitled ``Preventing Nuclear Smuggling: DOE has made limited
progress in installing radiation detection equipment at highest
priority foreign seaports'' recommends that the Department of
Energy (DOE) develop a comprehensive long-term plan for the
Megaports program that would identify criteria for deciding how
many and which lower priority ports to complete if DOE
continues to have difficulties initiating work at its highest
priority ports, and that DOE reevaluate the per port cost
estimates and adjust long-term cost projections as necessary.
The committee understands that DOE has revised its port
priority model and has begun work on the comprehensive plan
recommended by the GAO. The Megaports program, the largest
border security program of the Department of Energy, is a key
program to be included in the report required by this
provision.

Items of Special Interest

National security implications of the Rare Isotope Accelerator

The committee is aware that the Rare Isotope Accelerator
(RIA) is a high priority civilian science facility under study
by the Department of Energy Office of Science. The committee
understands that RIA would allow precise measurements of
nuclear physics phenomena through the development of beams of
isotopes that are 10 to 100 times more powerful than those
available today and in many cases not available at all. The
committee believes such research into the fundamental structure
of matter may have possible utility in the analysis of nuclear
weapons physics.
The committee directs the Secretary of Energy to report to
the congressional defense committees no later than 90 days
after enactment of this Act on the potential utility, if any,
of data from the RIA on issues concerning national security and
on any duplication between the potential capability of the RIA
and any capabilities being developed with atomic energy defense
funds.

Role of the Kansas City Plant

The committee is aware that the Kansas City Plant continues
to play an important role in the nuclear weapons activities of
the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The
mission of the Kansas City Plant is the procurement,
production, and life-cycle support of the non-nuclear
components of nuclear warheads. To perform this mission, the
Kansas City Plant provides precision manufacturing, packaging
of specialty mechanisms and microelectronics, specialty
materials, and leading-edge technologies like high speed
optical electronic telemetry systems. The Kansas City Plant
provides an array of mission essential products and services in
one secure environment, and continues to receive outstanding
performance ratings from NNSA in the fulfillment of its award
fee contract.
TITLE XXXII--DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES SAFETY BOARD

Authorization (sec. 3201)
The committee recommends a provision that would authorize
$22.0 million for the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board,
the amount of the budget request.
TITLE XXXIII--NATIONAL DEFENSE STOCKPILE

Revisions to required receipt objectives for previously authorized
disposals from the National Defense Stockpile (sec. 3301)
The committee recommends a provision that would revise
authorizations for disposal of current inventories of excess
and obsolete material in the National Defense Stockpile.

LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS

Departmental Recommendations

By letter dated April 7, 2005, the General Counsel of the
Department of Defense forwarded to the President of the Senate
proposed legislation ``To authorize appropriations for fiscal
year 2006 for military activities of the Department of Defense,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2006,
and for other purposes.'' The transmittal letter and proposed
legislation were officially referred as Executive Communication
1578 to the Committee on Armed Services on April 7, 2005.
Executive Communication 1578 is available for review at the
committee.

Committee Action

The Committee ordered reported a comprehensive original
bill and a series of original bills for the Department of
Defense, military construction and Department of Energy
authorizations by voice vote.
There were no rollcall votes on amendments to the bill.

Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

It was not possible to include the Congressional Budget
Office cost estimate on this legislation because it was not
available at the time the report was filed. It will be included
in material presented during floor debate on the legislation.

Regulatory Impact

Paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the
Senate requires that a report on the regulatory impact of the
bill be included in the report on the bill. The committee finds
that there is no regulatory impact in the case of the National
Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal Year 2006.

Changes in Existing Law

Pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of
the Standing Rules of the Senate, the changes in existing law
made by certain portions of the bill have not been shown in
this section of the report because, in the opinion of the
committee, it is necessary to dispense with showing such
changes in order to expedite the business of the Senate and
reduce the expenditure of funds.