[House Report 115-676] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 115th Congress } { Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session } { 115-676 _______________________________________________________________________ NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019 __________ R E P O R T OF THE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON H.R. 5515 together with ADDITIONAL AND DISSENTING VIEWS [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT] May 15, 2018.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed _________ U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 30-053 WASHINGTON : 2018 COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES One Hundred Fifteenth Congress WILLIAM M. ``MAC'' THORNBERRY, Texas, Chairman WALTER B. JONES, North Carolina ADAM SMITH, Washington JOE WILSON, South Carolina ROBERT A. BRADY, Pennsylvania FRANK A. LoBIONDO, New Jersey SUSAN A. DAVIS, California ROB BISHOP, Utah JAMES R. LANGEVIN, Rhode Island MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio RICK LARSEN, Washington MIKE ROGERS, Alabama JIM COOPER, Tennessee BILL SHUSTER, Pennsylvania MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO, Guam K. MICHAEL CONAWAY, Texas JOE COURTNEY, Connecticut DOUG LAMBORN, Colorado NIKI TSONGAS, Massachusetts ROBERT J. WITTMAN, Virginia JOHN GARAMENDI, California DUNCAN HUNTER, California JACKIE SPEIER, California MIKE COFFMAN, Colorado MARC A. VEASEY, Texas VICKY HARTZLER, Missouri TULSI GABBARD, Hawaii AUSTIN SCOTT, Georgia BETO O'ROURKE, Texas MO BROOKS, Alabama DONALD NORCROSS, New Jersey PAUL COOK, California RUBEN GALLEGO, Arizona BRAD R. WENSTRUP, Ohio SETH MOULTON, Massachusetts BRADLEY BYRNE, Alabama COLLEEN HANABUSA, Hawaii SAM GRAVES, Missouri CAROL SHEA-PORTER, New Hampshire ELISE M. STEFANIK, New York JACKY ROSEN, Nevada MARTHA McSALLY, Arizona A. DONALD McEACHIN, Virginia STEPHEN KNIGHT, California SALUD O. CARBAJAL, California STEVE RUSSELL, Oklahoma ANTHONY G. BROWN, Maryland SCOTT DesJARLAIS, Tennessee STEPHANIE N. MURPHY, Florida RALPH LEE ABRAHAM, Louisiana RO KHANNA, California TRENT KELLY, Mississippi TOM O'HALLERAN, Arizona MIKE GALLAGHER, Wisconsin THOMAS R. SUOZZI, New York MATT GAETZ, Florida JIMMY PANETTA, California DON BACON, Nebraska JIM BANKS, Indiana LIZ CHENEY, Wyoming JODY B. HICE, Georgia PAUL MITCHELL, Michigan Jen Stewart, Staff Director C O N T E N T S ---------- Page Purpose of the Legislation....................................... 01 Rationale for the Committee Bill................................. 02 Hearings......................................................... 04 Committee Position............................................... 04 Explanation of the Committee Amendments.......................... 04 Relationship of Authorization to Appropriations.................. 04 Summary of Discretionary Authorizations in the Bill.............. 05 Budget Authority Implication..................................... 05 DIVISION A--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATIONS................. 06 TITLE I--PROCUREMENT............................................. 06 Aircraft Procurement, Army................................... 06 Items of Special Interest.................................. 06 Apache attack helicopters................................ 06 Light utility helicopter................................. 06 Report on efforts to reduce operational and maintenance costs for CH-47........................................ 07 Unmanned aerial system units for Army National Guard..... 07 Missile Procurement, Army.................................... 07 Items of Special Interest.................................. 07 Stinger missile modernization program.................... 07 Procurement of Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles, Army..... 08 Items of Special Interest.................................. 08 Armored brigade combat team modernization................ 08 M240 medium machine gun modernization.................... 09 M3E1 Carl Gustaf weapon system........................... 10 Paladin Integrated Management............................ 10 Stryker upgrades......................................... 10 Procurement of Ammunition, Army.............................. 11 Items of Special Interest.................................. 11 M58 MICLIC............................................... 11 Other Procurement, Army...................................... 12 Items of Special Interest.................................. 12 CREW electronic counter-measure systems.................. 12 Enhanced rapid airfield construction capability.......... 12 Mine resistant ambush protected vehicle sustainment...... 13 Tactical Communication and Protective Systems (TCAPS) authorization.......................................... 13 Tactical network modernization........................... 13 Tactical wheeled vehicle industrial base sustainment..... 14 Aircraft Procurement, Navy................................... 14 Items of Special Interest.................................. 14 Current and future anti-submarine warfare system study... 14 Long-range naval carrier aviation........................ 15 MQ-4..................................................... 15 Navy Reserve F/A-18 aircraft............................. 16 Weapons Procurement, Navy.................................... 16 Items of Special Interest.................................. 16 Advanced Low Cost Munition Ordnance...................... 16 Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy............................ 17 Items of Special Interest.................................. 17 Frigate.................................................. 17 Nimitz-class aircraft carrier service life extension..... 17 Other Procurement, Navy...................................... 18 Items of Special Interest.................................. 18 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer radar backfit.............. 18 MH-60R dipping sonar upgrades............................ 18 SPY-6 inherent capabilities.............................. 19 Surface ship torpedo defense............................. 19 Procurement, Marine Corps.................................... 20 Items of Special Interest.................................. 20 Indoor Simulated Markmanship Trainers.................... 20 Rapid acquisition of Rifle Integrated Controller......... 20 Aircraft Procurement, Air Force.............................. 21 Items of Special Interest.................................. 21 A-10 replacement wings................................... 21 Air Force enlisted pilot implementation initiatives...... 21 B-2 secure communication modernization plan.............. 22 C-130H modernization efforts............................. 22 C-130H propulsion systems upgrade........................ 23 Compass Call transition plan............................. 23 F-15C Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System................................................. 24 F-35 autonomic logistics information system.............. 24 F-35 canopy transparencies............................... 25 F-35 sustainment affordability........................... 25 Future sustainment of remotely piloted aircraft tactical intelligence and strike capabilities................... 26 OA-X light attack aircraft program....................... 26 Production adjustment for KC-46A air refueling aircraft.. 27 RQ-4 Global Hawk and EQ-4 battlefield airborne communications node aircraft........................... 28 Total Force C-17 Fleet Management Plan................... 28 Total Force KC-135R net centric operations and battlespace awareness.................................. 29 U-2...................................................... 29 Missile Procurement, Air Force............................... 30 Items of Special Interest.................................. 30 AIM-120 production rate.................................. 30 Other Procurement, Air Force................................. 30 Items of Special Interest.................................. 30 Deployable Air Base Systems.............................. 30 Procurement, Defense-Wide.................................... 31 Items of Special Interest.................................. 31 Common Analytical Laboratory System...................... 31 Multi-Domain Command and Control......................... 31 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 31 Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations.................. 31 Section 101--Authorization of Appropriations............... 31 Subtitle B--Army Programs.................................... 31 Section 111--National Guard and Reserve Component Equipment Report................................................... 31 Section 112--Limitation on Availability of Funds for M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle Program......................... 32 Subtitle C--Navy Programs.................................... 32 Section 121--Increase in Number of Operational Aircraft Carriers of the Navy..................................... 32 Section 122--Procurement Authority for Ford Class Aircraft Carrier Program.......................................... 32 Section 123--Full Ship Shock Trial for Ford Class Aircraft Carrier.................................................. 32 Section 124--Multiyear Procurement Authority for Amphibious Vessels.................................................. 32 Section 125--Multiyear Procurement Authority for Standard Missile-6................................................ 32 Section 126--Multiyear Procurement Authority for E-2D Aircraft................................................. 32 Section 127--Multiyear Procurement Authority for F/A-18E/F Aircraft and EA-18G Aircraft............................. 33 Section 128--Modifications to F/A-18 Aircraft to Mitigate Physiological Episodes................................... 33 Section 129--Frigate Class Ship Program.................... 33 Section 130--Limitation on Procurement of Economic Order Quantities for Virginia Class Submarine Program.......... 33 Section 131--Limitation on Use of Funds for DDG-51 Destroyers............................................... 33 Subtitle D--Air Force Programs............................... 33 Section 141--Inventory Requirement for Air Refueling Tanker Aircraft; Limitation on Retirement of KC-10A Aircraft.... 33 Section 142--Limitation on Use of Funds for KC-46A Aircraft Pending Submittal of Certification....................... 34 Section 143--Retirement Date for VC-25A Aircraft........... 34 Section 144--Contract for Logistics Support for VC-25B Aircraft................................................. 34 Section 145--Multiyear Procurement Authority for C-130J Aircraft................................................. 34 Section 146--Removal of Waiting Period for Limitation on Availability of Funds for EC-130H Compass Call Recapitalization Program................................. 34 Section 147--Findings and Sense of Congress Regarding KC-46 Aerial Refueling Tankers................................. 34 Subtitle E--Defense-Wide, Joint, and Multiservice Matters.... 34 Section 151--Buy-to-Budget Acquisition of F-35 Aircraft.... 34 Section 152--Certification on Inclusion of Technology to Minimize Physiological Episodes in Certain Aircraft...... 34 TITLE II--RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION............ 35 Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Army............ 35 Items of Special Interest.................................. 35 Accelerated integration to counter emerging threats...... 35 Assured Position, Navigation and Timing.................. 35 Targeted Soldier Borne Sensor efforts.................... 36 Computational molecular modeling and simulation for material development................................... 36 Future digital munitions and integration................. 36 Future Vertical Lift..................................... 37 Harnessing Emerging Research Opportunities to Empower Soldiers............................................... 37 High energy laser systems integration laboratory......... 38 Improved Turbine Engine Program.......................... 38 Initial Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense capability...... 38 Iron Dome experimentation and assessment for short-range air defense............................................ 39 Lightweight metal matrix composite technology for combat and tactical vehicles.................................. 40 M119 105mm self-propelled artillery system technology.... 40 Mobile camouflage system................................. 41 Personal Protective Equipment advance technology development............................................ 41 Shoot-on-the-Move experimentation for short range air defense systems........................................ 42 Soldier power and composite armor development............ 42 Squad multipurpose equipment transport................... 42 Supercavitating ammunition technology.................... 43 Third Generation Forward-Looking Infrared development.... 43 Transport telemedicine system............................ 44 Urban warfare training................................... 44 Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Navy............ 45 Items of Special Interest.................................. 45 Academic partnerships for undersea unmanned warfare research............................................... 45 Artificial intelligence and computer vision technologies in Navy unmanned systems............................... 45 Briefing for the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Armed Services on US Navy's efforts to expand carrier air wing long-range strike capability............................................. 46 Briefing on Navy support for research into autonomous systems................................................ 46 Briefing on ongoing engine noise reduction efforts....... 47 Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services..... 47 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program...... 47 Directed energy and non-lethal weapons technology policy and guidance........................................... 48 E2-D Advanced Hawkeye Identification Friend or Foe....... 48 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile for fixed wing aircraft (JAGM-F) integration................................... 48 Marine Corps Group 5-class unmanned aircraft development. 49 Maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities demonstration............................. 49 Naval underwater test ranges............................. 50 MQ-25 Unmanned Carrier Aviation program.................. 50 Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal recovery operations..... 51 Navy Next Generation Enterprise Network.................. 51 Navy Theater Anti-Submarine Warfare prototyping.......... 51 Ocular Interruption System............................... 52 Passive rocket propelled grenade armor protection technology............................................. 52 Small Business Innovation Research--Automated Test and Retest Program......................................... 52 TH-57 follow-on training system.......................... 53 U.S. Navy MH-60R helicopter antisubmarine warfare and aircraft health monitoring............................. 53 Warfighter safety and performance........................ 54 Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Air Force....... 54 Items of Special Interest.................................. 54 Academic and industrial partnerships for aerospace materials.............................................. 54 Academic partnerships for modeling, design, and analysis of unmanned air platforms.............................. 55 Advanced engine development program...................... 55 Advanced pilot training program.......................... 56 Advanced radar threat system emitters.................... 56 Advanced Turbine Engine Gas Generators................... 57 Aerospace composite structures manufacturing............. 57 Air Force test and evaluation support.................... 57 Air Operations Center software modernization utilizing agile development software processes................... 58 Autonomous life support system........................... 58 Education and outreach for anti-tampering and cybersecurity research................................. 59 F-15 ALQ-128 electronic warfare warning set.............. 59 F-35 follow-on development............................... 60 Metals Affordability Initiative.......................... 60 Passive ground-based imaging of space objects............ 61 Precision metrology tools................................ 61 Recapitalization of Battle-Management, Command and Control, and associated intelligence capabilities in support of ground forces............................... 61 Reusable hypersonic vehicle structure development........ 62 Robust aircraft electrical power and thermal management systems................................................ 62 Secure-live-virtual-constructive advanced training environment............................................ 63 Small diameter bomb II cost reduction initiative......... 63 Technology Transition Program............................ 63 Wide-area motion imagery intelligence capability......... 64 Wind energy development radar mitigation efforts......... 64 Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-Wide.... 65 Items of Special Interest.................................. 65 Advanced ceramic capabilities............................ 65 Antitoxin to combat botulinum toxin...................... 65 Autonomous capabilities.................................. 66 Central Test and Evaluation Investment Program........... 66 Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive standoff detection........................... 67 Common data environment for modeling and simulation...... 67 Contraband cellular devices.............................. 67 Counter small tactical unmanned air systems.............. 67 Counter-unmanned aerial system threat detection.......... 68 Enhanced Maritime Biological Detection................... 68 Fielding of radiation detection devices.................. 69 Future uses of synthetic biology......................... 69 Historically black colleges and universities, and minority serving institutions.......................... 69 Innovative installation capabilities..................... 70 Joint Regional Security Stacks........................... 70 Joint threat warning system.............................. 70 Military Free Fall School................................ 71 Minerva Research Initiative.............................. 71 National Hypersonics Initiative.......................... 71 National lab integration in defense innovation hubs...... 72 Non-lethal directed energy technologies.................. 73 Protect DIB critical technologies........................ 73 Rapidly deployable radar system.......................... 73 Report on DoD target and threat systems.................. 74 Research to enhance the understanding of adversarial influence operations................................... 74 Use of authority for transactions other than contracts and grants by the Department of Defense................ 75 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 76 Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations.................. 76 Section 201--Authorization of Appropriations............... 76 Subtitle B--Program Requirements, Restrictions, and Limitations.............................................. 76 Section 211--Modification of Authority to Carry Out Certain Prototype Projects....................................... 76 Section 212--Extension of Directed Energy Prototype Authority................................................ 76 Section 213--Prohibition on Availability of Funds for the Weather Common Component Program......................... 76 Section 214--Limitation Pending Certification on the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System Recapitalization Program.................................................. 77 Section 215--Limitation on Availability of Funds for F-35 Continuous Capability Development and Delivery........... 77 Section 216--Limitation on Availability of Funds Pending Report on Agile Software Development and Software Operations............................................... 77 Section 217--Limitation on Availability of Funds for Certain High Energy Laser Advanced Technology............ 78 Section 218--Plan for Elimination or Transfer of the Strategic Capabilities Office of the Department of Defense.................................................. 78 Section 219--National Security Science and Technology Strategy................................................. 78 Section 220--Modification of CVN-73 to Support Fielding of MQ-25 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle............................ 78 Subtitle C--Reports and Other Matters........................ 78 Section 221--Report on Survivability of Air Defense Artillery................................................ 78 Section 222--Report on T-45 Aircraft Physiological Episode Mitigation Actions....................................... 79 Section 223--Report on Efforts of the Air Force to Mitigate Physiological Episodes Affecting Aircraft Crewmembers.... 79 Section 224--Briefing on Use of Quantum Sciences for Military Applications and Other Purposes................. 79 Section 225--Report on Defense Innovation Unit Experimental 79 TITLE III--OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE............................. 79 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 79 Logistics and Sustainment Issues............................. 79 Briefing on Rapidly Deployable Structures.................. 79 Corrosion Prevention for Improved Air Force Readiness...... 80 Innovative Engine Sustainment Wash-Down Management Program. 80 Leveraging Technology to Improve Equipment Readiness....... 81 Life Cycle Costs of Major Defense Acquisition Programs..... 81 Management of Navy Legacy F/A-18 Aircraft.................. 82 Navy Next-Generation Small Arms Weapons Training and Readiness Requirements................................... 82 Navy Ship Maintenance and Repair........................... 83 Supply of Aviation Parts and Spares........................ 84 Readiness Issues............................................. 84 Additive Manufacturing in Depot Facilities................. 84 Adversary Air Training..................................... 84 Army Soldier and Squad Virtual Trainer..................... 85 Assessment of Navy Standard Workweek....................... 85 Availability and Sufficiency of Training Ranges to Conduct Training against Near-Peer Adversaries................... 85 Briefing on Security Forces Assistance Brigade Location Plan..................................................... 86 CONUS Training Facilities.................................. 86 Entry Control Facility Technology.......................... 87 Foreign Language Readiness................................. 87 Forward Deployed Naval Force Ship Maintenance and Repair Capacity................................................. 88 Immersive Virtual Shipboard Environment Training........... 88 Information Operations..................................... 89 Live, Virtual, and Constructive Training Solution Enhancements............................................. 89 Military Working Dog Capacity and Facilities............... 90 Modeling and Simulation for Training, Exercises, and Joint Planning................................................. 90 Modernization and Integration of Major Range and Test Facilities Bases......................................... 91 Surface Fleet Live Fire Training........................... 91 Universal Camouflage Inventory and Overdye Technology...... 91 Other Matters................................................ 92 Air Refueling Capability and Capacity...................... 92 Disposition of Excess Military Ground Vehicles............. 92 Fluorine-Free Fire Fighting Foam........................... 93 Improving Water Security and Efficiency on Installations... 93 Joint Navy-Coast Guard Arctic Strategy..................... 94 Meeting Readiness Requirements Efficiently................. 94 Motorcycle Safety Training................................. 94 Open-Air Disposal of Munitions and Munition Constituents... 95 Physical Security at U.S. Shipyards........................ 95 Quality of Life at Remote Sites............................ 96 Regional Biosecurity Plan.................................. 96 Review of Household Good Weight Allowances................. 96 Review of Mandatory Training Required by Law............... 97 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 97 Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations.................. 97 Section 301--Authorization of Appropriations............... 97 Subtitle B--Energy and Environment........................... 97 Section 311--Inclusion of Consideration of Energy and Climate Resiliency Efforts in Master Plans for Major Military Installations................................... 97 Section 312--Use of Proceeds from Sales of Electrical Energy Derived from Geothermal Resources for Projects at Military Installations Where Resources Are Located....... 97 Section 313--Extension of Authorized Periods of Permitted Incidental Takings of Marine Mammals in the Course of Specified Activities by Department of Defense............ 98 Section 314--State Management and Conservation of Species.. 98 Subtitle C--Logistics and Sustainment........................ 98 Section 321--Examination of Naval Vessels.................. 98 Section 322--Overhaul and Repair of Naval Vessels in Foreign Shipyards........................................ 98 Section 323--Limitation on Length of Overseas Forward Deployment of Naval Vessels.............................. 98 Section 324--Temporary Modification of Workload Carryover Formula.................................................. 99 Section 325--Limitation on Use of Funds for Implementation of Elements of Master Plan for Redevelopment of Former Ship Repair Facility in Guam............................. 99 Section 326--Business Case Analysis for Proposed Relocation of J85 Engine Regional Repair Center..................... 99 Section 327--Army Advanced and Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence..................................... 99 Subtitle D--Reports.......................................... 99 Section 331--Matters for Inclusion in Quarterly Reports on Personnel and Unit Readiness............................. 99 Section 332--Annual Comptroller General Reviews of Readiness of Armed Forces to Conduct Full Spectrum Operations............................................... 100 Section 333--Surface Warfare Training Improvement.......... 100 Section 334--Report on Optimizing Surface Navy Vessel Inspections and Crew Certifications...................... 100 Subtitle E--Other Matters.................................... 101 Section 341--Coast Guard Representation on Explosive Safety Board.................................................... 101 Section 342--Shiloh National Military Park Boundary Adjustment and Parker's Crossroads Battlefield Designation.............................................. 101 Section 343--Sense of Congress Regarding Critical Minerals. 101 TITLE IV--MILITARY PERSONNEL AUTHORIZATIONS...................... 101 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 101 Subtitle A--Active Forces.................................... 101 Section 401--End Strengths for Active Forces............... 101 Section 402--Revisions in Permanent Active Duty End Strength Minimum Levels.................................. 102 Subtitle B--Reserve Forces................................... 102 Section 411--End Strengths for Selected Reserve............ 102 Section 412--End Strengths for Reserves on Active Duty in Support of the Reserves.................................. 102 Section 413--End Strengths for Military Technicians (Dual Status).................................................. 103 Section 414--Maximum Number of Reserve Personnel Authorized To Be on Active Duty for Operational Support............. 103 Subtitle C--Authorization of Appropriations.................. 104 Section 421--Military Personnel............................ 104 TITLE V--MILITARY PERSONNEL POLICY............................... 104 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 104 Active Military Service of the Korean Constabulary......... 104 Best Practices for Prevention and Response to Sexual Assault.................................................. 104 Briefing on Commissioning Production of Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps................................... 105 Briefing on Credentialing Programs......................... 105 Briefing on Department of Defense Inspector General Processing Times......................................... 105 Comptroller General Report on Active Duty Female Retention. 106 Deconflicting Reserve Component and Expeditionary Civilian Deployments to Provide Adequate Dwell Time............... 106 Federal Wildland Firefighting Education in the Transition Assistance Program (TAP)................................. 107 Foreign Area Officer Personnel Training and Career Management............................................... 108 Foster and Adoptive Military Families...................... 108 Implicit Bias Training..................................... 109 Incorporating Consideration of Advanced Technologies into Professional Military Education.......................... 109 Interagency Recruitment Cooperation Efforts................ 110 Joint Professional Military Education and Professional Military Education Curricula............................. 111 Military Academy Preparatory School Class Enrollment....... 111 Report on Certain Victims' Rights in Connection with Prosecution of Sex-Related Offenses...................... 112 Report on Legal Training for Commanders.................... 112 Report on Processes for Federal Recognition of Promotion of Commissioned National Guard Officers..................... 113 U.S. Air Force Pilot Staff Requirements Validation......... 114 U.S. Special Operations Command Preservation of the Force and Families Program Contract Support.................... 114 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 115 Subtitle A--Regular Component Management..................... 115 Section 501--Expansion of Authority to Award Constructive Service Credit for Advanced Education, Experience, or Training, upon Original Appointment as a Commissioned Officer.................................................. 115 Section 502--Surface Warfare Officers Career Paths......... 115 Section 503--Authority of Selection Boards to Recommend Officers of Particular Merit Be Placed at the Top of the Promotion List........................................... 115 Section 504--Deferred Deployment for Members Who Give Birth 115 Section 505--Codification of Lowered Grade for Retired Officers or Persons Who Committed Misconduct in a Lower Grade.................................................... 116 Section 506--Retention of Military Technicians Who Lose Dual Status under Certain Circumstances.................. 116 Subtitle B--Reserve Component Management..................... 116 Section 511--Placement of National Guard Military Technicians (Dual Status) in the Competitive Service..... 116 Section 512--Authorized Strength and Distribution in Grade. 116 Section 513--National Guard Promotion Accountability....... 116 Section 514--Extension of Authority for Pilot Program on Use of Retired Senior Enlisted Members of the Army National Guard as Army National Guard Recruiters......... 116 Subtitle C--General Service Authorities and Correction of Military Records......................................... 117 Section 521--Enlistments Vital to the National Interest.... 117 Section 522--Statement of Benefits......................... 117 Section 523--Modification to Forms of Support That May Be Accepted in Support of the Mission of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency........................................ 117 Section 524--Correction of Military Records Website........ 117 Section 525--Modification of DD Form 214 to Include Email Addresses................................................ 117 Section 526--Public Availability of Reports Related to Senior Leader Misconduct................................. 117 Section 527--Appointment and Training of Personnel to Staff the Board of Corrections for Military and Naval Records.. 117 Subtitle D--Military Justice................................. 118 Section 531--Minimum Confinement Period Required for Conviction of Certain Sex-Related Offenses Committed by Members of the Armed Forces.............................. 118 Section 532--Punitive Article in the Uniform Code of Military Justice on Domestic Violence.................... 118 Section 533--Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces................................................... 118 Section 534--Modification of Military Rules of Evidence to Exclude Admissibility of General Military Character toward Probability of Innocence in Any Offense Not Strictly Related to Performance of Military Duties....... 118 Section 535--Improved Crime Reporting...................... 118 Section 536--Oversight of Registered Sex Offender Management Program....................................... 118 Subtitle E--Other Legal Matters.............................. 119 Section 541--Security Clearance Reinvestigation of Certain Personnel Who Commit Certain Offenses.................... 119 Section 542--Consideration of Application for Transfer for a Student of a Military Service Academy Who Is the Victim of a Sexual Assault or Related Offense................... 119 Section 543--Standardization of Policies Related to Expedited Transfer in Cases of Sexual Assault............ 119 Section 544--Development of Oversight Plan for Implementation of Department of Defense Harassment Prevention and Response Policy........................... 119 Section 545--Development of Resource Guides Regarding Sexual Assault for the Military Service Academies........ 119 Section 546--Report on Victims in MCIO Reports............. 119 Subtitle F--Member Education, Training, Resilience, and Transition............................................... 120 Section 551--Permanent Career Intermission Program......... 120 Section 552--Improvements to Transition Assistance Program. 120 Section 553--Employment and Compensation of Civilian Faculty Members at the Joint Special Operations University............................................... 120 Section 554--Program to Assist Members of the Armed Forces in Obtaining Professional Credentials.................... 120 Section 555--Extension of Pilot Program to Assist Members in Obtaining Post-Service Employment..................... 120 Section 556--Direct Employment Pilot Program for Members of the Reserve Components and Veterans...................... 120 Section 557--Extended Duration of Availability of Military OneSource Program Services for Members of the Armed Forces upon their Separation or Retirement............... 121 Section 558--Comptroller General Briefing and Report on Permanent Employment Assistance Centers.................. 121 Section 559--Activities to Increase Awareness of Apprenticeship Programs.................................. 121 Subtitle G--Defense Dependents' Education and Military Family Readiness Matters........................................ 121 Section 561--Enhancement and Clarification of Family Support Services for Family Members of Members of Special Operations Forces........................................ 121 Section 562--Additional Matters for Assessment and Report on Childcare Services of the Department of Defense....... 121 Section 563--Continued Assistance to Schools with Significant Numbers of Military Dependent Students....... 121 Section 564--Department of Defense Education Activity Misconduct Database...................................... 122 Section 565--Report on Assessment of Frequency of Permanent Changes of Station of Members of the Armed Forces on Employment among Military Spouses........................ 122 Subtitle H--Decorations and Awards........................... 122 Section 571--Limitations on Authority to Revoke Certain Military Decorations Awarded to Members of the Armed Forces................................................... 122 Section 572--Authorization for Award of Expeditionary Medal to Certain Marines for Actions on June 8, 1995........... 122 Subtitle I--Miscellaneous Reports and Other Matters.......... 122 Section 581--Public Availability of Top-Line Numbers of Deployed Members of the Armed Forces..................... 122 Section 582--Criteria for Interment at Arlington National Cemetery................................................. 122 Section 583--Report on General and Flag Officer Costs...... 123 Section 584--Report on Outside Employment of Senior Personnel................................................ 123 Section 585--Limitation on Use of Funds Pending Submittal of Report on Army Marketing and Advertising Program...... 123 TITLE VI--COMPENSATION AND OTHER PERSONNEL BENEFITS.............. 123 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 123 Availability of Alcohol at Military Commissary Stores...... 123 Examination of Flexible/Noncontinuous Maternity Leave...... 123 Imminent Danger Pay Adjudication Process................... 124 Small Business Purchasing Contracts for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for the Defense Commissary Agency (``DeCA'').. 124 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 125 Subtitle A--Pay and Allowances............................... 125 Section 601--Prompt Review of Request for Imminent Danger Pay...................................................... 125 Section 602--Application of Basic Allowance for Housing to Members of the Uniformed Services in the Virgin Islands.. 125 Section 603--Mandatory Increase in Insurance Coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance for Members Deployed to Combat Theaters of Operation.......................... 125 Section 604--Military Housing Privatization Initiative..... 125 Section 605--Per Diem Allowance Policies................... 125 Subtitle B--Bonuses and Special Incentive Pays............... 126 Section 611--One-Year Extension of Certain Expiring Bonus and Special Pay Authorities.............................. 126 Subtitle C--Other Matters.................................... 126 Section 621--Expansions of Installation Benefits to Surviving Spouses, Dependent Children, and Other Next of Kin...................................................... 126 Section 622--Transportation on Military Aircraft on a Space-Available Basis for Disabled Veterans with a Service-Connected, Permanent Disability Rated as Total... 126 Section 623--Extension of Parking Expenses Allowance to Civilian Employees at Recruiting Facilities.............. 126 Section 624--Advisory Boards Regarding Military Commissaries and Exchanges............................... 127 Section 625--Study and Report on Development of a Single Defense Resale System.................................... 127 TITLE VII--HEALTH CARE PROVISIONS................................ 127 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 127 Advanced Pain Management Fellows Program................... 127 Athletic Trainers.......................................... 127 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)..................... 128 Comprehensive Women's Health for Active Duty............... 128 Department of Defense Action Plan for Countering Infectious Diseases................................................. 128 Diabetes Prevention Program................................ 129 Direct Report Language on National Guard Mental Health..... 129 Exceptional Family Member Program.......................... 130 GAO Audit of TRICARE....................................... 130 Global Health Engagement Organization Consolidation........ 131 Improving Delivery of Mental Health Services............... 131 Improving Health Care Choices for Severely Injured Service Members.................................................. 132 Joint Advanced Orthopedic Surgical Training................ 132 Mental Health Care in the Military Health System........... 132 Military Entrance Processing Command Physical Examination Model.................................................... 133 Military Nurse Work Experience............................. 134 Military Nutrition and Diet Planning....................... 134 Mitigating Work Place Violence in Military Treatment Facilities............................................... 135 Orthotics for New Recruits................................. 135 Periodic Health Assessment Analysis........................ 135 Podiatric Surgeons in the Military......................... 136 Podiatry in the Military................................... 136 Study on CT Angiography and Fractional Flow Reserve Computed Tomography in the Military Health System........ 137 Support for Global Health Security Agenda and Briefing on Joint Staff Recommendations.............................. 137 Therapeutic Service Dog Training Program for Service Members.................................................. 138 TRICARE Managed Care Support Contractor Reporting.......... 138 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 139 Subtitle A--TRICARE and Other Health Care Benefits........... 139 Section 701--TRICARE Medicare Advantage Demonstration Program.................................................. 139 Section 702--Pilot Program on Treatment of Members of the Armed Forces for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Related to Military Sexual Trauma................................ 139 Section 703--Pilot Program on Cryopreservation and Storage. 139 Subtitle B--Health Care Administration....................... 139 Section 711--Transition of Administration by Defense Health Agency of Military Medical Treatment Facilities.......... 139 Section 712--Sharing Information with State Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs................................. 139 Section 713--Improvement to Notification to Congress of Hospitalization of Combat-Wounded Members of the Armed Forces................................................... 139 Section 714--Improvements to Trauma Center Partnerships.... 140 Section 715--Wounded Warrior Policy Review................. 140 Section 716--Joint Force Medical Capabilities Development and Standardization...................................... 140 Subtitle C--Reports and Other Matters........................ 140 Section 721--Establishment of Triservice Dental Research Program.................................................. 140 Section 722--Increasing the Number of Appointed Directors of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine........................................ 140 Section 723--Extension of Authority for Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund....................................... 140 Section 724--Inclusion of Gambling Disorder in Health Assessments and Related Research Efforts of the Department of Defense.................................... 140 Section 725--Medical Simulation Technology and Live Tissue Training within the Department of Defense................ 141 Section 726--Limitation on Changes to Federal Emergency Services Certification Levels of the Air Force........... 141 Section 727--Strategic Medical Research Plan............... 141 Section 728--Independent Evaluation of Mental Health Care.. 141 Section 729--Study on Reimbursement Rates for Mental Health Care Providers under TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select in the East and West Regions of the TRICARE Program......... 141 TITLE VIII--ACQUISITION POLICY, ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT, AND RELATED MATTERS.............................................. 141 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 141 Assessment of Acquisition Workforce........................ 141 Briefing on Athletic Footwear for New Recruits............. 142 Comptroller General Report on the Issuance of Regulations in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. 142 Contract Incentives for Superior Supplier Performance...... 143 Core Logistics Capability.................................. 143 Data Rights Impact to Sustainment.......................... 143 Domestic Samarium Cobalt Magnet Manufacturing.............. 144 Ensuring Availability of Beryllium......................... 144 Final Activities of and Archiving of Records for Advisory Panel on Streamlining and Codifying Acquisition Regulations.............................................. 145 Installation of Command, Control, Communication and Computer Systems......................................... 145 Mandatory Arbitration Briefing............................. 146 Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program................ 146 National Defense Stockpile................................. 147 Navy Build-to-Print Cost Savings........................... 147 One Hundred Percent Employee-Owned Contractors............. 147 Report on REE-Bearing Waste Recycling...................... 147 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 148 Subtitle A--Streamlining of Defense Acquisition Statutes and Regulations.............................................. 148 Section 800--Effective Dates; Coordination of Amendments... 148 Part I--Consolidation of Defense Acquisition Statutes in New Part V of Subtitle A of Title 10, United States Code..... 148 Section 801--Framework for New Part V of Subtitle A........ 148 Part II--Redesignation of Sections and Chapters of Subtitles B, C, and D to Provide Room for New Part V of Subtitle A. 149 Section 806--Redesignation of Sections and Chapters of Subtitle D of Title 10, United States Code--Air Force.... 149 Section 807--Redesignation of Sections and Chapters of Subtitle C of Title 10, United States Code--Navy and Marine Corps............................................. 149 Section 808--Redesignation of Sections and Chapters of Subtitle B of Title 10, United States Code--Army......... 150 Section 809--Cross References to Redesignated Sections and Chapters................................................. 150 Part III--Repeals of Certain Provisions of Defense Acquisition Law.......................................... 150 Section 811--Amendment to and Repeal of Statutory Requirements for Certain Positions or Offices in the Department of Defense.................................... 150 Section 812--Repeal of Certain Defense Acquisition Laws.... 151 Section 813--Repeal of Certain Department of Defense Reporting Requirements................................... 151 Subtitle B--Amendments to General Contracting Authorities, Procedures, and Limitations.............................. 151 Section 821--Contract Goal for the AbilityOne Program...... 151 Section 822--Increased Micro-Purchase Threshold Applicable to Department of Defense Procurements.................... 151 Section 823--Preference for Offerors Employing Veterans.... 151 Section 824--Revision of Requirement to Submit Information on Services Contracts to Congress........................ 152 Section 825--Data Collection and Inventory for Services Contracts................................................ 153 Section 826--Competition Requirements for Purchases from Federal Prison Industries................................ 153 Section 827--Requirement for a Fair and Reasonable Price for Technical Data Before Development or Production of Major Weapon Systems..................................... 153 Section 828--Revisions in Authority Relating to Program Cost Targets and Fielding Targets for Major Defense Acquisition Programs..................................... 153 Section 829--Revision of Timeline for Use of the Rapid Fielding Pathway for Acquisition Programs................ 154 Section 830--Clarification of Services Contracting Definitions.............................................. 154 Subtitle C--Provisions Relating to Commercial Items.......... 154 Section 831--Revision of Definition of Commercial Item for Purposes of Federal Acquisition Statutes................. 154 Section 832--Definition of Subcontract..................... 155 Section 833--Limitation on Applicability to Department of Defense Commercial Contracts of Certain Provisions of Law and Certain Executive Orders and Regulations............. 155 Section 834--Modifications to Procurement through Commercial E-Commerce Portals............................ 155 Subtitle D--Industrial Base Matters.......................... 155 Section 841--Requirement That Certain Ship Components Be Manufactured in the National Technology and Industrial Base..................................................... 155 Section 842--Report on Domestic Sourcing of Specific Components for All Naval Vessels......................... 156 Section 843--Removal of National Interest Determination Requirements for Certain Entities........................ 156 Section 844--Pilot Program to Test Machine-Vision Technologies to Determine the Authenticity and Security of Microelectronic Parts in Weapon Systems............... 156 Subtitle E--Small Business Matters........................... 157 Section 851--Department of Defense Small Business Strategy. 157 Section 852--Prompt Payments of Small Business Contractors. 157 Section 853--Increased Participation in the Small Business Administration Microloan Program......................... 158 Section 854--Amendments to Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program.................................................. 158 Section 855--Construction Contract Administration.......... 158 Section 856--Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Coordinator.............................................. 158 Section 857--Amendments to the Small Business Investment Act of 1958.............................................. 159 Section 858--Consolidated Budget Justification for the Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program... 159 Section 859--Funding for Procurement Technical Assistance Program.................................................. 159 Section 860--Exemption of Certain Contracts from the Periodic Inflation Adjustments to the Acquisition-Related Dollar Threshold......................................... 159 Subtitle F--Other Matters.................................... 159 Section 871--Additional Requirements for Negotiations for Noncommercial Computer Software.......................... 159 Section 872--Removal of Requirement for Risk and Sensitivity Analysis of Baseline Estimates in Selected Acquisition Reports...................................... 160 Section 873--Prohibition on Acquisition of Sensitive Materials from Non-Allied Foreign Nations................ 160 Section 874--Transfer or Possession of Defense Items for National Defense Purposes................................ 160 Section 875--Expedited Hiring Authority for Shortage Category Positions in the Acquisition Workforce.......... 160 Section 876--Extension of Prohibition on Providing Funds to the Enemy................................................ 161 Section 877--Repeal of Certain Determinations Required for Grants of Exceptions to Cost or Pricing Data Certification Requirements and Waivers of Cost Accounting Standards................................................ 161 Section 878--Reporting on Projects Performed through Transactions Other Than Contracts, Cooperative Agreements, and Grants................................... 161 Section 879--Standardization of Formatting and Public Accessibility of Department of Defense Reports to Congress................................................. 162 Section 880--Defending United States Government Communications........................................... 162 TITLE IX--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT...... 164 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 164 Subtitle A--Organization and Management of the Department of Defense Generally........................................ 164 Section 901--Authority of Secretary of Defense to Determine Command and Control Relationships........................ 164 Section 902--Civilian Personnel Management................. 164 Section 903--Performance of Civilian Functions by Military Personnel................................................ 164 Section 904--Roles of Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.......... 164 Section 905--Designation of Navy Commanders................ 165 Subtitle B--Comprehensive Pentagon Bureaucracy Reform and Reduction................................................ 165 Section 911--Authorities and Responsibilities of the Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense.......... 165 Section 912--Authorities and Responsibilities of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense........... 166 Section 913--Transition of Certain Defense Agencies and Department of Defense Field Activities................... 167 Section 914--Actions to Increase the Efficiency and Transparency of the Defense Logistics Agency............. 167 Section 915--Review of Functions of Defense Contract Audit Agency and Defense Contract Management Agency............ 167 Section 916--Streamlining of Defense Finance and Accounting Services................................................. 168 Section 917--Reduction in Number of Chief Information Officers in the Senior Executive Service................. 168 Section 918--General Provisions............................ 168 Subtitle C--Other Matters.................................... 168 Section 921--Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Policy and Oversight Council............................. 168 Section 922--Limitation on Transfer of the Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Defense Division of the Navy 169 TITLE X--GENERAL PROVISIONS...................................... 169 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 169 Counter-Drug Activities...................................... 169 Colombian Security and the U.S.-Colombian Partnership...... 169 DOD Support to Combating the Opioid Epidemic............... 170 United States-Mexico Security Cooperation.................. 170 Other Matters................................................ 170 Assessment of Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Involuntary Mobilization Plans to Support Special Operations Activities.................................... 170 Briefing on Ukrainian Special Operations Forces Training... 171 Civil Support Team Information Management System........... 172 Close Combat Lethality Task Force.......................... 172 Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Authority for United States Facilities and Assets............................. 173 Counterterrorism Effectiveness Research.................... 174 Development and Procurement of Combat Equipment and Clothing for Female Servicemembers in Combat Occupations. 175 Foreign Currency Fluctuation Account....................... 176 Friendly Force Identification in Close Air Support......... 176 Genetic and Medical Information Security................... 177 MQ-9 Enterprise Supporting Air Combat Command and Air Force Special Operations Command Activities.................... 177 National Guard Access to Department of Defense Owned Unmanned Aircraft Systems................................ 178 Preparedness of U.S. Forces to Counter North Korean Chemical and Biological Weapons.......................... 179 Report on NORTHCOM Response to Hurricane Maria............. 179 Review of National Guard Capabilities in Support of Incident Awareness and Assessment Mission Operations..... 179 Senior Civilian or Military Leaders in Charge of Audit and Financial Management..................................... 180 Soo Locks.................................................. 180 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 181 Subtitle A--Financial Matters................................ 181 Section 1001--General Transfer Authority................... 181 Section 1002--Expertise in Audit Remediation............... 181 Section 1003--Authority to transfer funds to Director of National Intelligence for CAPNET......................... 181 Section 1004--Independent Public Accountant Audit of Financial Systems of the Department of Defense........... 181 Subtitle B--Counterdrug Activities........................... 182 Section 1011--Department of Defense Support for Combating Opioid Trafficking and Abuse............................. 182 Subtitle C--Naval Vessels and Shipyards...................... 182 Section 1021--Inclusion of Operation and Sustainment Costs in Annual Naval Vessel Construction Plans................ 182 Section 1022--Purchase of Vessels Using Funds in National Defense Sealift Fund..................................... 182 Section 1023--Purchase of Vessels Built in Foreign Shipyards with Funds in National Defense Sealift Fund.... 182 Section 1024--Technical Corrections and Clarifications to Chapter 633 of Title 10, United States Code, and Other Provisions of Law Regarding Naval Vessels................ 182 Section 1025--Retention of Navy Hospital Ship Capability... 182 Subtitle D--Counterterrorism................................. 183 Section 1031--Definition of Sensitive Military Operation... 183 Section 1032--Prohibition on Use of Funds for Transfer or Release of Individuals Detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the United States...... 183 Section 1033--Prohibition on Use of Funds to Construct or Modify Facilities in the United States to House Detainees Transferred from United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba................................................ 183 Section 1034--Prohibition on Use of Funds for Transfer or Release of Individuals Detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Certain Countries...... 183 Subtitle E--Miscellaneous Authorities and Limitations........ 183 Section 1041--Notification on the Provision of Defense Sensitive Support........................................ 183 Section 1042--Coordinating United States Response to Malign Foreign Influence Operations and Campaigns............... 184 Section 1043--Workforce Issues for Military Realignments in the Pacific.............................................. 184 Section 1044--Mitigation of Operational Risks Posed to Certain Military Aircraft by Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Equipment......................... 184 Section 1045--Limitation on Availability of Funds for Unmanned Surface Vehicles................................ 184 Section 1046--Program for Department of Defense Controlled Unclassified Information in the Hands of Industry........ 185 Section 1047--Protection of Emerging and Foundational Technologies............................................. 185 Subtitle F--Studies and Reports.............................. 185 Section 1051--Additional Matter for Inclusion in Annual Report on Civilian Casualties in Connection with United States Military Operations............................... 185 Section 1052--Department of Defense Review and Assessment on Advances in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning................................................. 185 Section 1053--Report on Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure........................................... 186 Section 1054--Report on Proposed Consolidation of Department of Defense Global Messaging and Counter Messaging Capabilities................................... 186 Section 1055--Comprehensive Review of Professionalism and Ethics Programs for Special Operations Forces............ 186 Section 1056--Munitions Assessments and Future-Years Defense Program Requirements............................. 186 Section 1057--Report on Establishment of Army Futures Command.................................................. 186 Section 1058--Assessment of Department of Defense Electromagnetic Spectrum Warfare Enterprise.............. 187 Section 1059--Report on Support for Non-Contiguous States and Territories in the Event of Threats and Incidents.... 187 Section 1060--Report on Low-Boom Flight Demonstration...... 187 Section 1061--Report on Cyber-Enabled Information Operations............................................... 187 Subtitle G--Other Matters.................................... 188 Section 1071--Technical, Conforming, and Clerical Amendments............................................... 188 Section 1072--Principal Advisor on Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction......................................... 188 Section 1073--Receipt of Firearm or Ammunition............. 188 Section 1074--Federal Charter for Spirit of America........ 188 Section 1075--Transfer of Aircraft to Other Departments.... 188 Section 1076--Reauthorization of National Aviation Heritage Area..................................................... 188 Section 1077--Recognition of America's Veterans............ 188 Section 1078--National Commission on Military Aviation Safety................................................... 189 Section 1079--Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support.................................................. 189 Section 1080--Sense of Congress on Adversary Air Capabilities............................................. 189 Section 1081--Sense of Congress Regarding Organic Attack Aviator Training Capability.............................. 189 Section 1082--Sense of Congress on the Legacy, Contributions, and Sacrifices of American Indian and Alaska Natives in the Armed Forces....................... 189 Section 1083--Amateur Radio Parity......................... 190 Section 1084--Sense of Congress Regarding the International Borders of the United States............................. 190 Section 1085--Program to Commemorate 75th Anniversary of World War II............................................. 190 TITLE XI--CIVILIAN PERSONNEL MATTERS............................. 190 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 190 Civilian Talent Recruitment................................ 190 Direct Hiring Authority.................................... 191 Presidential Management Fellows Program.................... 191 Recruitment and Hiring of Navy Astronomers................. 192 Workplace Flexibility for Federal Civilians................ 192 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 193 Section 1101--Direct Hire Authority for the Department of Defense for Certain Competitive Service Positions........ 193 Section 1102--Modification of Direct Hire Authority for the Department of Defense for Post-Secondary Students and Recent Graduates......................................... 193 Section 1103--Extension of Overtime Rate Authority for Department of the Navy Employees Performing Work Aboard or Dockside in Support of the Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier Forward Deployed in Japan........................ 193 Section 1104--One-Year Extension and Expansion of Authority to Waive Annual Limitation on Premium Pay and Aggregate Limitation on Pay for Federal Civilian Employees Working Overseas................................................. 193 Section 1105--Appointment of Retired Members of the Armed Forces to Positions in or under the Department of Defense 193 Section 1106--Extension of Authority to Conduct Telework Travel Expenses Test Programs............................ 194 Section 1107--Personnel Demonstration Projects............. 194 Section 1108--Expanded Flexibility in Selecting Candidates from Referral Lists...................................... 194 Section 1109--Temporary and Term Appointments in the Competitive Service...................................... 194 TITLE XII--MATTERS RELATING TO FOREIGN NATIONS................... 194 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 194 Carrier Presence in the Middle East........................ 194 Casualty Evacuation in U.S. Africa Command Area of Operations............................................... 195 Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa................... 195 Coordinating Efforts to Counter the Malign Activities of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation Across Combatant Commands................................ 196 Department of Defense Inspector General Audit of Foreign Military Sales........................................... 196 Foreign Military Sales..................................... 197 Improved Coordination of Activities in Africa with International Partners................................... 197 International Armaments Cooperation........................ 198 Multilateral Cooperation on the Korean Peninsula........... 198 Naval Mine Countermeasure Capability in the U.S. Central Command's Area of Operations............................. 199 Non-Standard Acquisition in Foreign Military Sales......... 199 Report on New START Treaty................................. 200 Report on U.S. Casualty Estimates for Armed Conflict with North Korea.............................................. 200 Security and Stability in Venezuela........................ 201 Support to Syrian Women.................................... 201 Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Support to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.............................. 201 Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP)......... 202 U.S. Military Education and Training Locations............. 203 Western Hemisphere Region Report on Strategy to Increase Engagement with Region................................... 203 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 204 Subtitle A--Assistance and Training.......................... 204 Section 1201--Report on the Use of Security Cooperation Authorities.............................................. 204 Section 1202--Clarification of Authority to Waive Certain Expenses for Activities of the Regional Centers for Security Studies......................................... 204 Section 1203--NATO Strategic Communications Center of Excellence............................................... 205 Section 1204--NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence............................................... 205 Section 1205--Participation in and Support of the Inter- American Defense College................................. 205 Section 1206--Increase in Cost Limitation for Small Scale Construction Related to Security Cooperation............. 205 Section 1207--Report on Security Cooperation with Haiti.... 205 Section 1208--Review and Report on Processes and Procedures Used to Carry Out Section 362 of Title 10, United States Code..................................................... 205 Subtitle B--Matters Relating to Afghanistan and Pakistan..... 206 Section 1211--Extension of Authority to Transfer Defense Articles and Provide Defense Services to the Military and Security Forces of Afghanistan........................... 206 Section 1212--Extension of Authority for Reimbursement of Certain Coalition Nations for Support Provided to United States Military Operations............................... 206 Section 1213--Extension and Modification of Commanders' Emergency Response Program............................... 206 Section 1214--Report on Assistance to Pakistan............. 206 Subtitle C--Matters Relating to Syria, Iraq, and Iran........ 206 Section 1221--Extension and Modification of Authority to Provide Assistance to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria................................................ 206 Section 1222--Extension of Authority to Provide Assistance to the Vetted Syrian Opposition.......................... 207 Section 1223--Extension and Modification of Authority to Support Operations and Activities of the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq............................. 207 Section 1224--Sense of Congress on Ballistic Missile Cooperation to Counter Iran.............................. 207 Section 1225--Strategy to Counter Destabilizing Activities of Iran.................................................. 207 Section 1226--Report on Compliance of Iran under the Chemical Weapons Convention.............................. 208 Section 1227--Report on Potential Release of Chemical Weapons or Chemical Weapons Precursors from Barzeh Research and Development Center and Him Shinshar Chemical Weapons Storage and Bunker Facilities in Homs Province of Syria.................................................... 208 Section 1228--Report on Cooperation between Iran and the Russian Federation....................................... 208 Subtitle D--Matters Relating to the Russian Federation....... 208 Section 1231--Prohibition on Availability of Funds Relating to Sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea..... 208 Section 1232--Limitation on Availability of Funds Relating to Implementation of the Open Skies Treaty............... 209 Section 1233--Comprehensive Response to the Russian Federation's Material Breach of the INF Treaty........... 210 Section 1234--Modification and Extension of Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative........................... 210 Section 1235--Statement of Policy on United States Military Investment in Europe..................................... 211 Section 1236--Imposition of Sanctions with Respect to Certain Persons Providing Sophisticated Goods, Services, or Technologies for Use in the Production of Major Defense Equipment or Advanced Conventional Weapons....... 211 Section 1237--Extension of Limitation on Military Cooperation between the United States and the Russian Federation............................................... 212 Section 1238--Sense of Congress regarding Russia's Violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention............ 212 Section 1239--United States Actions regarding Material Breach of INF Treaty by the Russian Federation........... 212 Section 1240--Limitation on Availability of Funds to Extend the Implementation of the New START Treaty............... 212 Subtitle E--Matters Relating to the Indo-Pacific Region...... 213 Section 1251--Support for Indo-Pacific Stability Initiative 213 Section 1252--United States Strategy on China.............. 213 Section 1253--Strengthening Taiwan's Force Readiness....... 213 Section 1254--Modification, Redesignation, and Extension of Southeast Asia Maritime Security Initiative.............. 214 Section 1255--Missile Defense Exercises in the Indo-Pacific Region with United States Regional Allies and Partners... 214 Section 1256--Quadrilateral Cooperation and Exercise....... 214 Section 1257--Name of United States Indo-Pacific Command... 214 Section 1258--Requirement for Critical Languages and Expertise in Chinese, Korean, and Russian................ 215 Section 1259--Modification of Report Required under Enhancing Defense and Security Cooperation with India.... 215 Section 1260--Statement of Policy on Naval Vessel Transfers to Japan................................................. 215 Section 1261--Report and Public Notification on China's Military, Maritime, and Air Activities in the Indo- Pacific Region........................................... 215 Section 1262--Senior Defense Engagement with Taiwan........ 216 Section 1263--Limitation on Use of Funds to Reduce the Total Number of Members of the Armed Forces on Active Duty Who Are Deployed to the Republic of Korea........... 216 Section 1264--Enhancing Missile Defense Cooperation with Partners................................................. 216 Subtitle F--Other Matters.................................... 216 Section 1271--Report on Status of the United States Relationship with the Republic of Turkey................. 216 Section 1272--Sense of Congress on Unity of Gulf Cooperation Council Member Countries..................... 217 Section 1273--Report on United States Government Police Training and Equipping Programs for Mexico............... 217 Section 1274--Authority to Increase Engagement and Military-to-Military Cooperation with Western Balkans Countries................................................ 217 Section 1275--Technical Corrections Relating to Defense Security Cooperation Statutory Reorganization............ 218 Section 1276--United States-Israel Countering Unmanned Aerial Systems Cooperation............................... 218 Section 1277--Three-Year Extension of Authorization of Non- Conventional Assisted Recovery Capabilities.............. 218 Section 1278--Revision of Statutory References to Former NATO Support Organizations and Related NATO Agreements... 218 Section 1279--Sense of the Congress Concerning Military-to- Military Dialogues....................................... 218 Section 1280--Modifications to Global Engagement Center.... 218 Section 1281--Report on Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreements............................................... 219 Section 1282--Prohibition on Provision of Weapons and Other Forms of Support to Certain Organizations................ 219 Section 1283--Certification and Authority to Terminate Funding for Academic Research Relating to Foreign Talent Programs................................................. 219 Section 1284--Sense of Congress on Support for Georgia..... 219 Section 1285--Sense of Congress on Support for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.................................... 219 Section 1286--Report on United States Strategy in Yemen.... 219 Section 1287--Report on Hizballah.......................... 220 TITLE XIII--COOPERATIVE THREAT REDUCTION......................... 220 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 220 Future of the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program......... 220 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 221 Section 1301--Funding Allocations.......................... 221 Section 1302--Specification of Cooperative Threat Reduction Funds.................................................... 221 TITLE XIV--OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS.................................. 221 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 221 Subtitle A--Military Programs................................ 221 Section 1401--Working Capital Funds........................ 221 Section 1402--Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction, Defense.................................................. 221 Section 1403--Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense-Wide................................. 221 Section 1404--Defense Inspector General.................... 221 Section 1405--Defense Health Program....................... 221 Section 1406--National Defense Sealift Fund................ 222 Subtitle B--Other Matters.................................... 222 Section 1411--Authority for Transfer of Funds to Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund for Captain James A. Lovell Health Care Center, Illinois...................... 222 Section 1412--Authorization of Appropriations for Armed Forces Retirement Home................................... 222 Section 1413--Quarterly Briefing on Progress of Chemical Demilitarization Program................................. 222 TITLE XV--AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS....................................... 222 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 222 Cargo Inspections to Counter Vehicle Borne IED Threats..... 222 National Guard and Reserve Component Equipment Account..... 223 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 223 Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations.................. 223 Section 1501--Purpose of Certain Authorizations of Appropriations........................................... 223 Section 1502--Procurement.................................. 224 Section 1503--Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation.. 224 Section 1504--Operation and Maintenance.................... 224 Section 1505--Military Personnel........................... 224 Section 1506--Working Capital Funds........................ 224 Section 1507--Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense-Wide................................. 224 Section 1508--Defense Inspector General.................... 224 Section 1509--Defense Health Program....................... 224 Subtitle B--Financial Matters................................ 224 Section 1511--Treatment as Additional Authorizations....... 224 Section 1512--Special Transfer Authority................... 225 Subtitle C--Limitations, Reports, and Other Matters.......... 225 Section 1521--Afghanistan Security Forces Fund............. 225 Section 1522--Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Fund.......... 225 TITLE XVI--STRATEGIC PROGRAMS, CYBER, AND INTELLIGENCE MATTERS... 225 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 225 Space Activities............................................. 225 Briefing on Deployed Satellite Communications Terminals.... 225 Briefing on Supply Chain for In-Space Propulsion Thrusters. 226 Commercial Satellite Imagery............................... 226 Commercial Space Situational Awareness Capabilities........ 226 Criteria for Launch Service Agreement Down-Select.......... 227 GPS Backup Demonstration................................... 227 Launch Support and Infrastructure Modernization............ 227 Launch Vehicle Upper Stage Mission Enhancement............. 228 Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Satellites.... 228 Plan for Use of Allied Launch Services in Case of Emergency Need..................................................... 228 Portable Satellite Data Receiver Status.................... 229 Rapid Satellite Capability Reconstitution.................. 229 Satellite Communications................................... 230 Space Flag Exercise and Responsive Launch.................. 230 Use of Commercial Items in Follow-On Wideband Communications System.................................... 231 Missile Defense Programs..................................... 231 Airborne Tracking and Targeting System..................... 231 Cruise Missile Threat to Hawaii............................ 232 Cybersecurity of Ballistic Missile Defense System.......... 232 Hypersonic Defense......................................... 232 Maintenance of Patriot Batteries........................... 233 Options to Supplement Missile Defense of Hawaii............ 233 Patriot Interceptor Inventory.............................. 234 Protection of Ballistic Missile Defense System Components.. 234 Standard Missile-3 Testing and Reliability................. 234 Warfighter Procedures for Responding to and Releasing Information Regarding an Inbound Ballistic Missile Threat 235 Nuclear Forces............................................... 236 Air Force Global Strike Command and Nuclear Deterrence Institute................................................ 236 B83-1 Nuclear Gravity Bomb................................. 236 Comptroller General Review of Plans to Swap B61 Bombs in Europe................................................... 237 Nuclear Survivability and Hostile Environments Testing..... 237 Perimeter Security at NATO Nuclear Bases................... 238 Plutonium Pit Production and Reuse......................... 239 Tonopah Test Range Land Use Agreement...................... 239 Cyber-Related Matters........................................ 240 Addressing Readiness Deficiencies through the Hacking for Defense Innovation Education Program..................... 240 Comptroller General Review of Current Military Cyber Operations............................................... 240 Comptroller General Review of Information Operations Strategy................................................. 241 Cyber Scholarship Program.................................. 242 Information Security Continuous Monitoring and Comply-to- Connect Implementation................................... 242 Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure.................... 243 Mitigation of Autonomous Systems........................... 243 Network Protection......................................... 244 Operational Cyber Testing of Weapons Systems............... 244 Plan to Enhance Coordination with Universities and Industry on Cyber Education....................................... 244 Securing Personally Identifiable Information............... 245 Threat Cyberspace Operations............................... 245 Intelligence Matters......................................... 246 Foundational Intelligence Analysis Modernization........... 246 Insider Threat Detection and User Activity Monitoring...... 246 Insider Threat Risk Model Validation....................... 246 Intelligence Combat Support Agencies....................... 247 Intelligence Support to Cyber Operations................... 247 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Careers in Defense Intelligence..................................... 248 Security and Intelligence Role in Export Control........... 248 Security Clearance Background Investigation Reciprocity.... 248 Strengthening Oversight of the Military Intelligence Program Budget........................................... 249 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 250 Subtitle A--Space Activities................................. 250 Section 1601--Improvements to Acquisition System, Personnel, and Organization of Space Forces.............. 250 Section 1602--Rapid, Responsive, and Reliable Space Launch. 250 Section 1603--Provision of Space Situational Awareness Services and Information................................. 250 Section 1604--Budget Assessments for National Security Space Programs........................................... 251 Section 1605--Enhancement of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Capacity.......................................... 251 Section 1606--Use of Small- and Medium-Size Buses for Strategic and Tactical Satellite Payloads................ 251 Section 1607--Designation of Component of Department of Defense Responsible for Coordination of Modernization Efforts Relating to Military-Code Capable GPS Receiver Cards.................................................... 252 Section 1608--Designation of Component of Department of Defense Responsible for Coordination of Hosted Payload Information.............................................. 252 Section 1609--Limitation on Availability of Funds for Joint Space Operations Center Mission System................... 252 Section 1610--Evaluation and Enhanced Security of Supply Chain for Protected Satellite Communications Programs and Overhead Persistent Infrared Systems..................... 252 Section 1611--Report on Protected Satellite Communications. 253 Section 1612--Plan on Space Warfighting Readiness.......... 253 Section 1613--Study on Space-Based Radio Frequency Mapping. 253 Section 1614--Plan to Provide Persistent Weather Imagery for United States Central Command........................ 253 Subtitle B--Defense Intelligence and Intelligence-Related Activities............................................... 253 Section 1621--Role of Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence............................................. 253 Section 1622--Security Clearance for Dual Nationals........ 253 Section 1623--Department of Defense Counterintelligence Polygraph Program........................................ 254 Section 1624--Defense Intelligence Business Management Systems.................................................. 254 Section 1625--Modification to Annual Briefing on the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Requirements of the Combatant Commands................... 254 Section 1626--Prohibition on the Availability of Funds for Department of Defense Assuming Background Investigation Mission for the Federal Government....................... 254 Subtitle C--Cyberspace-Related Matters....................... 254 Section 1631--Amendments to Pilot Program Regarding Cyber Vulnerabilities of Department of Defense Critical Infrastructure........................................... 254 Section 1632--Budget Display for Cyber Vulnerability Evaluations and Mitigation Activities for Major Weapon Systems of the Department of Defense..................... 255 Section 1633--Transfer of Responsibility for the Department of Defense Information Network to United States Cyber Command.................................................. 255 Section 1634--Pilot Program Authority to Enhance Cybersecurity and Resiliency of Critical Infrastructure.. 255 Section 1635--Pilot Program on Regional Cyber Security Training Center for the Army National Guard.............. 255 Section 1636--Procedures and Reporting Requirement on Cybersecurity Breaches and Loss of Personally Identifiable Information................................. 255 Section 1637--Cyber Institutes at the Senior Military Colleges................................................. 256 Section 1638--Study and Report on Reserve Component Cyber Civil Support Teams...................................... 256 Subtitle D--Nuclear Forces................................... 256 Section 1641--Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Nuclear Weapons Council.............. 256 Section 1642--Long-Range Standoff Weapon Requirements...... 256 Section 1643--Acceleration of Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent Program and Long-Range Standoff Weapon Program. 256 Section 1644--Procurement Authority for Certain Parts of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Fuzes................. 257 Section 1645--Prohibition on Reduction of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles of the United States. 257 Section 1646--Extension of Prohibition on Availability of Funds for Mobile Variant of Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent Missile........................................ 257 Section 1647--Independent Study on Nuclear Weapons Launch- Under-Attack Option...................................... 257 Section 1648--Extension of Annual Report on the Plan for the Nuclear Weapons Stockpile, Nuclear Weapons Complex, Nuclear Weapons Delivery Systems, and Nuclear Weapons Command and Control System............................... 258 Section 1649--Sense of Congress on Nuclear Posture of the United States............................................ 258 Section 1650--Sense of Congress on Extended Nuclear Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific Region.................... 258 Subtitle E--Missile Defense Programs......................... 258 Section 1661--Development of Persistent Space-Based Sensor Architecture............................................. 258 Section 1662--Boost Phase Ballistic Missile Defense........ 258 Section 1663--Improvements to Research and Development and Acquisition Processes of Missile Defense Agency.......... 259 Section 1664--Layered Defense of the United States Homeland 259 Section 1665--Testing of Redesigned Kill Vehicle Prior to Production............................................... 260 Section 1666--Requirements for Ballistic Missile Defense Capable Ships............................................ 260 Section 1667--Multiyear Procurement Authority for Standard Missile-3 Block IB Missiles.............................. 260 Section 1668--Limitation on Availability of Funds for Army Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor................ 260 Section 1669--Missile Defense Radar in Hawaii.............. 260 Section 1670--Reports on Unfunded Priorities of the Missile Defense Agency........................................... 261 Section 1671--Report on Ballistic Missile Defense.......... 261 Section 1672--Sense of Congress on Missile and Rocket Defense Cooperation between the United States and Israel. 261 Subtitle F--Other Matters.................................... 261 Section 1681--Extension of Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse Attacks and Similar Events....................................... 261 Section 1682--Procurement of Ammonium Perchlorate and Other Chemicals for Use in Solid Rocket Motors................. 261 Section 1683--Conventional Prompt Global Strike Hypersonic Capabilities............................................. 262 Section 1684--Report Regarding Industrial Base for Large Solid Rocket Motors...................................... 262 Section 1685--National Intelligence Estimate with Respect to Russian and Chinese Interference in Democratic Countries................................................ 262 DIVISION B--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATIONS................. 263 PURPOSE........................................................ 263 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND FAMILY HOUSING OVERVIEW.............. 263 Section 2001--Short Title.................................. 263 Section 2002--Expiration of Authorizations and Amounts Required To Be Specified by Law.......................... 263 Section 2003--Effective Date............................... 263 TITLE XXI--ARMY MILITARY CONSTRUCTION............................ 263 SUMMARY........................................................ 263 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 264 Explanation of Funding Adjustments......................... 264 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 264 Section 2101--Authorized Army Construction and Land Acquisition Projects..................................... 264 Section 2102--Family Housing............................... 264 Section 2103--Authorization of Appropriations, Army........ 264 Section 2104--Extension of Authorizations of Certain Fiscal Year 2015 Projects....................................... 265 TITLE XXII--NAVY MILITARY CONSTRUCTION........................... 265 SUMMARY........................................................ 265 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 265 Explanation of Funding Adjustments......................... 265 Aegis Ashore Poland Austere Housing........................ 267 Infrastructure in Support of Submarine Training and Operational Requirements................................. 268 Public Shipyard Infrastructure............................. 268 Red Hill Bulk Underground Fuel Storage Facility............ 269 Tijuana Sewage Runoff...................................... 269 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 270 Section 2201--Authorized Navy Construction and Land Acquisition Projects..................................... 270 Section 2202--Family Housing............................... 270 Section 2203--Improvements to Military Family Housing Units 270 Section 2204--Authorization of Appropriations, Navy........ 270 TITLE XXIII--AIR FORCE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION..................... 271 SUMMARY........................................................ 271 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 271 Explanation of Funding Adjustments......................... 271 Infrastructure Investments in Support of Research and Development Contracts.................................... 273 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 273 Section 2301--Authorized Air Force Construction and Land Acquisition Projects..................................... 273 Section 2302--Family Housing............................... 273 Section 2303--Improvements to Military Family Housing Units 273 Section 2304--Authorization of Appropriations, Air Force... 274 Section 2305--Modification of Authority to Carry Out Certain Phased Project Authorized in Fiscal Years 2015, 2016, and 2017........................................... 274 Section 2306--Modification of Authority to Carry Out Certain Fiscal Year 2017 Project......................... 274 Section 2307--Modification of Authority to Carry Out Certain Fiscal Year 2018 Project......................... 274 Section 2308--Additional Authority to Carry Out Certain Fiscal Year 2019 Projects................................ 274 Section 2309--Additional Authority to Carry Out Project at Travis Air Force Base, California, in Fiscal Year 2019... 274 TITLE XXIV--DEFENSE AGENCIES MILITARY CONSTRUCTION............... 275 SUMMARY........................................................ 275 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 275 Explanation of Funding Adjustments......................... 275 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 276 Section 2401--Authorized Defense Agencies Construction and Land Acquisition Projects................................ 276 Section 2402--Authorized Energy Conservation Projects...... 276 Section 2403--Authorization of Appropriations, Defense Agencies................................................. 276 Section 2404--Extension of Authorizations of Certain Fiscal Year 2015 Projects....................................... 277 TITLE XXV--INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS................................ 277 SUMMARY........................................................ 277 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 277 Facilities and Infrastructure for U.S. Military Personnel at North Atlantic Treaty Organization Host Nation Bases.. 277 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 278 Subtitle A--North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program....................................... 278 Section 2501--Authorized NATO Construction and Land Acquisition Projects..................................... 278 Section 2502--Authorization of Appropriations, NATO........ 278 Subtitle B--Host Country In-Kind Contributions............... 278 Section 2511--Republic of Korea Funded Construction Projects................................................. 278 TITLE XXVI--GUARD AND RESERVE FORCES FACILITIES.................. 278 SUMMARY........................................................ 278 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 278 Explanation of Funding Adjustments......................... 278 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 279 Subtitle A--Project Authorizations and Authorization of Appropriations........................................... 279 Section 2601--Authorized Army National Guard Construction and Land Acquisition Projects............................ 279 Section 2602--Authorized Army Reserve Construction and Land Acquisition Projects..................................... 279 Section 2603--Authorized Navy Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve Construction and Land Acquisition Projects....... 279 Section 2604--Authorized Air National Guard Construction and Land Acquisition Projects............................ 279 Section 2605--Authorized Air Force Reserve Construction and Land Acquisition Projects................................ 280 Section 2606--Authorization of Appropriations, National Guard and Reserve........................................ 280 Subtitle B--Other Matters.................................... 280 Section 2611--Modification of Authority to Carry Out Certain Fiscal Year 2016 Project......................... 280 Section 2612--Modification of Authority to Carry Out Certain Fiscal Year 2018 Project......................... 280 Section 2613--Additional Authority to Carry Out Certain Fiscal Year 2019 Project................................. 280 TITLE XXVII--BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE ACTIVITIES............. 280 SUMMARY........................................................ 280 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 281 Explanation of Funding Adjustments......................... 281 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 281 Section 2701--Authorization of Appropriations for Base Realignment and Closure Activities Funded through Department of Defense Base Closure Account............... 281 Section 2702--Additional Authority to Realign or Close Certain Military Installations........................... 281 Section 2703--Prohibition on Conducting Additional Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Round..................... 281 TITLE XXVIII--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION GENERAL PROVISIONS........... 281 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 281 Allied Pilot Training on Advanced Pilot Trainer............ 281 Comptroller General Review of Utilities Privatization...... 282 Core Sampling at Joint Base San Antonio.................... 282 Department of Defense Lands Leases in Hawaii............... 283 Incremental Funding of Military Construction Projects...... 283 Naval Academy Dairy Farm................................... 284 Operational Energy Technologies............................ 284 Privatization of On-Base Lodging........................... 284 Relocation of Defense Non-Tactical Generator and Rail Equipment Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.............. 285 Wireless Communications on Base............................ 285 Yucca Mountain............................................. 286 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 287 Subtitle A--Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing.................................................. 287 Section 2801--Commercial Construction Standards for Facilities on Leased Property............................ 287 Section 2802--Extension of Temporary, Limited Authority to Use Operation and Maintenance Funds for Construction Projects Outside the United States....................... 287 Section 2803--Small Business Set-Aside for Contracts for Architectural and Engineering Services and Construction Design................................................... 287 Section 2804--Authority to Obtain Architectural and Engineering Services and Construction Design for Defense Laboratory Modernization Program......................... 287 Section 2805--Repeal of Limitation on Certain Guam Project. 287 Section 2806--Enhancing Force Protection and Safety on Military Installations................................... 287 Section 2807--Limitation on Use of Funds for Acquisition of Furnished Energy for New Medical Center in Germany....... 288 Section 2808--Treatment of Leases of Non-Excess Property Entered into with Insured Depository Institutions........ 288 Subtitle B--Real Property and Facilities Administration...... 288 Section 2811--Optional Participation in Collection of Information on Unutilized and Underutilized Military Installation Properties Available for Homeless Assistance 288 Section 2812--Force Structure Plans and Infrastructure Capabilities Necessary to Support the Force Structure.... 288 Section 2813--Retrofitting Existing Windows in Military Family Housing Units To Be Equipped with Fall Prevention Devices.................................................. 288 Section 2814--Updating Prohibition on Use of Certain Assessment of Public Schools on Department of Defense Installations to Supersede Funding of Certain Projects... 289 Subtitle C--Land Conveyances................................. 289 Section 2821--Authority for Transfer of Administrative Jurisdiction over Certain Lands, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona.......................... 289 Section 2822--Public Inventory of Guam Land Parcels for Transfer to Government of Guam........................... 289 Section 2823--Land Conveyance, Naval Academy Dairy Farm, Gambrills, Maryland...................................... 289 Section 2824--Technical Correction of Description of Limestone Hills Training Area Land Withdrawal and Reservation, Montana..................................... 289 Section 2825--Land Conveyance, Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Rich County, Utah................................ 290 Subtitle D--Military Land Withdrawals........................ 290 Section 2831--Indefinite Duration of Certain Military Land Withdrawals and Reservations and Improved Management of Withdrawn and Reserved Lands............................. 290 Section 2832--Designation of Potential Wilderness Area..... 290 Subtitle E--Other Matters.................................... 290 Section 2841--Defense Community Infrastructure Program..... 290 Section 2842--Restrictions on Use of Funds for Development of Public Infrastructure in Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.......................................... 290 Section 2843--Study and Report on Coleman Bridge, York River, Virginia.......................................... 290 Section 2844--Certifications Required Prior to Transfer of Certain Veterans Memorial Object......................... 291 TITLE XXIX--OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS MILITARY CONSTRUCTION 291 SUMMARY........................................................ 291 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 291 Explanation of Funding Adjustments......................... 291 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 292 Section 2901--Authorized Army Construction and Land Acquisition Projects..................................... 292 Section 2902--Authorized Navy Construction and Land Acquisition Projects..................................... 292 Section 2903--Authorized Air Force Construction and Land Acquisition Projects..................................... 292 Section 2904--Authorized Defense Agencies Construction and Land Acquisition Projects................................ 292 Section 2905--Authorization of Appropriations.............. 292 Section 2906--Restrictions on Use of Funds for Planning and Design Costs of European Deterrence Initiative Projects.. 292 DIVISION C--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL SECURITY AUTHORIZATIONS AND OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS....................................... 293 TITLE XXXI--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAMS...... 293 OVERVIEW....................................................... 293 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 293 National Nuclear Security Administration..................... 293 Overview................................................... 293 Weapons Activities......................................... 293 Defense Nuclear Security and related construction projects............................................... 293 Directed Stockpile Work.................................. 294 Domestic uranium......................................... 294 Fusion technology pathways............................... 295 Inertial Confinement Fusion.............................. 296 Infrastructure........................................... 297 Lithium and tritium...................................... 297 Report on IW-1 and W78 replacement....................... 298 Secure transportation asset and Mobile Guardian Transporter............................................ 298 Streamlined and innovative approaches to non-nuclear construction projects.................................. 299 Weapons Activities and the Future Years Nuclear Security Program................................................ 300 Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation........................... 300 Future nuclear proliferation challenges.................. 300 Nuclear Counterterrorism and Incident Response program... 301 Naval Reactors............................................. 301 Naval Reactors program................................... 301 Federal Salaries and Expenses.............................. 302 Management and operating contracts for national security laboratories........................................... 302 Security clearance investigations for the nuclear security enterprise.................................... 302 Environmental and Other Defense Activities................... 303 Overview................................................... 303 Defense Environmental Cleanup.............................. 303 Briefings on vapor events at Hanford Site................ 303 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 304 Subtitle A--National Security Programs and Authorizations.... 304 Section 3101--National Nuclear Security Administration..... 304 Section 3102--Defense Environmental Cleanup................ 304 Section 3103--Other Defense Activities..................... 304 Section 3104--Nuclear Energy............................... 304 Subtitle B--Program Authorizations, Restrictions, and Limitations.............................................. 304 Section 3111--Security Clearance for Dual Nationals Employed by National Nuclear Security Agency............. 304 Section 3112--Department of Energy Counterintelligence Polygraph Program........................................ 304 Section 3113--Extension of Enhanced Procurement Authority to Manage Supply Chain Risk.............................. 304 Section 3114--Low-Yield Nuclear Weapons.................... 305 Section 3115--Use of Funds for Construction and Project Support Activities Relating to MOX Facility.............. 305 Section 3116--Prohibition on Availability of Funds for Programs in Russian Federation........................... 305 Section 3117--Prohibition on Availability of Funds for Research and Development of Advanced Naval Nuclear Fuel System Based on Low-Enriched Uranium..................... 305 Section 3118--Limitation on Availability of Funds Relating to Submission of Annual Reports on Unfunded Priorities... 306 Subtitle C--Reports.......................................... 306 Section 3121--Notification Regarding Release of Contamination at Hanford Site............................ 306 Subtitle D--Other Matters.................................... 306 Section 3131--Inclusion of Capital Assets Acquisition Projects in Activities by Director for Cost Estimating and Program Evaluation................................... 306 Section 3132--Whistleblower Protections.................... 306 TITLE XXXII--DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES SAFETY BOARD............. 307 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 307 Section 3201--Authorization................................ 307 TITLE XXXIV--NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVES............................ 307 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 307 Section 3401--Authorization of Appropriations.............. 307 TITLE XXXV--MARITIME MATTERS..................................... 307 ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...................................... 307 Maritime Security Program.................................. 307 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................... 308 Subtitle A--Maritime Administration.......................... 308 Section 3501--Authorization of the Maritime Administration. 308 Section 3502--Compliance by Ready Reserve Fleet Vessels with SOLAS Lifeboats and Fire Suppression Requirements... 308 Section 3503--Maritime Administration National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Program............................. 308 Section 3504--Permanent Authority of Secretary of Transportation to Issue Vessel War Risk Insurance........ 308 Section 3505--Use of State Maritime Academy Training Vessels.................................................. 308 Subtitle B--Coast Guard...................................... 309 Section 3521--Alignment with Department of Defense and Sea Services Authorities..................................... 309 Section 3522--Preliminary Development and Demonstration.... 309 Section 3523--Contract Termination......................... 309 Section 3524--Reimbursement for Travel Expenses............ 309 Section 3525--Capital Investment Plan...................... 310 Section 3526--Major Acquisition Program Risk Assessment.... 310 Section 3527--Marine Safety Implementation Status.......... 310 Section 3528--Retirement of Vice Commandant................ 310 Section 3529--Large Commercial Yacht Code.................. 310 Subtitle C--Coast Guard and Shipping Technical Corrections... 311 Chapter 1--Coast Guard...................................... 311 Section 3531--Commandant Defined........................... 311 Section 3532--Training Course on Workings of Congress...... 311 Section 3533--Miscellaneous................................ 311 Section 3534--Department of Defense Consultation........... 311 Section 3535--Repeal....................................... 311 Section 3536--Mission Need Statement....................... 311 Section 3537--Continuation on Active Duty.................. 311 Section 3538--System Acquisition Authorization............. 312 Section 3539--Inventory of Real Property................... 312 Chapter 2--Maritime Transportation.......................... 312 Section 3541--Definitions.................................. 312 Section 3542--Authority to Exempt Vessels.................. 312 Section 3543--Passenger Vessels............................ 312 Section 3544--Tank Vessels................................. 312 Section 3545--Grounds for Denial or Revocation............. 313 Section 3546--Miscellaneous Corrections to Title 46, U.S.C. 313 Section 3547--Miscellaneous Corrections to Oil Pollution Act of 1990.............................................. 313 Section 3548--Miscellaneous Corrections.................... 313 DIVISION D--FUNDING TABLES....................................... 313 Section 4001--Authorization of Amounts in Funding Tables... 313 Summary of National Defense Authorizations for Fiscal Year 2019..................................................... 314 National Defense Budget Authority Implication.............. 320 TITLE XLI--PROCUREMENT........................................... 322 Section 4101--Procurement.................................. 322 Section 4102--Procurement for Overseas Contingency Operations............................................... 368 TITLE XLII--RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION.......... 384 Section 4201--Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation.. 384 Section 4202--Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation for Overseas Contingency Operations...................... 423 TITLE XLIII--OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE........................... 427 Section 4301--Operation and Maintenance.................... 427 Section 4302--Operation and Maintenance for Overseas Contingency Operations................................... 448 TITLE XLIV--MILITARY PERSONNEL................................... 459 Section 4401--Military Personnel........................... 459 Section 4402--Military Personnel for Overseas Contingency Operations............................................... 459 TITLE XLV--OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS.................................. 460 Section 4501--Other Authorizations......................... 460 Section 4502--Other Authorizations for Overseas Contingency Operations............................................... 464 TITLE XLVI--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION................................ 465 Section 4601--Military Construction........................ 465 Section 4602--Military Construction for Overseas Contingency Operations................................... 478 TITLE XLVII--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAMS..... 480 Section 4701--Department of Energy National Security Programs................................................. 480 Department of Defense Authorization Request...................... 493 Communications from Other Committees............................. 495 Congressional Budget Office Estimate............................. 508 Statement Required by the Congressional Budget Act............... 509 Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 509 Advisory of Earmarks............................................. 509 Oversight Findings............................................... 509 General Performance Goals and Objectives......................... 510 Statement of Federal Mandates.................................... 510 Federal Advisory Committee Statement............................. 510 Applicability to the Legislative Branch.......................... 511 Duplication of Federal Programs.................................. 511 Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings.............................. 511 Committee Votes.................................................. 511 Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 530 Additional Views................................................. 532 Dissenting Views................................................. 535 115th Congress } { Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session } { 115-676 ====================================================================== NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019 _______ May 15, 2018.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Thornberry, from the Committee on Armed Services, submitted the following R E P O R T together with ADDITIONAL AND DISSENTING VIEWS [To accompany H.R. 5515] [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] The Committee on Armed Services, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 5515) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with amendments and recommends that the bill as amended do pass. The amendments are as follows: The amendment strikes all after the enacting clause of the bill and inserts a new text which appears in italic type in the reported bill. The title of the bill is amended to reflect the amendment to the text of the bill. PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION The bill would: (1) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for procurement and for research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E); (2) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for operation and maintenance (O&M) and for working capital funds; (3) authorize for fiscal year 2019 the personnel strength for each Active Duty component of the military departments, and the personnel strength for the Selected Reserve for each Reserve Component of the Armed Forces; (4) modify various elements of compensation for military personnel and impose certain requirements and limitations on personnel actions in the defense establishment; (5) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military construction and family housing; (6) authorize appropriations for Overseas Contingency Operations; (7) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for the Department of Energy national security programs; and (8) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for the Maritime Administration. RATIONALE FOR THE COMMITTEE BILL H.R. 5515, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, is a key mechanism through which Congress fulfills one of its primary responsibilities as mandated in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution of the United States, which grants Congress the power to provide for the common defense, to raise and support an Army, to provide and maintain a Navy, and to make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces. Rule X of the House of Representatives provides the House Committee on Armed Services with jurisdiction over the Department of Defense generally and over the military application of nuclear energy. The committee bill includes findings and recommendations resulting from its oversight activities, conducted through hearings, briefings, and roundtable discussions with Department of Defense and Department of Energy civilian and military officials, intelligence analysts, outside experts, and industry representatives, and it is informed by institutional experience. The committee believes that America's military faces strategic challenges, including the re-emergence of strategic competitors such as the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China; threats posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; and those posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, al-Qaida, and other terrorist groups. H.R. 5515 adheres to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, and it provides the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy with important policy authorities to speed decision making and improve agility, while restoring readiness and increasing capabilities and capacities. National Defense Strategy H.R. 5515 builds on the National Defense Strategy's recognition of long-term strategic competition. It empowers the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy to develop, implement, and integrate Department of Defense activities across all geographic regions and military functions and domains, and to lead the integration of Department of Defense activities across the interagency of the Federal Government. With respect to Russia, the bill maintains the long- standing prohibition of military-to-military cooperation with Russia; it maintains the prohibition of U.S. Government recognition of the illegal occupation of Crimea; it funds the President's request of $250.0 million for assistance to Ukraine, including for lethal defensive items; and, it funds the President's request for $6.3 billion for the European Defense Initiative (EDI) to further reinforce the U.S. presence in Europe, and it moves the EDI-request for the Army Pre- positioned Stock United Set to the base budget. With respect to the whole-of-society plans of the Chinese Community Party of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the bill directs the creation of a whole-of-government strategy to confront these plans; it improves security cooperation to counter the PRC's rising influence in Africa, Southeast Asia, and other regions; and, it improves Taiwan's self-defense capabilities by expanding joint training, foreign military sales, the use of security cooperation authorities, and senior- level military-to-military engagement initiatives. H.R. 5515 also continues the committee's efforts to reorganize the U.S. Government's efforts with respect to malign foreign influence operations and campaigns by directing the President to designate an official on the staff of the National Security Council to coordinate a whole-of-government response to these operations and campaigns. Impacts on Military Preparedness The committee is particularly concerned by the state of military readiness. In 2017, nearly four times as many members of the military died in training accidents as were killed in combat. In all, 21 service members died in combat while 80 died as a result of non-combat, training-related accidents. This spring alone, 25 were killed in military aviation mishaps. In 2017, there were a total of 60 Class-A aviation mishaps across the services. These mishaps are not limited to military aviation. This past summer, the Navy lost 17 Sailors in separate collisions involving the USS John S. McCain and the USS Fitzgerald. H.R. 5515 makes it a top priority of the Department of Defense to increase training of the Joint Force to promote readiness. The funding will allow the Army to conduct 20 Combat Training Center rotations in fiscal year 2019, including 4 rotations for the Army National Guard, doubling the number of Brigade Combat Teams sent to the Center. It will authorize funding for the Army to hold two Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) culminating training events a year, enhancing the Army's combat capability and capacity. The funding in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 enables the Marine Corps to continue maximizing the capacity of their full-spectrum collective training exercises to help restore the capability of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. H.R. 5515 includes increased funding for equipment maintenance, spare parts, and training to rebuild readiness for ships, aircraft squadrons, and ground units. The proposal fully supports the President's budget request of $2.8 billion for the procurement of spare airplane parts for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. And it also provides $21.8 billion for equipment maintenance and $3.7 billion for spare parts; this represents an increase of $927.9 million over the Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus. H.R. 5515 also takes specific steps to restore and rebuild the readiness of the U.S. Navy. It directs the Navy to provide clear chains of command for operations, for building readiness, and for shipyard maintenance. It would limit the time a Navy vessel is forward deployed to more than 10 years, and it would increase the number of Navy vessels authorized for construction. It accelerates construction of the fourth Ford- class aircraft carrier, authorizes two additional Littoral Combat Ships, and supports two additional Virginia-class attack submarines in fiscal years 2022 and 2023. Reforming the Department of Defense: Promoting Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Agility The FY16, FY17 and FY18 National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAAs) included several reforms to the Department of Defense, including reforms to the Department's acquisition processes and to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. H.R. 5515 focuses on the defense agencies and field activities (DAFAs) that are not part of a military service and do not report directly to the Secretary of Defense. It empowers the newly-created Department of Defense Chief Management Officer (CMO) to eliminate redundancy and cross enterprise activities (e.g., logistics, civilian resource management, real property management, and services contracting). It also requires the CMO to review and assess the function of each DAFA to validate its usefulness to the Joint Force or to recommend its elimination or transformation. HEARINGS Committee consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 results from posture and budget-related hearings that began on February 14, 2018, and that were completed on April 19, 2018. The full committee conducted 9 hearings and the 6 subcommittees conducted a total of 23 sessions during this time period. Additionally, over the past year, the committee conducted numerous policy and program oversight hearings, including hearings in support of its reform initiatives, to inform its development of the legislative proposals contained in this Act. COMMITTEE POSITION On May 9, 2018, the Committee on Armed Services held a markup session to consider H.R. 5515. The committee ordered the bill H.R. 5515, as amended, favorably reported to the House of Representatives by a recorded vote of 60-1, a quorum being present. EXPLANATION OF THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS The committee adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute during the consideration of H.R. 5515. The title of the bill is amended to reflect the amendment to the text of the bill. The remainder of the report discusses the bill, as amended. RELATIONSHIP OF AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATIONS The bill does not provide budget authority. This bill authorizes appropriations; subsequent appropriations acts will provide budget authority. However, the committee strives to adhere to the recommendations as issued by the Committee on the Budget as it relates to the jurisdiction of this committee. The bill addresses the following categories in the Department of Defense budget: procurement; research, development, test, and evaluation; operation and maintenance; military personnel; working capital funds; and military construction and family housing. The bill also addresses the Armed Forces Retirement Home, Department of Energy National Security Programs, the Naval Petroleum Reserve, and the Maritime Administration. Active Duty and Reserve personnel strengths authorized in this bill and legislation affecting compensation for military personnel determine the remaining appropriation requirements of the Department of Defense. However, this bill does not provide authorization of specific dollar amounts for military personnel. SUMMARY OF DISCRETIONARY AUTHORIZATIONS IN THE BILL The President requested discretionary budget authority of $708.1 billion for programs within the jurisdiction of the committee for fiscal year 2019. Of this amount, $617.1 billion was requested for ``base'' Department of Defense programs, $69.0 billion was requested for Overseas Contingency Operations requirements covering the entire fiscal year, $21.8 billion was requested for Department of Energy national security programs and the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, and $0.2 billion was requested for defense-related activities associated with the Maritime Administration. The committee recommends an overall discretionary authorization of $708.1 billion in fiscal year 2019. The committee authorization is a $16.0 billion increase above the levels provided for in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91). The table preceding the detailed program adjustments in division D of this report summarizes the committee's recommended discretionary authorizations by appropriation account for fiscal year 2019 and compares these amounts to the President's request. BUDGET AUTHORITY IMPLICATION The President's total request for the national defense budget function (050) in fiscal year 2019 is $725.5 billion, as estimated by the Congressional Budget Office. In addition to funding for programs addressed in this bill, the total 050 request includes discretionary funding for national defense programs not in the committee's jurisdiction, discretionary funding for programs that do not require additional authorization in fiscal year 2019, and mandatory programs. The table preceding the detailed program adjustments in division D of this report details changes to the budget request for all aspects of the national defense budget function. DIVISION A--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATIONS TITLE I--PROCUREMENT Aircraft Procurement, Army Items of Special Interest Apache attack helicopters The committee understands the Army's current aviation modernization and equipping strategy that resulted from the Army's Aviation Restructure Initiative currently resources the Army National Guard (ARNG) to retain 4 attack reconnaissance battalions for a total of 72 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. The committee notes that these ARNG attack reconnaissance battalions would be equipped with 18 AH-64 attack helicopters as compared to the Active Component battalions that are equipped with 24 AH-64 attack helicopters. The committee is aware the ARNG is no longer solely the strategic reserve of the past, but also an operational force, and provides significant capability through rotational support to combatant commanders. The committee believes that given the current global threat environment, reliance on ARNG capabilities is expected to increase. Therefore, the committee believes that all 4 ARNG attack reconnaissance battalions should be equipped with 24 AH-64 attack helicopters, the same as Active Component battalions, in order to improve overall readiness and compatibility between the ARNG and Active Component. The committee encourages the Secretary of the Army to plan, program, and budget for 24 additional AH-64 attack helicopters to address ARNG requirements across the Future Years Defense Program. Light utility helicopter The budget request included $6.4 million for utility helicopter modifications to the UH-60 Black Hawk and the UH-72A Lakota helicopters, but contained no funding for UH-72A life- cycle sustainment and product improvements. The UH-72A Lakota helicopter provides general aviation support for aviation units in the Active and Reserve Components. The committee supports the requirement to conduct mid-life sustainment and product improvement activities for the UH-72A, and includes funding to conduct the analysis, engineering, certification, and risk reduction activities necessary to update the UH-72A Life Cycle Support Plan. The committee also recognizes that the UH-72A was initially fielded without aircraft survivability equipment, which could potentially limit the Active Component and Army National Guard's utilization of the UH-72A platform. As reflected in Division D of this Act, the committee recommends additional funding for the National Guard and Reserve Component Equipment Account (NGREA). The committee understands that while no requirements have been formally identified for UH-72A Lakota ballistic armor or aircraft survivability equipment by the National Guard Bureau, should a requirement be put forth, the committee expects the Army National Guard to utilize NGREA funds. The committee recommends $16.4 million, an increase of $10.0 million, in utility helicopter modifications for UH-72A life-cycle sustainment and product improvements. Further, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by February 8, 2019, on the Army's long-term sustainment strategy for the UH-72A Lakota helicopter fleet. Report on efforts to reduce operational and maintenance costs for CH-47 The committee is aware the Army has recently validated a new specification for an improved thermal-acoustic blanket for CH-47 helicopters, which does not appear to be reflected in the logistics and material databases and support system. By greatly improving capabilities over current blankets, including dry/wet weight, air permeability, thermal and acoustic insulation, and durability the Army has developed a cost-effective way to significantly reduce operational and maintenance costs for the heavy lift fleet. The committee commends the Army for this effort, and directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the Armed Services Committees of the House of Representatives and Senate no later than September 28, 2018 detailing plans to outfit all current and future CH-47s with this enhanced capability and the status of the material and logistics supply chain's incorporation of this new specification. The briefing should include a schedule for fielding blankets for the current fleet and the status of inserting the new specification into CH-47 block II production. Unmanned aerial system units for Army National Guard The committee understands the Army's current fielding plan for MQ-1C Gray Eagle units includes Active Duty combat aviation brigades and intelligence units, and that at present no systems are planned for fielding to the Army National Guard. However, the committee notes that there are many missions involving military support to civilian authorities for which the MQ-1C Gray Eagle could contribute, including wildfire response, search and rescue, border security, counter-narcotics, and communications support during emergencies. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by March 1, 2019, on the potential utility, feasibility, and cost of establishing MQ-1C Gray Eagle units in the Army National Guard. The briefing shall include, at a minimum, a detailed analysis of the resources needed to create a minimum of two Gray Eagle companies in the Army National Guard, and an analysis of how such units could provide support to civilian authorities for domestic emergencies. Missile Procurement, Army Items of Special Interest Stinger missile modernization program The committee supports the Army's accelerated strategy to restore capacity and capability in Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) teams, to include reconstituting man-portable air defense teams using Stinger missiles to counter current and emerging threats from fixed-wing aircraft, rotary-wing aircraft, and unmanned air systems (UAS). However, the committee has significant concerns regarding the adequacy of the Army's Stinger missile inventory, as well as the resiliency of the associated industrial base that produces key components, including those required for the Stinger missile seeker. The committee recognizes the requirement for Stinger missiles will likely increase as a result of increased demand for SHORAD capability. The Army's current acquisition strategy does not include any new production of Stinger missiles, and instead implements a service life extension program (SLEP) for existing Stinger missiles. The committee notes that the last new Stinger missile was produced in 2001, and that missiles expire annually due to attrition and decay. While the Stinger SLEP program does extend the missile life by 10 years and improves counter-UAS capability by adding a proximity fuze, the current SLEP program will not mitigate the decline in Stinger missile inventory. Further, the Stinger SLEP program does not address the capability of the Stinger guidance section, electronics or seeker. The committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 3, 2018, on the Stinger Modernization Program. The briefing should address the Army's strategy to mitigate the decline of the Stinger missile inventory, to include required funding, maintenance of the Stinger industrial base, and modernization of the Stinger program in the out-years. Procurement of Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles, Army Items of Special Interest Armored brigade combat team modernization In the committee report accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (H. Rept. 115-200), the committee expressed concerns about the stability of armored brigade combat team (ABCT) modernization funding in fiscal year 2018 and beyond, noting that the Army was currently modernizing one ABCT every 2 years at best. Furthermore, in H. Rept. 115- 200 the committee encouraged the Army to fully modernize at least one ABCT per year, and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) authorized the additional funding necessary to modernize one complete ABCT. The committee is encouraged by the Army's increased investment for ABCT modernization in the budget request. Given this increased investment for ABCT modernization, the committee believes the Army should examine the cost benefits of using multiyear procurement contracts for combat vehicle platforms comprising ABCTs. However, the committee is also aware the Army has concerns over the loss of fiscal flexibility that occurs when it commits to a multiyear contract. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 3, 2018, on the results of a cost-benefit analysis comparing a traditional 5-year multiyear contract for ABCT platforms with an alternative 3-year multiyear contract with 2 successive single-year options. In addition, the committee is concerned that the Army's current nomenclature for a critical part of the ABCT, the M1 Abrams tank, has become so complicated that it fails to communicate the importance of the Army's planned upgrades for the tank. Specifically, the committee is concerned that Army's use of ``M1A1 situational awareness,'' ``M1A2 system enhancement program version 3,'' and ``M1A2 system enhancement program version 4'' to refer to Army upgrade programs for the M1 Abrams tank fails to clearly and concisely convey the significant capability upgrades resident in these efforts. The committee encourages the Army to change, as soon as possible, to clearer M1 Abrams upgrade program descriptions such as the ``M1A3'' and ``M1A4'' to more efficiently describe these programs. The committee believes that such a change does not require any additional testing or funding. M240 medium machine gun modernization The committee is concerned the Army may be assuming too much risk in the small arms industrial base with respect to the family of M240 medium machine guns. Current funding profiles could lead to a potential production line shutdown. The shutdown of existing production lines would create significant operational impacts if requirements increase. The committee notes that the budget request included $2.1 million for M240 production; however, no funding is projected for new production in fiscal year 2020 or fiscal year 2021. The committee encourages the Army to closely monitor this critical industrial base and work with the original equipment manufacturer to develop courses of action to ensure the production line remains viable and capable of supporting potential increased requirements. The committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives by September 28, 2018. This briefing shall include, at a minimum: (1) the projected service life of the current M240 inventory; (2) the Army's plan and schedule to replace the current M240 inventory either with newer M240 models or an entirely new system; (3) how the Army will address increased requirements caused by increases in end strength and combat formations; (4) relevant cost analysis for restarting the M240 production line after a period of dormancy; and (5) a description of interaction and communication with the original equipment manufacturer regarding capacity challenges and minimum sustaining production rates. Additionally, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide an advisability and feasibility study to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 28, 2018, on transitioning the existing fleet of M240B medium machine guns to the lighter-weight M240L configuration. This assessment shall include the estimated costs associated with this transition and using current inventories of M240Bs. M3E1 Carl Gustaf weapon system The committee understands the M3E1 Carl Gustaf is the Army's current platform for addressing the Army's multi-role anti-armor anti-personnel weapon system requirement. The committee notes that the Army is implementing a directed requirement signed in January 2017 to expand the fielding of lightweight Carl Gustaf systems to infantry and scout platoons in its infantry brigade combat teams and Stryker brigade combat teams. The committee notes, however, that the Army does not have plans or funding for a precision-guided round for the Carl Gustaf that will provide pinpoint, multitarget engagement capability at substantially extended ranges. The committee is aware of an emerging U.S. Special Operations Command requirement for a Guided Carl Gustaf Munition and encourages the Army to accelerate development and production of a precision-guided round for the Carl Gustaf weapon system. Paladin Integrated Management The base budget request included $351.8 million for 30 M109A7 Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) self-propelled howitzers. The M109A7 PIM program modernizes the legacy M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer and M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle. The committee has worked closely with the Army to stabilize production for combat vehicle programs and armored brigade combat team modernization in order to maintain overmatch against near-peer and peer strategic competitors. As such, the committee is concerned that the Army's budget request for the Paladin Integrated Management program does not adequately fund the current production contract. The committee notes that the Army has decreased planned PIM funding in fiscal year 2019 by approximately $237.0 million and that this funding decrease has resulted in a loss of 24 vehicle sets below the original 60 sets authorized under the contract. Furthermore, the committee understands the Army plans to increase production back to 60 sets per year beginning in fiscal year 2020. The committee believes this variance from planned and contracted funding amounts could cause significant disruptions to the PIM supply chain. The committee encourages the Army to maintain funding for PIM consistent with the 60 vehicles sets per year included in its current production contract. Therefore, the committee recommends $426.8 million, an increase of $75.0 million, to increase production for the M109A7 PIM program. Stryker upgrades The budget request contained $21.9 million for the procurement of three conversions of Stryker flat-bottom hull vehicles to the Double V-Hull (DVH) configuration with Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) 1 upgrades resulting in a Stryker DVHA1 vehicle to be fielded in Stryker brigade combat teams (SBCTs). The budget request also contained $287.5 million for Stryker vehicle modifications to resolve reliability, lethality, safety, operational, and performance degradation issues in Stryker vehicles. The committee understands the Stryker DVHA1 ECP addresses mobility and electrical power degradation issues resulting from over 10 years supporting overseas contingency combat operations, as well as other improvements in network capability intended to provide the platform for future evolution of the fleet. The committee notes that the Chief of Staff of the Army just recently completed an assessment of Stryker program priorities and directed that all six remaining SBCTs convert to the Stryker DVHA1 configuration. The committee supports this directed requirement, and believes the conversion would provide SBCTs with a more survivable vehicle, as well as regain the mobility and automotive performance lost due to the additional weight of the existing survivability upgrades. To facilitate and support this effort in fiscal year 2019, the committee notes the Army has requested realignment of $149.3 million from the Stryker modification budget request, and also has identified new unfunded requirements for Stryker upgrades. The committee recommends an additional $188.8 million to accelerate Stryker DVHA1 upgrades for SBCTs. The committee also recommends the realignment of $149.3 million from the Stryker modification budget request for Stryker DVHA1 upgrades. The committee recommends a total of $360.0 million, a total increase of $337.3 million, for Stryker DVHA1 upgrades. Procurement of Ammunition, Army Items of Special Interest M58 MICLIC The committee has continuing interest in the Department of Defense's plans to modify and upgrade the M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC). This antiquated system has been employed by the United States Marine Corps and U.S. Army since the Vietnam-era. Since the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism, enemy mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have been used to counter U.S. ground mobility assets. The past 17 years of conflict, coupled with recent trends indicate that these types of defensive tactics and techniques will be used in future engagements. While the enemy continues to adapt, the M58 MICLIC costs $83.6K per system and has not seen any significant upgrade in capability since its introduction. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than February 1, 2019, on the Army's plan for upgrading or replacing the M58 MICLIC. The briefing should include: (1) A description of current MICLIC employment statistics and mission requirements (2) An overview of a plan and timeline to upgrade the current system or field a newer variant (3) The costs associated with the research, development, test, and evaluation of a new system (4) Any employment or effectiveness shortfalls with the current M58 system. Other Procurement, Army Items of Special Interest CREW electronic counter-measure systems The budget request contained $42.7 million for the procurement of counter radio controlled improvised explosive devices (RCIED) electronics warfare (CREW) family of electronic counter measure (ECM) systems to protect dismounted soldiers, fixed-sites, and tactical and combat vehicles. The committee supports this program and notes that the United States Marine Corps and United States Special Operations Command are currently procuring the same family of systems. The committee is aware that the Army has two Program Executive Offices (PEOs) responsible for developing and procuring ground-based mounted and dismounted CREW and ECM systems. The committee notes that PEO Ammunition procures these systems specifically for Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units and that PEO Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors (IEW&S) for all other Army organizational units. The committee needs to be assured that these PEOs are coordinating effectively on materiel solutions and are engaged in mutually supporting activities regarding CREW ECM systems. The committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by August 30, 2018, on the Army's efforts to coordinate and synchronize the requirements process, rapid acquisition efforts, and programs of record of PEO IEW&S and PEO Ammunition related to CREW ECM systems. Enhanced rapid airfield construction capability The budget request included $0.9 million for enhanced rapid airfield construction capability (ERACC) equipment. The committee understands ERACC equipment provides the joint commander with the capability enhancement to rapidly construct new airfields and runways, and to upgrade existing facilities to meet joint task force requests. The committee notes this request specifically provides for the procurement, installation, and fielding of equipment in support of ERACC Type II mission requirements. The committee understands ERACC Type II mission equipment consists of a grade control system that includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) and laser leveling system that is installed on a dozer, grader, scraper and Deployable Universal Combat Earthmover. The committee notes the laser leveling systems allow for precision survey planning with three-dimensional software. The committee understands this system would significantly reduce operational time required for heavy construction missions, and result in fewer machines required to complete missions, as well as fuel savings. The committee believes there are emerging requirements for additional ERACC Type II capability. The committee recommends $8.4 million, an increase of $7.5 million, to accelerate the competitive modernization of ERACC equipment. Mine resistant ambush protected vehicle sustainment The committee commends the military services for retaining the most capable mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles to meet military operational and training needs, as well as standardizing the fleet to improve long-term sustainment. The committee notes the Army has an enduring requirement of 8,222 MRAP vehicles, and that MRAP vehicles continue to be a critical high demand force protection asset for overseas contingency operations in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility. The committee also notes that since the military services finalized the enduring requirements for MRAP vehicles, the military services face an increasingly complex and significantly worse global threat environment. In this environment, the committee believes demand for MRAP vehicles could increase. Additionally, MRAP vehicles may be needed to fulfill emerging requirements that may not have been fully considered as part of the Army's long-term tactical wheeled vehicle modernization strategy, such as requirements for key leader or command and control vehicles. The committee notes with concern that the Army's budget request contained no funding for MRAP vehicle modifications or improvements for the existing inventory of MRAP vehicles. The committee encourages the Army to take necessary steps to ensure the MRAP vehicle industrial base remains viable. Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in coordination with the Secretary of the Army, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 14, 2018, that details the Army's long-term strategy for planning, programming, and budgeting for long-term sustainment, research and development, and procurement of MRAP vehicle platforms. Tactical Communication and Protective Systems (TCAPS) authorization The House Armed Services Committee is aware that service members are routinely exposed to extreme loud noises that can damage their hearing. The committee further notes that technologies are available that integrate advanced hearing protection into tactical radio headsets, significantly improving communications ability as well as overall situational awareness. The committee is concerned, however, that disparity in the procurement and fielding schedules of these components is leading to inefficiencies that unnecessarily undermine readiness and could jeopardize the long-term health of service members. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army, in coordination with the Director of the Soldier Lethality Cross-Functional Team pilot as well as the appropriate program executive offices, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 1, 2018 on potential courses of action to mitigate the aforementioned disparity. Tactical network modernization The committee understands the Army's new tactical network modernization strategy is designed to enable the Army to ``fight tonight,'' while also actively seeking next-generation solutions to stay ahead of potential adversaries. The committee notes this strategy would fix the existing programs that are necessary to fulfill the most critical operational shortfalls, while pivoting to a new acquisition methodology that fosters rapid insertion of new technology. In the report required by section 112 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91), the Army stated that ``the Army will continually evaluate available solutions, including those that may not have originally been designed for military application, using operational units to demonstrate, experiment with, and test them in the field. The Army will then 'adapt and buy' the best of the tested solutions to meet unique military challenges.'' Consistent with this new tactical network modernization strategy, the committee expects the Director of the Army's Network Command, Control, Communication, and Intelligence cross-functional team pilot to test and consider readily available, non-developmental tactical communications technologies that deliver the improved performance in voice, video, and data dissemination at the squad and individual soldier level. Tactical wheeled vehicle industrial base sustainment The committee is aware that the Army's Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) projections for the family of medium tactical vehicles (FMTVs) and the family of heavy tactical vehicles (FHTVs) Recapitalization program in the budget request are significantly lower than corresponding fiscal year 2018 FYDP projections. The committee is concerned that a drastic, unexpected decrease in FYDP procurement projections for these critical vehicle programs could have significant impacts to the medium and heavy tactical wheeled vehicle defense industrial base. The committee notes with concern that this could put at risk the TWV industrial base's ability to provide surge capacity in an emergency. The committee encourages the Secretary of the Army to develop procurement plans for tactical wheeled vehicles and corresponding recapitalization programs that do not place unreasonable pressure on the tactical wheeled vehicle industrial base, nor undermine its capacity for surge production. The committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 30, 2018, on the Army's current acquisition strategy and sustainment strategy for FMTVs and FHTVs. The briefing should also include potential courses of action to minimize impacts to the industrial base, as well as ways to maintain surge capacity across the FYDP. Aircraft Procurement, Navy Items of Special Interest Current and future anti-submarine warfare system study Preceding the Navy Department's MH-60R Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) in Fiscal Year 20, advances in anti-submarine warfare systems manufactured in the U.S. warrant a review. The committee is encouraged by advances in dipping sonar utilizing low frequency detection and beam-forming technologies, allowing multiple boundary interactions, and interoperability with shipboard sonars and sonobuoys adding greatly enhanced protection to the carrier battle group. Moreover, these advances in technology are derived from U.S. sources, vice foreign technologies. Additionally, the committee is concerned that the current MH-60R anti-submarine warfare system, Airborne Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS), that serves as the primary ASW sensor in the Carrier Strike Group, has a component failure rate that has depleted the spares inventory, impacting deployed and nondeployed readiness including the ability to support concurrent MH-60R deployments. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to submit a report to the House Armed Services Committee by March 1, 2019 on the current operability and readiness issues of ALFS system and the potential utilization of existing, advanced U.S. technologies to upgrade the MH-60R fleet's anti- submarine warfare system. Long-range naval carrier aviation The committee notes that section 1067 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114- 92) directed the Secretary of Defense to provide three independent studies of alternative future fleet platform architectures for the Navy in the 2030 timeframe. The committee further notes that the three studies concur as to the need for an enhanced carrier-based unmanned long- range strike capability beyond current plans and programs. The committee remains concerned that while the MQ-25 program leverages Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike requirements justification, the most recent documentation sent to industry did not include precision strike capability as a requirement. The committee believes that the Navy may be unnecessarily excluding a critical capability and precluding future growth in a platform that will likely be integrated into the carrier air wing for the next 30 years. Therefore, the committee encourages the Navy to develop an unmanned anti-access penetrating long-range strike capability from the aircraft carrier, in addition to the current focus on the MQ-25A. MQ-4 The budget request contained $577.8 million for procurement of three MQ-4C unmanned aircraft. The committee understands the MQ-4C will be a forward-deployed, land-based, autonomously operated system that provides a persistent maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability using a multi-sensor mission payload. The MQ-4C's unique combination of long endurance and advanced sensors will support combatant commanders and provide a common operational picture of the maritime environment. The committee supports the budget request of $577.8 million for procurement of three MQ-4C aircraft. However, how, when, and what quantity of MQ-4C aircraft will be integrated into the Department of Defense's ISR Global Force Management Allocation Process (GFMAP) for airborne ISR aircraft is still unclear. Therefore, the committee also directs the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), in consultation with the Secretary of the Navy, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than October 15, 2018, that details the strategy and plan to integrate MQ-4C into the CJCS ISR GFMAP process. At a minimum, the briefing should illustrate the methodology that will be used to determine the quantity of MQ- 4C aircraft involved in the process, the scheduling start date, the type of aircraft capability, and the capacity of intelligence discipline capability the MQ-4C will provide to the combatant commanders. Navy Reserve F/A-18 aircraft The committee remains concerned about the health and readiness of the Navy Reserve combat air fleet. The committee is aware that the Navy Reserve tactical aviation squadrons provide critical adversary support and strike fighter weapons training to Active Duty forces, and must maintain a high mobilization readiness level as the sole strategic reserve available to the Department of the Navy. The committee understands that the Navy Reserve currently operates 33 legacy F/A-18A+ aircraft that are currently shared between two squadrons. The committee notes that with an average airframe age of 31 years and aircraft systems that are no longer compatible with today's carrier air wing, the Navy Reserve aircraft are increasingly less capable than the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft used by the Navy's Active Duty fleet. The committee believes that this situation could affect the ability of the two Navy Reserve squadrons to meet requirements for advanced strike employment, and the capability to simulate current advanced threat aircraft. The committee also believes that the legacy F/A-18A+ aircraft needs to be recapitalized with next-generation capability in order to provide realistic threat-representative training for naval aviators and to maintain operational readiness that provides a relevant and deployable reserve to the Active Duty air wings. Accordingly, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy, in coordination with the Chief of the Navy Reserve, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than December 4, 2018, on its updated plans to recapitalize the Navy Reserve combat air fleet. Weapons Procurement, Navy Items of Special Interest Advanced Low Cost Munition Ordnance The committee continues to support development of the Advanced Low Cost Munition Ordnance (ALaMO), a guided 57 mm projectile, to counter the growing threats posed by small boat swarms, unmanned aerial systems, and other emerging threats. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by August 30, 2018, on accelerating development of ALaMO's capabilities to address threats posed by unmanned aerial systems. The briefing should also include, but not be limited to, an evaluation of the current funding profile of this program across the Future Years Defense Program, as well as potential courses of action to accelerate or streamline the current program strategy. Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy Items of Special Interest Frigate The committee is aware that the Navy awarded five contracts for conceptual design for its new guided missile frigate program, FFG(X), with multiple shipbuilders currently developing their respective designs to compete for a detail design and construction contract award planned for September 2020. This pursuit represents a significant shift from the Navy's previous plans to award a contract in fiscal year 2018 for a frigate derived from minor modifications to a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) design. The FFG(X) program intends to leverage the proposed capabilities of the previous frigate plans and expand upon them to create a more lethal and survivable ship to meet the Small Surface Combatant (SSC) requirement. Toward that end, the committee encourages the Secretary of the Navy to emphasize concepts of risk reduction, commonality with existing platform equipment, and reduced acquisition and life cycle and sustainment costs to provide a best value solution for this critical platform. FFG(X) represents a significant investment, with the Navy's fiscal year 2019 long-range shipbuilding plan estimating over $5.5 billion through fiscal year 2023 for the first 6 frigates, and a total of 20 frigates planned through fiscal year 2030. Since 2005, the Comptroller General of the United States has reported extensively on the LCS program, the predecessor small surface combatant. Considering the lessons learned during the LCS program, the committee directs the Comptroller General of the United States conduct a review of the FFG(X) program and provide a report to the congressional defense committees by March 1, 2019. The report shall include, at a minimum, analysis on the following: (1) conceptual design plans and activities to support the advancement of multiple ship designs for a full and open competition in fiscal year 2020; (2) activities to establish requirements and system specifications, and to develop the program's overall acquisition approach, including cost and schedule estimates, as well as a test strategy; and (3) plans for the detail design and construction award contract, to include a review of the implications of a potential request by the Navy for a block buy award. Nimitz-class aircraft carrier service life extension In December 2016, the Secretary of the Navy determined that a 355-ship Navy is required to support force structure demands. A part of this force structure requirement is a power projection requirement of 12 aircraft carriers. With the delivery of the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) in 2023, the Navy will reach their 12 aircraft carrier goal but will quickly lose this overall capacity with the programmed retirement of USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in fiscal year 2023. The committee believes that there are several options to retain required aircraft carrier force structure to include accelerating construction of the Ford-class carriers. Additionally, the committee believes that service life extension options may be available for USS Nimitz. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by March 1, 2019, on options that exist to extend the service life of USS Nimitz, to include the extension of major components. Additionally, such a briefing should include cost estimates and major modernization components. Other Procurement, Navy Items of Special Interest Arleigh Burke-class destroyer radar backfit The committee notes that Navy witnesses have provided testimony to the committee and indicated their recommendation to extend the service life of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers for 45 years. Navy notes that expansion of the service life will allow Navy to reach the 355-ship Navy by 2036 or 2037. The committee supports retention of destroyers beyond their current service life but notes that such support is contingent on providing a comprehensive modernization plan for the entirety of the in-service destroyers. As part of this overall modernization of the destroyer fleet, the committee believes that it is essential the Navy develop a next generation maritime radar system for in service Arleigh Burke- class destroyers to address existing and emerging gaps in integrated air and missile defense. The committee understands that the Secretary of the Navy is still developing its strategy for how to pursue this capability. The committee further recognizes that the recent decision to perform a class wide service life extension program (SLEP) on all in service destroyers could have an impact on the timing of a radar backfit program. The committee believes that it would be premature to make any decisions regarding specific radars until the Secretary has completed a comprehensive threat and capabilities based assessment of what will be required for a new radar for in service destroyers. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to brief the House Armed Services Committee on the details of their DDG-51 radar backfit strategy once an overall modernization strategy has been completed. MH-60R dipping sonar upgrades The committee notes numerous advancements in anti-submarine warfare systems preceding the Department of the Navy's MH-60R Mid-Life Upgrade in fiscal years 2020 through 2023. Specifically, the committee is encouraged by advances in dipping sonar utilizing low frequency detection and beam- forming technologies, allowing multiple boundary interaction and interoperability with shipboard sonars and sonobuoys to expand the lethality of Navy forces. The committee is concerned that the current MH-60R anti-submarine warfare system, the airborne low frequency sonar that serves as the primary anti- submarine warfare sensor in the carrier strike group, has a high component failure rate. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by February 1, 2019, on the potential use of existing advanced technologies to upgrade the MH-60R fleet. If available manufactured systems meet or exceed current legacy technologies reliability or capability, then the Department of the Navy is encouraged to conduct a full and open competition for MH-60R dipping sonar upgrades, repairs, and replacements as part of the fleet sustainment of these capabilities. SPY-6 inherent capabilities The committee is aware that next generation AN/SPY-6(V) Air and Missile Defense Radars will soon be entering the fleet. As the SPY-6 family of radars begin to deploy and better protect our service members and allies, the committee is also aware that capabilities beyond those designed for nominal radar operations may exist. To provide the committee a better understanding of the full range of capabilities resident in SPY-6(V) radar modular assembly (RMA) based radars, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Armed Services Committee on a plan that will exploit the inherent capabilities of SPY-6(V) within 90 days from the enactment of this Act. Surface ship torpedo defense The evolving challenges and tensions in the Indo-Asia- Pacific region underscore the ongoing requirement for a surface ship torpedo defense (SSTD) capability for the Navy's high- value units. The committee understands that the Chief of Naval Operations highlighted this requirement in a 2010 urgent operational need statement and that since that time, potential regional adversaries have continued to improve their submarine and torpedo capabilities. Despite this increasing threat to Navy carrier strike groups and surface platforms, and the continued SSTD testing success and program maturation, the budget request and the Future Years Defense Program inadequately support currently deployed systems and cancel further development of this SSTD capability. The committee is concerned that this decision is based on the need to balance several years of inadequate funding resources across a range of priorities and that this budgetary dynamic is forcing decisions that put at risk the readiness and security of U.S. naval and Marine forces without adequate alternative plans to mitigate that threat. As raised in previous communications with Navy officials, the committee also has concerns that the Navy has distributed various SSTD program responsibilities among various Navy resource sponsors, which has led to a lack of determined support for efficient program execution and a lack of focused leadership. In light of these concerns, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by October 1, 2018, that includes, but is not limited to, the following: an assessment of the current and foreseeable torpedo threats facing high-value units and the Navy's plan to adequately protect them, a description of the requirements for SSTD, an assessment of the development program concerning each of the SSTD capability elements, the plan to consolidate responsibility of the SSTD program, and the plan to manage and sustain currently fielded SSTD systems. Procurement, Marine Corps Items of Special Interest Indoor Simulated Markmanship Trainers The budget request contained $52.0 million for Marine Corps Training Devices. Of this amount, $2.7 million was requested for Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainers (ISMTs). The ISMT system is a three-dimensional simulation-based trainer for indoor use, capable of instructing in basic and advanced marksmanship, shoot/no-shoot judgment, combat marksmanship, and weapons employment tactics. The committee recognizes the value of this training system for remedial and virtual instruction to augment live fire upon simulated targets. The committee notes the ISMT systems are used both within the continental United States (CONUS) and outside CONUS. The committee also recognizes the value of this capability in that it would allow for rapid generation of new training scenarios, thus adding new capability quickly and efficiently to meet the training demands resulting from doctrinal and/or mission requirement changes. The committee encourages the Marine Corps to continue to work with the industrial base to improve and upgrade components for the Training Device portfolio. The committee recommends $2.7 million, the full amount in the budget request, for the ISMT system. Rapid acquisition of Rifle Integrated Controller The committee understands the Marine Corps is currently evaluating a rifle accessory control unit (RACU) through a two- phase process that should result in fielding capability improvements in the operational performance and close-combat lethality of individual marines. The committee understands the RACU will be fully integrated with current Marine Corps weapons and communication devices and will be evaluated for operational utility at the unit level. The committee recognizes the challenges that exist for an individual marine to operate separate situational awareness, communications, target designators, thermal sights, and other battle management devices. The committee notes the RACU system would consolidate these disparate capabilities into one unified capability. The committee is encouraged by the initial feedback regarding the performance of the RACU during the phase 1 evaluation. The committee understands the phase 2 evaluation should conclude by the end of fiscal year 2018. The committee expects the Marine Corps to expeditiously complete the phase 2 evaluation and, subject to a successful evaluation, expects the capability to result in a validated requirement. The committee encourages the Commandant of the Marine Corps to consider a rapid acquisition strategy to accelerate the fielding and procurement of the RACU utilizing existing acquisition reform authorities. Aircraft Procurement, Air Force Items of Special Interest A-10 replacement wings The base budget request contained $98.7 million for A-10 aircraft modifications, of which $79.2 million was included for the A-10 wing replacement program. The committee notes that increases for fiscal years 2017 and 2018 will enable the Department of the Air Force to begin a second wing replacement program for an additional 110 A-10 replacement wings. The committee continues to believe that sustainment of the 281-aircraft A-10 fleet helps to meet Air Force fighter aircraft capacity requirements. The committee notes that A-10 force structure consists of five Air Reserve Component and four Active Duty squadrons, and that any fewer than nine squadrons will not meet future combatant commander demand for A-10 aircraft. Consequently, subsequent to the test and evaluation of the F-35A and A-10C required by section 134 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114- 328), the Department should not take any action to reduce the number of A-10 squadrons. Accordingly, the committee believes the Department of the Air Force should accelerate the A-10 wing replacement program. The committee recommends $163.7 million in the base budget for A-10 modifications, an increase of $65.0 million for the A- 10 wing replacement program. The committee also notes that multiyear contracting strategies have resulted in more efficient and cost effective acquisition programs, and believes such a strategy could also result in cost savings for the A-10 wing replacement program. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than February 15, 2019, on Department of the Air Force plans to utilize a multiyear contracting strategy to procure A-10 replacement wings. Additionally, the committee notes that exercising the option to deliver the remaining 110 wings on the contract that expired in September 2016 could have resulted in cost savings compared to current plans to contract separately for a second wing replacement program. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a report to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than February 15, 2019, on the cost of the additional 110 A-10 replacement wings using a second contract compared to the cost of exercising the option to procure the 110 A-10 replacement wings on the original contract. Air Force enlisted pilot implementation initiatives The committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than March 4, 2019, on the plan to implement the enlisted pilot aircrew requirements of Section 1052 of the FY17 NDAA for the MQ-9 enterprise of the Active, Guard, and Reserve components of the Air Force. Furthermore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to submit a report to the congressional defense committees not later than April 1, 2019, on the costs, benefits, and feasibility of authorizing enlisted Airmen or Warrant Officers as pilots, navigators, or weapon systems operators on all Air Force aircraft or rotorcraft platforms. The report should also assess and explain any policy or guidance impediments that would preclude enlisted Airmen or Warrant Officers from serving as pilots, navigators, or weapon systems operators. B-2 secure communication modernization plan The committee notes that the Air Force released its ``Bomber Vector'' in conjunction with its fiscal year 2019 President's budget request which outlines the future of the B- 1, B-2, B-52, and B-21 bomber fleets. According to this document, during development and production of the B-21, the Air Force will sustain the B-2 bomber to assure no gaps in bomber force availability. In addition to availability, the committee is concerned that the B-2 bomber fleet must keep pace with the threat level and have no gaps in capability during the transition. This is critical as competitor nations increasingly field anti-access and area denial weapon systems that impede and degrade the Air Force's ability to hold any target at risk around the globe. The committee is aware that, as noted in the Department of Defense fiscal year 2019 budget request, ``modern communications are key enablers for the B-2 in the anti-access/ area denial battle-space and directly enhance lethality and force multiplication.'' The committee is concerned that the Department terminated the Extremely High Frequency Satellite Communications program, which provided two-way, high-bandwidth, secure, survivable, strategic communication in anti-access and area denial environments. In its place, the Air Force has chosen to rely on the Common Very-Low-Frequency Receiver (CVR), which is to provide the B-2 with receive-only, secure, survivable communications. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by February 28, 2019, on the B-2 secure communications modernization plan. This briefing should include the following: (1) the impact of the Air Force's decision to downgrade B-2 communications capabilities on the ability of the B-2 to perform its critical strike missions in anti-access/area denial environments; (2) recommend solutions that would enable automated transfer of data to the B-2 and enable the aircraft to operate in a networked fashion with other elements for the long-range strike family of systems and other Air Force and Joint systems; and (3) provide estimated modernization costs and timelines, and consider opportunities to exploit capabilities developed for other programs. C-130H modernization efforts The committee notes that the C-130H aircraft that are flown primarily by the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve continue to provide critical tactical airlift capabilities and will continue to support this mission for years to come. The committee further notes that in order to sustain mission capability and effectiveness, various sustainment and improvement initiatives are currently underway. The committee supports all of these initiatives however, it does recognize that shortfalls still remain. Specifically, the C-130H Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) addresses cockpit modernization needs of the aircraft however; the AMP program does not include the flight engineers control panel, which is a key component of the cockpit. Failure to upgrade the flight engineer control panel could leave the C-130H fleet with continued obsolescence issues post AMP. If the Air Force were to decide to upgrade this equipment at a later date, they will have missed the efficiencies of conducting those upgrades concurrent with the AMP upgrades. Therefore, the committee encourages the Air Force to explore the possibility of upgrading the C-130H flight engineer overhead control panel using readily available off the shelf technology. Furthermore, if the Air Force determines that these upgrades are necessary, they should make every effort to upgrade the aircraft in parallel with the AMP program in order to minimize disruption to the operation of the C-130H fleet and mission. C-130H propulsion systems upgrade The budget request contained $22.1 million for procurement of C-130 modifications but no funds for C-130H propulsion systems upgrades. The committee continues to support the upgrade of C-130H/ LC-130H aircraft with the T56 3.5 engine enhancement and NP2000 8-bladed propeller. The committee notes that the Air National Guard (ANG) completed testing of the T56 3.5 engine enhancement and reported results that exceeded expectations for fuel savings and performance. The committee understands that the ANG expects to issue a full test report in the summer of 2018, to be followed by a business case analysis for upgrading the entire fleet of C-130H/LC-130H aircraft. Additionally, the committee is aware that fiscal year 2016 and 2017 propulsion upgrade funds have been put on contract. The committee expects the Air Force to include the necessary funds to accelerate C- 130H/LC-130H upgrades in future base budgets. The committee recommends $129.0 million for the C-130H/LC- 130H propulsion systems upgrade program. Compass Call transition plan The committee supports the Air Force's efforts to recapitalize the aging EC-130H Compass Call fleet with the more capable EC-37 type aircraft. The committee notes that the Air Force must first comply with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328) and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115- 91) before it can carry on with the transition plan. The Air Force requested $108.1 million for fiscal year 2019 for one EC- 37. The committee is concerned that the Air Force plan to procure one aircraft per year over 10 years in order to recapitalize this fleet is not the most efficient way to move the capability to the field quickly, and may put the Compass Call mission at unacceptable risk of mission failure. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by February 1, 2019, on the Compass Call transition plan. This plan should include: (1) courses of action to accelerate the recapitalization of the EC-130H fleet and Baseline 4 development and deployment for incoming EC-37 aircraft; (2) attendant timelines for each course of action; (3) cost estimates for each course of action; (4) recommended course of action and a plan to manage both fleets while supporting combatant commander requirements; and (5) an assessment of the potential for future cooperative development and procurement of EC-37B Compass Call aircraft by the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom and the Royal Australian Air Force in a way the leverages the best practices of the RC-135 cooperative program arrangement with the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom. F-15C Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System The budget request contained $147.7 million for procurement of the F-15 Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) for the F-15E, but included no funds for procurement of F-15C EPAWSS kits. The F-15 EPAWSS provides radar warning, geo-location, situational awareness, and self- protection solutions to detect and defeat surface and airborne threats in contested environments. The committee notes that the budget request includes $137.1 million to continue execution of the engineering, manufacturing and development phase for F-15 C and E aircraft, which includes delivering test assets, development test activities, and continued acquisition support for Milestone C. The committee also notes that the budget request includes $147.7 million to initiate procurement of F-15E EPAWSS kits, but believes that procurement of F-15C EPAWSS kits is critical to ensure the F- 15C's survivability on a modern battlefield in the air superiority mission. Consequently, the committee recommends $214.9 million for F-15 EPAWSS procurement, an increase of $67.2 million for procurement of four F-15C EPAWSS kits. The committee expects that the Department of the Air Force will execute the F-15 EPAWSS procurement upgrade program for the planned 217 F-15Es and 196 F-15Cs. F-35 autonomic logistics information system The F-35 Lightning II is the Department of Defense`s largest acquisition program, which will eventually deliver 2,443 F-35 aircraft to the Departments of the Navy and Air Force. The committee believes that the F-35 will form the backbone of U.S. air combat superiority for decades to come, replacing or complementing the legacy tactical fighter fleets of the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps with a dominant, multi-role, fifth-generation aircraft capable of projecting U.S. power and deterring potential adversaries. The committee notes that for the F-35 program's international partners and foreign military sales customers who are participating in the program, the F-35 will become a cornerstone for future coalition operations. The committee believes that the F-35 will help to close a crucial capability gap that will enhance the strength of our security alliances. The committee, therefore, continues its strong support of this essential aircraft development and procurement program. Consistent with its support of the F-35 program and oversight responsibilities, the committee notes that at a hearing held by the House Committee on Armed Services' Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces on March 7, 2018, the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force witnesses all expressed a concern about the autonomic logistics information system (ALIS). The Air Force witness testified that the ALIS is currently labor-intensive for maintainers and support personnel, negatively affecting flight line operations and workforce development. During a subcommittee visit to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, in April 2018, subcommittee members met with Air Force F-35 maintenance personnel who reported that they are still very disappointed in the autonomic logistics information system, and continue to have to use manual workarounds that take time and effort, resulting in lower aircraft availability and mission capable rates. Given these ongoing problems, the committee will continue to conduct a detailed review of the ALIS program. F-35 canopy transparencies The F-35 canopy transparency is the transparent enclosure over the cockpit of the F-35 aircraft. The committee notes that the F-35 program uses a sole-source contract to procure F-35 canopy transparencies. The committee understands that the F-22 program uses a two- source acquisition strategy for canopy transparencies, and that competition from that acquisition strategy has resulted in a more secure supply chain, increased innovation, longer product service life, and lower operating costs. Accordingly, the committee believes a two-source acquisition strategy for F-35 canopy transparencies could provide similar benefits. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than December 14, 2018, on the costs, benefits, analysis, and schedule impacts of the F-35 program using a two-source acquisition strategy for F-35 canopy transparencies. F-35 sustainment affordability At a hearing held by the House Committee on Armed Services' Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces on March 7, 2018, the witnesses all expressed a concern about current operations and sustainment costs and testified that those costs would need to be reduced by over 30 percent to make the F-35 operationally affordable. At that hearing, the Air Force witness testified that if projected overall costs for the F-35 are not reduced, the Air Force would not be able to afford its planned procurement of 1,763 aircraft. While the F-35 program is currently procuring early production lots of F-35 aircraft, the committee believes opportunities exist to take actions that would reduce future F-35 operations and sustainment costs. Accordingly, the committee strongly urges the Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary of the Navy, in concert with the F-35 Joint Program Office, to undertake the necessary actions to reduce F-35 sustainment costs. The committee believes that those actions should include, but not be limited to, addressing spare part shortages, addressing technical data requirements, accelerating both land- and sea-based intermediate maintenance capabilities, and modernization of the autonomic logistics information system. Additionally, the committee believes that increased F-35 production rates and larger F-35 economies of scale could also help lower unit procurement and sustainment costs. Moreover, the committee also believes that advances in potential adversary aircraft and surface-to-air missile defense systems necessitate a combat fighter force with a higher percentage of fifth generation aircraft. Accordingly, the committee strongly encourages the Department to increase future F-35 production rates. Future sustainment of remotely piloted aircraft tactical intelligence and strike capabilities The budget request contained $946.6 million for procurement of 29 MQ-9A aircraft. The committee recognizes that the Air Force has a 380 total aircraft inventory (TAI) requirement for MQ-9A aircraft, and is also using a current metric of 40,000 hours for the MQ-9A airframe service-life determination, an increase of 20,000 hours beyond the validated airframe service-life metric. The committee is also waiting to receive a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) from the Air Force, required by section 137 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91), comparing continued procurement of MQ-9A Block 5 aircraft versus a transition to procurement of MQ-9B aircraft that is still in prototype development by the aircraft manufacturer. The committee understands that the Air Force could forgo the option of continued Block 5 upgrades to existing MQ-9A aircraft, and could pursue an option to participate in development and procurement of the MQ-9B aircraft, but the committee still lacks the required information to make an informed determination as to which effort the Air Force should pursue. The committee is also concerned by the Air Force's attempt this year to categorize MQ-9A aircraft that reach their airframe service-life limit as ``combat-loss attrition'' to justify additional aircraft procurement using Overseas Contingency Operations resources, when past practice has been to categorize combat-loss attrition only as those aircraft that are destroyed or damaged beyond repair due to hostile engagement by adversaries or aircraft accidents. The committee is also concerned by the Air Force's irregular procurement quantity of aircraft outlined in the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) and assesses that a more stable profile is needed. Therefore, the committee recommends $796.6 million, a decrease of $149.9 million and quantity of 7 aircraft, for a total procurement of 22 MQ-9A in fiscal year 2019. This decrease will minimize any waste of resources should the aforementioned Air Force CBA favor procuring MQ-9B instead of continuing MQ-9A Block 5 procurement, and also provide a more stable quantity procurement profile during the FYDP without harming TAI goals. The committee also expects the Secretary of the Air Force to adjust the future strategy for sustainment of remotely piloted aircraft tactical intelligence and strike capabilities if the CBA determines it best to procure MQ-9B aircraft instead of MQ-9A Block 5 aircraft. OA-X light attack aircraft program The budget request contained no funds for the OA-X light attack aircraft program. The committee understands that the Department of the Air Force intends to include funding for the OA-X light attack aircraft program in fiscal year 2020. The committee believes that a light attack fighter aircraft is a continuing and exigent need to conduct close air support, counterinsurgency, armed reconnaissance, and other combat operations in more permissive threat environments. The committee further believes that procurement of light attack aircraft would increase the number of cockpits available to season Air Force pilots, thereby providing improvement to current pilot personnel shortfalls. Additionally, the committee notes that the Air Force Chief of Staff has stated, ``A light attack aircraft would not only provide relief to our 4th and 5th generation aircraft, but also bolster our interoperability so we can more effectively employ airpower as an international team.'' Accordingly, the committee encourages the Department of the Air Force to accelerate the OA-X light attack program. Additionally, to ensure the Department of the Air Force procures a low-cost aircraft that will provide cost efficiency along with quality capability, the committee encourages the Department to use a best value, rather than a lowest price technically acceptable, criteria for its source selection decision. Production adjustment for KC-46A air refueling aircraft The budget request contained $2.56 billion for the procurement of 15 KC-46A air refueling tankers. The committee notes that the KC-46A program costs remain stable, but the delivery schedule may be further delayed. Currently, the Air Force is reporting three category one deficiencies including two for the remote vision system (RVS) and one for the center-line drogue system (CDS). The Government Accountability Office (GAO) observed in its latest report, GAO- 18-353, that the program updated its delivery schedule in 2017 to allow the defense contractor to delay delivery of the first 18 fully capable aircraft by 14 months. This delay moved the delivery date from August 2017 to October 2018. According to a schedule risk assessment and GAO's analysis, if risk is not mitigated, deliveries could be delayed further to May 2019, 21 months from the originally scheduled delivery. The continued delays are set to cause a backup of unaccepted aircraft awaiting the completion of contractual test and documentation requirements. The defense manufacturer believes that it will meet the current delivery schedule and that it has taken appropriate steps to address all category one deficiencies by improving the RVS visual display and fine-tuning CDS software to reduce the number of unintended refueling disconnects. Given the latest Air Force schedule risk assessment, the committee believes the Secretary of the Air Force could use the variation in quantity provision in the contract to reduce the procurement by three aircraft in fiscal year 2019 without impacting the out-year per unit cost of each aircraft. The committee believes that the three additional aircraft funded in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141) could be awarded in fiscal year 2019 to help mitigate any production line impact. Elsewhere in this bill, funds have been limited for the procurement of three additional KC-46A aircraft until certain conditions are met. Lastly, the committee believes that it is warranted to reduce funds for interim contractor support concurrent with the late delivery of aircraft. The committee intends to provide strict oversight of this issue and review timelines to compliance to ensure reductions are aligned with ongoing decisions to accept aircraft. The committee recommends $2.06 billion, a decrease of $499.0 million, for the procurement of 12 KC-46A air refueling tankers and $50.0 million for interim contractor support. RQ-4 Global Hawk and EQ-4 battlefield airborne communications node aircraft The budget request contained $23.7 million for RQ-4 Global Hawk and EQ-4 modifications, but contained no funding for additional EQ-4 aircraft. The committee recognizes that both the RQ-4 and EQ-4 provide critical warfighting capabilities in communications relay and high-altitude intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission areas for combatant commanders (COCOM). The committee is also satisfied that the EQ-4 has transitioned to a formal Air Force program of record. However, the committee is concerned that the current communication architecture for operating the RQ-4 is antiquated, difficult to maintain, and limits the Air Force's ability to fully use the system to meet COCOM demands for increased capacity and capability. The committee also believes that insufficient capacity exists for the robust communications capability the EQ-4 provides to COCOMs, and that based on current quantity of mission support taskings, the EQ-4 fleet of aircraft could reach service-life limits quicker than anticipated, creating an unmitigated capability gap. The committee supports any Air Force plan to initiate development of the RQ-4 Communication System Modernization Program (CSMP) in fiscal year 2020 to meet combatant commander requirements for expanded airborne communications relay and ISR, as well as establish a pathway to more quickly meet emerging high-altitude, long-endurance ISR and communications requirements. Therefore, the committee recommends $128.7 million, an increase of $105.0 million, for procurement of one additional EQ-4 aircraft and associated modifications. The committee also directs the Secretary of the Air Force to submit a report to the congressional defense committees, not later than February 5, 2019, on the RQ-4 CSMP acquisition strategy. The report should include an updated RQ-4 CSMP acquisition strategy, including a program schedule and budget requirements for development, testing, and fielding of the capability, and a description of how the Air Force is balancing the resources required for CSMP with other efforts to increase RQ-4 sensor capabilities over this same time period. Total Force C-17 Fleet Management Plan The committee notes that the Air Force must carefully manage the life cycle of each of its 222 C-17 strategic airlift aircraft assigned to the Regular, Reserve, and Air National Guard Components from an enterprise point of view in order to extract the maximum amount of utility from this limited resource. The committee is also aware that the Air Force is unable to meet its current requirement for strategic airlift as outlined by the fiscal year 2013 Mobility Capability Requirements Study (MCRS). Furthermore, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) directed the Secretary of Defense to carry out a new MCRS. This study is to take into account attrition for the first time, which is likely to result in a higher requirement for strategic airlift. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by February 1, 2019, on the Total Force C-17 Fleet Management Plan. This briefing should include: (1) a table and timeline that shows when C-17s will be retired by tail number; (2) various courses of action that could be pursued and the impact to meeting the strategic airlift requirements; (3) limitation or impediments to controlling the retirement timeline of C-17 aircraft; and (4) legislative relief that could enable better management of the fleet through retirement. Total Force KC-135R net centric operations and battlespace awareness The committee is aware that all three Air Force components of the Total Force (Regular, Air National Guard, and Reserve) operate the KC-135 Stratotanker, which is Air Mobility Command's primary air refueling platform. The KC-135 provides approximately 87 percent of air refueling support to U.S., allied, and coalition military aircraft. The committee believes that upgrades to KC-135 defensive systems, including tactical data link technologies, situational awareness displays that bring real-time threat information, and secure radio capability, greatly enhance KC-135 air refueling, airlift, and aeromedical evacuation missions. These systems are meant to protect the aircraft during takeoff, landing, and refueling flight regimes. Also, the systems offer protection during normal refueling flight operations against both infrared and radar-guided air-to-air missiles. Furthermore, the committee believes that upgrades to the KC-135 Real-Time Information in the Cockpit (RTIC) system would enhance network capability and provide a common processing and display platform resulting in consolidated situational awareness. As reflected in division D of this Act, the committee recommends additional funding for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account. The committee expects the Secretary of the Air Force to consider using these funds to modernize the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve with RTIC and self- protection commercial off-the-shelf solutions through a competitive process. U-2 The budget request contained $106.9 million in PE 34260F for the airborne signals intelligence (SIGINT) enterprise and $70.6 million in PE 35202F for U-2 sensor development, but contained insufficient funding to develop a single-pod SIGINT capability or accelerate electro-optical and infrared sensor upgrades. The committee supports the Air Force's renewed commitment to the U-2 program reflected in the President's budget request for fiscal year 2019, and the Future Years Defense Program. To ensure the combat capability needed to stay ahead of emerging threats, the committee supports accelerating U-2 modernization and sustainment efforts. The planned efforts have the potential to provide a substantial leap in intelligence capability to the warfighter over the upcoming years. Therefore, the committee recommends $109.9 million in PE 34260F, an increase of $3.0 million, for single-pod SIGINT development, and recommends $87.6 million in PE 35202F, an increase of $17.0 million, to accelerate electro-optical and infrared sensor upgrades. The committee also recommends elsewhere in this Act an increase of $38.0 million to refurbish and restore U-2 tail number 80-1099 to combat-ready status, and to provide increased high-altitude intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capacity to the combatant commanders. Missile Procurement, Air Force Items of Special Interest AIM-120 production rate The budget request contained $552.7 million for procurement of 363 AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM). The committee notes that this request is 294 fewer AMRAAM missiles than were projected for fiscal year 2019 in last year's budget request. The committee notes further that additional stocks of the most modern version of the AMRAAM missile is a top priority of numerous combatant commands. While the committee understands that this production rate drop is due to significant delays with the form, fit, function refresh plan to address obsolescence issues, it is concerned that the Air Force is also limiting production quantities of other AMRAAM models sold via foreign military sales (FMS). The committee believes that production of additional FMS variants may help mitigate risk to the supplier base and overall production capacity for the weapon. Therefore, the committee encourages the Secretary of Defense to ensure that the AMRAAM production line is kept at or near full capacity whenever possible, either by increasing production to fill U.S. military requirements or by supplementing production for the U.S. military with higher FMS production. The committee recommends $552.7 million, the full amount requested, for AIM-120 AMRAAM procurement. Other Procurement, Air Force Items of Special Interest Deployable Air Base Systems Given increasing threats, the committee supports efforts to enhance U.S., allied, and partner airbase resiliency in the Indo-Pacific region. The committee is especially supportive of the logistics and resiliency investments identified by the Commander of U.S. Pacific Command's (PACOM) critical investments list as well as the forward air base resiliency requirements as identified on PACOM's integrated priority list. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services, no later than December 1, 2018, on potential courses of action, to include rapid acquisition strategies to rapidly procure Deployable Air Base Systems in order to address identified PACOM capability gaps. Procurement, Defense-Wide Items of Special Interest Common Analytical Laboratory System The budget request contained $48.3 million for the Common Analytical Laboratory System (CALS), a tool to enable detection and identification of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) threats. CALS provides analytical lab capabilities in the field, allowing field commanders to make faster and more informed response decisions, minimizing the effects of CBRNE threats. The committee recommends $48.3 million, the amount requested, for the Common Analytical Laboratory System. Multi-Domain Command and Control The committee understands the Department of the Air Force and Department of the Navy are undertaking efforts to create robust Multi-Domain Command and Control (MDC2) capabilities. The committee supports each Department's plans to ensure MDC2 program efforts are leveraging rapid experimentation and fielding of forward-deployed modular mission Systems for resilient communications and high-performance computing resources for the MDC2 mission. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 1, 2018, that explains future funding and any other requirements to achieve rapid experimentation and fielding of MDC2 capabilities to the warfighter. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations Section 101--Authorization of Appropriations This section would authorize appropriations for procurement at the levels identified in section 4101 of division D of this Act. Subtitle B--Army Programs Section 111--National Guard and Reserve Component Equipment report This section would modify the annual National Guard and Reserve Component Equipment report, as required by section 10541 of title 10, United States Code, to include an assessment by the Chief of Staff of the Army and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau regarding modernization equipment parity between the active component, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard. Section 112--Limitation on availability of funds for M27 infantry automatic rifle program This section would limit the obligation or expenditure of 20 percent of the funds for the Marine Corps M27 infantry automatic rifle program until the Commandant of the Marine Corps provides an assessment of the Marine Corps views on the Army's Small Arms Ammunition Configuration Study, and whether the outcomes of this study are informing future small arms procurement for the Marine Corps. The assessment shall also include details regarding the Marine Corps near- and long-term small arms modernization strategy. Subtitle C--Navy Programs Section 121--Increase in Number of Operational Aircraft Carriers of the Navy This section would provide the sense of Congress as to aircraft carrier force structure. Additionally, this section would modify section 5062 of title 10, United States Code, by increasing the required aircraft carrier force structure from 11 to 12 operational aircraft carriers by September 30, 2022. Section 122--Procurement Authority for Ford Class Aircraft Carrier Program This section would authorize the construction of one Ford class aircraft carrier designated CVN-81. Section 123--Full Ship Shock Trial for Ford Class Aircraft Carrier This section would require the Secretary of the Navy to incorporate full ship shock trial results into the construction of the Ford class aircraft carrier designated CVN-81. Section 124--Multiyear Procurement Authority for Amphibious Vessels This section would authorize the Secretary of the Navy to enter into a multiyear procurement for five San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships with a Flight II configuration. Section 125--Multiyear Procurement Authority for Standard Missile-6 This section would authorize the Secretary of the Navy to enter into one or more multiyear contracts for 625 Standard Missile-6 missiles beginning in fiscal year 2019, in accordance with section 2306b of title 10, United States Code. Section 126--Multiyear Procurement Authority for E-2D Aircraft This section would authorize the Secretary of the Navy to enter into one or more multiyear contracts for up to 24 E-2D aircraft beginning in fiscal year 2019, in accordance with section 2306b of title 10, United States Code. Section 127--Multiyear Procurement Authority for F/A-18E/F Aircraft and EA-18G Aircraft Subject to section 2306b of title 10, United States Code, this section would authorize the Secretary of the Navy to enter into one or more multiyear contracts, beginning with the fiscal year 2019 program year, for the procurement of F/A-18E/F aircraft and EA-18G aircraft. Section 128--Modifications to F/A-18 Aircraft To Mitigate Physiological Episodes This section would require the Secretary of the Navy to modify the F/A-18 aircraft to reduce the occurrence of, and mitigate the risk posed by, physiological episodes affecting crewmembers of the aircraft, and require the Secretary to include certain minimum modifications, and submit to the congressional defense committees a written update on the status of all modifications to the F/A-18 aircraft carried out pursuant to this section not later than February 1, 2019, and annually thereafter through February 1, 2021. Section 129--Frigate Class Ship Program This section would require the Secretary of the Navy to procure technical data rights to any acquired frigate class vessel. Additionally, this section would require the Secretary to recompete the frigate class procurement not later than the award of the 10th frigate using the acquired technical data rights. Section 130--Limitation on Procurement of Economic Order Quantities for Virginia Class Submarine Program This section would modify section 124 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115- 91) and prohibit the Secretary of the Navy from entering into economic order quantity contracts for the Virginia-class submarine program until the Secretary certifies that such funding shall be used to enter into economic order quantities for 12 Virginia-class submarines. Section 131--Limitation on Use of Funds for DDG-51 Destroyers This section would limit expenditures of Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy, for DDG-51 destroyers until the Secretary of the Navy submits a report as to incorporating degaussing standards into the destroyer program. Subtitle D--Air Force Programs Section 141--Inventory Requirement for Air Refueling Tanker Aircraft; Limitation on Retirement of KC-10A Aircraft This section would require the Secretary of the Air Force to increase the current air refueling tanker fleet from 457 to 479 primary assigned aircraft before it can begin to retire KC- 10A aircraft. The Air Force shall maintain 479 total tanker aircraft thereafter, unless adjusted by the fiscal year 2018 ``Mobility Capability and Requirements Study.'' Section 142--Limitation on Use of Funds for KC-46A Aircraft Pending Submittal of Certification This section would limit the funds authorized to be appropriated to procure three KC-46A aircraft until the Secretary of the Air Force certifies that both supplemental and military type certifications have been approved and that the first aircraft has been accepted by the Air Force. Section 143--Retirement Date for VC-25A Aircraft This section would fix the retirement date for the purposes of this statute as it applies to the two Air Force VC-25A aircraft as not later than December 31, 2025. Section 144--Contract for Logistics Support for VC-25B Aircraft This section would require the Secretary of the Air Force to ensure that the VC-25B contract for logistics support complies with part 17.204(e) of the Federal Acquisition Regulation and also complies with section 2304 of title 10, United States Code, with regard to open competition. Section 145--Multiyear Procurement Authority for C-130J Aircraft This section would authorize the Secretary of the Air Force to enter into one or more multiyear contracts for up to 52 C- 130J aircraft beginning in fiscal year 2019, in accordance with section 2306b of title 10, United States Code. Section 146--Removal of Waiting Period for Limitation on Availability of Funds for EC-130H Compass Call Recapitalization Program This section would strike the 30-day waiting period imposed on EC-130H funds by section 135(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91). Section 147--Findings and Sense of Congress Regarding KC-46 Aerial Refueling Tankers This section would express the sense of Congress in support of industry and Air Force ensuring that the first KC-46A tanker is delivered in fiscal year 2018. Subtitle E--Defense-Wide, Joint, and Multiservice Matters Section 151--Buy-to-Budget Acquisition of F-35 Aircraft This section would authorize the Secretary of Defense, subject to section 2308 of title 10, United States Code, to procure a higher quantity of F-35 aircraft than authorized by this Act if such additional procurement does not require additional funds. Section 152--Certification on Inclusion of Technology To Minimize Physiological Episodes in Certain Aircraft This section would require that not later than 15 days before entering into a contract for the procurement of a covered aircraft, the Secretary concerned would submit to the congressional defense committees a written statement certifying that the aircraft to be procured under a contract would include the most recent technological advancements necessary to minimize the impact of physiological episodes on aircraft crewmembers. TITLE II--RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Army Items of Special Interest Accelerated integration to counter emerging threats The Committee supports the accelerated integration capability to counter emerging threats being initiated by the Program Executive Office, Missiles and Space. The Army is developing a government-owned capability to provide cyber- robust networked weapon systems designed to operate within rapidly evolving threat timelines. The Committee understands this is being accomplished through a unique approach to adapt and respond to real-time threats, dramatically accelerating the timeline to employ resilience in networked weapon systems. The Committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives by March 1, 2019, on the status of progress being made through this accelerated program. Assured Position, Navigation and Timing In response to global peer threats and demands from combatant commanders, the committee last year expressed its concern that the Army was not moving fast enough to field Assured Position Navigation and Timing (APNT) solutions. APNT solutions are required because of the reliance of military vehicles, communications and weapons systems on precise position, navigation and timing. The committee understands that strategic high-end competitors possess the capability to disrupt systems that depend on GPS which could pose an unacceptable level of risk to U.S. operations in GPS-denied environments. The committee notes the Army has stood up a Cross Functional Team (CFT) pilot to rapidly assess material development solutions to address the APNT mission area and perceived capability gaps. In response to Section 236 of the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2018, the Army submitted a report to the congressional defense committees dated March 30th, 2018 that described its approach to test various systems at White Sands Missile Range in the 3rd Quarter of Fiscal Year 2018. The Army's report further described fielding both the A kits and B kits of a Quick Reaction Capability to specific units starting in the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2019. The committee understands that this testing is ongoing. The committee directs the Secretary of the Army, in coordination with the Director of the Army's APNT CFT pilot, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 1, 2018 that outlines potential courses of action to begin immediate procurement of these systems, subject to successful test and evaluations. Targeted Soldier Borne Sensor efforts The committee is encouraged by the Army's efforts to field the new Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) capability to the warfighter and is encouraged by the Army's recognition of this capability requirement at the squad level. The committee understands the additional visual and situational awareness provided by the sensor to the warfighter will improve the survivability and lethality of the force. The committee also notes that a capability to operate within high-threat and GPS-denied areas, including but not limited to indoors and within tunnels, is currently available with SBS technologies under evaluation. However, the committee understands there are concerns regarding the current generation of thermal sensors associated with ongoing SBS technology evaluations. Specifically, the committee understands that current thermal sensors reportedly do not provide sufficient resolution to meet desired performance objectives. The committee encourages the Secretary of the Army to focus development efforts to accelerate technology development of electro-optic and infrared sensors that could be carried by the SBS. The committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 28, 2018, on current development efforts to address and resolve concerns regarding electro-optic and infrared sensor capabilities within the SBS platform. This briefing shall also include a detailed analysis of the electro-optic and infrared sensor technologies under evaluation and a plan for addressing the SBS requirement. Computational molecular modeling and simulation for material development The committee is aware the use of modeling and simulation during development of materials and other technologies may result in cost savings and other benefits, such as enhanced lethality and survivability. The committee understands that computational molecular modeling and simulation results subsequently tested using cold spray synthesis and mechanical testing have resulted in new repair techniques for armor, helmets, and other personal protective equipment. The committee, therefore, encourages the Army Research Lab to continue the utilization of computational molecular research for material development. Future digital munitions and integration The committee recognizes the importance for the Army to retain lethality overmatch within its aviation portfolio. The committee continues to support the Army's Future Vertical Lift and Joint Multi-Role technology demonstration initiatives. However, the committee is concerned about the Army's ability to mitigate Apache helicopter and Grey Eagle Unmanned Aerial System munitions and launcher obsolescence limitations for the foreseeable future. The committee believes existing and emerging threats are key factors to ensuring lethality overmatch. As digital aviation-launched munitions evolve, the need for the Army to retain flexibility in aircraft to munitions integration is critical to ensuring Army Aviation platforms retain a decisive edge. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than September 15, 2018, on the following: (1) all requirements, acquisition program plans, and developmental initiatives that address the modernization strategy for all aviation platform munitions and launchers beyond currently fielded systems; and (2) recommendations on the utility for any development efforts that would modernize aviation launchers and munitions. Future Vertical Lift The committee understands that dedicated investment in incremental rotorcraft upgrades has kept America's current vertical lift aviation capabilities viable, and will continue to enable the fleet to bridge capability gaps through the near term. The committee believes that as more dangerous threats emerge at an accelerated pace in the mid-term, unwavering investment in advanced future disruptive technologies like Future Vertical Lift (FVL) will enable rotorcraft aviation to retain overmatch through significant capability improvements in reach, speed, protection, and lethality. The committee notes that the Army leads the Department of Defense's rotorcraft technology portfolio, which needs additional research and development funding to regain America's world leadership in rotorcraft innovation. Because of America's eroding lead in rotorcraft capability, the committee encourages the Department to explore opportunities to accelerate the FVL program in order to meet national security challenges. The committee expects the Department to maximize full and open competition in doing so. The committee believes that fiscal years 2019 and 2020 are pivotal years for the FVL modernization efforts, as critical technology demonstrations provide essential evidence during the completion of the FVL analysis of alternatives, and the Army uses this data and analysis to inform its path forward. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 3, 2018, on the outcome of the analysis of alternatives and on any other analysis utilized in deciding the Army's priority of rotorcraft investment for FVL prior to the release of a request for proposal. Harnessing Emerging Research Opportunities to Empower Soldiers The committee is aware of the work being done by the Army's Warfighter Technology directorate in improving the protection, survivability, mobility, and combat effectiveness of the Army. The committee is also aware of Harnessing Emerging Research Opportunities to Empower Soldiers (HEROES), an ongoing joint research and development initiative involving both academia and industry. The committee understands that the HEROES initiative accelerates research and innovation through integration of intellectual assets and research facilities, such as those at Natick Laboratory and others. The committee believes programs like HEROES provide benefit to research in areas of advanced ballistic polymers for body armor, fibers to make uniforms more fire resistant, and lightweight structures for advanced shelters that provide tangible benefits to the warfighter. Therefore, the committee encourages the Army to continue to support such programs. High energy laser systems integration laboratory The committee has continuing interest in the Army's research, development, and testing of high energy laser weapons systems. The committee is aware of the Army's efforts to develop a high energy laser system integration laboratory in order to provide an interactive means to conduct warfighter assessments and develop the tactics, techniques, and procedures required to employ this technology. The committee recognizes this integration will be critical in bridging the gap from developmental technology to operational capability, while mitigating risk and ensuring warfighter utility. The committee encourages the Army to continue to mature the high energy laser system integration lab, as well as the benefit these activities provide to the research, development, and testing of directed energy weapons. Improved Turbine Engine Program The Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) is a competitive acquisition program designed to develop a more fuel efficient and powerful engine to upgrade and enhance the performance and operational readiness of the current Black Hawk and Apache helicopter fleets. This new engine will increase operational capabilities in high altitudes and hot conditions while reducing operating and support costs. The committee has supported significant Army investments into competitive technology development programs for turbine engines over the past decade. During this time, the Army has made significant progress in maturing technologies that will lower ITEP programmatic risk with the goal of improving warfighting capabilities. In addition, the committee has encouraged the Army to prioritize maintenance and sustainment costs for ITEP to ensure the continued affordability of the program. The committee also acknowledges the benefits of improved fuel efficiencies through lower specific fuel consumption that the ITEP will bring to the battlefield. This program represents a cost-effective approach to modernizing Army aviation and the committee continues to encourage the Army to pursue opportunities to accelerate the fielding of this capability. The committee recognizes 2019 as a crucial year for the program with Engineering Manufacturing Development (EMD) source selection slated for first quarter fiscal year 2019. Given the positive progress of this critical program, the committee is fully funding ITEP in fiscal year 2019 and encourages the Army to robustly fund ITEP in the EMD phase of the program. Initial Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense capability The committee is aware that the Army's critical capability gap for Air and Missile Defense remains protecting maneuvering forces. The committee understands that Army maneuver formations require short range air defense (SHORAD) and counter-UAS (CUAS) capabilities that can cover a wide range of air threats to include: unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), rotary wing (RW), fixed wing (FW), and rockets artillery and mortars (RAM). As such, the committee understands the Army is pursuing cross- domain, multi-dimensional solutions that can address these threats as part of a maneuver short-range air defense and indirect fires protection capability. The committee encourages the Army to consider areas where commonality exists between current CUAS and SHORAD mission platforms and technologies. The committee understands the Army has formalized a directed requirement to initiate integration and procurement of an initial Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (IM-SHORAD) capability on a Stryker combat vehicle. The IM-SHORAD directed requirement requires capability to counter threats posed by UAS, RW, FW, and RAM, as well as address an emerging operational need in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve to provide air and missile defense protection of Stryker and Armored Brigade Combat Teams. The committee understands the acquisition strategy to support this directed requirement is still being developed. The committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 14, 2018, on the Army's accelerated acquisition strategy for the IM-SHORAD initiative, as well as identify requirements that are similar to both the SHORAD and CUAS missions. The briefing should also address capabilities currently under development or already fielded that could simultaneously address the CUAS and M-SHORAD mission areas. Iron Dome experimentation and assessment for short-range air defense The budget request included $38.0 million in PE 64020A for cross functional team (CFT) advanced development and prototyping. The committee understands the Army established six CFT pilots to examine how the Army could leverage existing resources and accelerate getting needed capability to the warfighter. The Army's critical capability gap for Air and Missile Defense (AMD) remains protecting the maneuvering force and is aware the AMD CFT pilot is focused on accelerating delivery of a maneuver short-range air defense (SHORAD) capability. The committee commends the AMD CFT for getting an approved directed requirement for an interim-maneuver SHORAD capability that accelerated the original schedule by 5 years. The committee notes the AMD CFT is also reviewing other AMD capability gaps for the protection of fixed and semi-fixed sites. The committee expects the AMD CFT to immediately address capability gaps in the areas of indirect fire protection capability and AMD. Since 2011, Congress has provided over $1.5 billion for the procurement of Iron Dome batteries for the State of Israel, a system with demonstrated capability against a wide-range of threats. There is value in experimenting with the Iron Dome system through demonstrations to assess operational suitability for the fixed and semi-fixed site AMD mission, and M-SHORAD missions. Such demonstrations will evaluate challenges associated with integration of the Iron Dome command and control system with the existing AMD C2 system and sensors. The committee recommends $68.0 million, an increase of $30.0 million, in PE 64020A to support the acquisition of Iron Dome hardware and associated integration activities, for the operational demonstration of the Iron Dome system against a range of threats to evaluate issues associated with the following: (1) integrating the Iron Dome launcher into a U.S. Army AMD architecture for complimentary support of fixed, semi-fixed, and M-SHORAD operations; (2) re-designing the Iron Dome launcher to be compatible with the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Multi-Mission Launcher; and (3) potential options for accelerating development of the Skyhunter missile. Further, the committee directs the Director of the AMD CFT to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by April 2, 2019, on the Army's plans for this experiment and demonstration. If warranted by the demonstration results, the committee directs the Director of the AMD CFT to provide a follow-on briefing on the advisability and feasibility of rapidly transitioning Iron Dome hardware for immediate use, with budgetary recommendations and schedules for accelerated procurement of additional systems. Lightweight metal matrix composite technology for combat and tactical vehicles In the committee report (H. Rept. 115-200) accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, the committee recognized the versatility and broad application that Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) Technology provides for the Armed Forces by reducing the weight of parts by 50 percent and increasing their service life by three to four times that of traditional steel parts. The committee understands the U.S. Army Tank and Automotive Research, Development, and Engineering Command (TARDEC) is currently evaluating technologies that can reduce vehicle weight, reduce fuel consumption, increase payload capacity, and extend service life of combat and tactical vehicles, and that MMC technology is part of this ongoing evaluation. The committee supports these efforts and recommends the U.S. Army TARDEC continue to test MMC technology, develop and field components that can reduce vehicle weight, reduce fuel consumption, increase payload capacity, and extend service life. M119 105mm self-propelled artillery system technology The committee understands the Army is examining the operational benefits of procuring a self-propelled 105mm howitzer in order to address existing capability gaps for infantry brigade combat teams (IBCTs) indirect fires capabilities. The committee understands that recent demonstrations as part of the Army's Maneuver and Fires Integration Experiment at Fort Sill produced positive results. The committee supports continued demonstrations of this capability and is aware of a potential future demonstration under consideration by the 18th Airborne Corps. The committee understands the demonstrated system incorporated artillery soft recoil technology with existing 105mm artillery systems and then integrated these technologies onto an existing light tactical vehicle. The committee expects the outcomes from these demonstrations to inform future operational requirements and procurement strategies. The committee believes this capability could enable the Army to achieve significant improvements in combat capability and lethality through only a modest reinvestment of funding for current or future planned M119 105mm howitzer modifications. Further, the committee also believes a light, self-propelled 105mm artillery system could substantially improve the deterrence posture of the U.S. Army and allied armies in Europe that may face sophisticated, quick-fire counter-battery systems. The committee directs the Secretary of the Army, in coordination with the Directors of the Long-Range Precision Fires and Soldier Lethality cross-functional teams, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 14, 2018, on the advisability and feasibility of rapidly accelerating the testing, evaluation, and procurement of a self-propelled 105mm howitzer to address the indirect fire capability gaps in IBCTs. The briefing shall include feedback and results from recent demonstrations of self-propelled 105mm howitzer technology, specifically the demonstration that occurred as part of the Army's Maneuver and Fires Integration Experiment at Fort Sill. Mobile camouflage system The committee notes the longstanding success of our allied partner nations who employ mobile camouflage systems on their combat vehicles, especially within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European theater. These relatively inexpensive camouflage net systems provide enhanced signature management protection, reduce heat and temperature inside and around combat vehicles, and yield fuel savings without interfering with the operation of the vehicles. Army commanders have expressed an immediate operational need for mobile camouflage systems, in particular woodland, desert, and Arctic variants. The committee is aware of the Army's ongoing operational testing of mobile camouflage systems at the National Training Center, and encourages further acceleration of those efforts. The committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 28, 2018, that outlines the mobile camouflage system test results and the Army's plan and timeline to fund the accelerated development and fielding of these systems to the warfighter. Personal Protective Equipment advance technology development The budget request contained $18.0 million in PE 63827A for soldier systems-advanced development. The committee recognizes advancements the military services have made in researching and developing materials for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The committee notes that this work has steadily reduced the weight of and increased ballistic protection for items like helmets, body armor, and protective undergarments designed for the men and women of the Armed Forces. The committee understands, based on the views of senior defense laboratory scientists, that further research on current materials, such as ceramics and Kevlar, are experiencing diminishing returns. The committee supports further research on advanced materials like high molecular weight polyethylene film and new and harder ceramics like boron suboxide. Therefore, the committee recommends $28.0 million, an increase of $10.0 million, in PE 63827A for PPE advanced materials research. Shoot-on-the-Move experimentation for short range air defense systems The budget request contained $61.1 million in PE 63313A for Missile and Rocket Advanced Technology, to include investment in missile components enabling detection and full kinematic capabilities to develop shoot-on-the-move capability for future short range air defense (SHORAD). The committee is aware the Army is currently pursuing a near-term maneuver short range air defense (M-SHORAD) capability; however, the near-term solution will not include a shoot-on-the-move capability. The committee understands the capability to shoot-on-the-move would potentially be considered as a future capability requirement as part of follow-on M- SHORAD increments. The committee believes that the development and demonstration of a shoot-on-the-move capability could enable future combat formations to be protected from modern and advanced air and missile delivered fires while maneuvering, and enable continuous force protection during offensive operations. The committee recommends $71.1 million, an increase of $10.0 million, in PE 63313A to accelerate the development and potential demonstration of shoot-on-the-move capability for M- SHORAD platforms and associated systems. Soldier power and composite armor development The budget request contained $28.6 million in PE 62105A for Materials Technology research. The committee understands that soldier power and composite armor technology development is critical to meeting the increased power demands of soldiers' equipment, while reducing weight. The committee recognizes that conformal wearable battery technology provides a lightweight, flexible power solution that offers greater mobility and flexibility than current capabilities, while streamlining the various battery types and sizes carried by the soldiers. The committee notes these capabilities provide soldiers with expeditionary power, as well as multiple power management alternatives that are all designed for combat operations in austere environments and can be tailored to any mission. The committee supports these programs and believes that they will help to reduce the soldiers' combat carrying load, while meeting the future demands of an increased power burden as well as maximizing survivability and protection. The committee encourages the Army to continue to work with the industrial base to improve and upgrade components in the soldier power and composite armor portfolio to potentially reduce weight and cost, as well as to improve overall performance. The committee recommends $29.6 million, an increase of $1.0 million, in PE 62105A for Materials Technology research. Squad multipurpose equipment transport The committee understands the Army is conducting a 12-month technology demonstration leading to a capabilities production document and eventual procurement of a squad multipurpose equipment transport system (SMET). The SMET is an unmanned ground vehicle that will transport equipment for specific missions, resupply, and extended operations, thereby reducing soldier load and increasing squad mobility. The committee supports the Army's use of other transaction authority to achieve a rapid start to this effort, and encourages the Army to seek additional ways to expedite acquisition of this critical capability. The committee directs the Army's Program Executive Officer for Combat Support and Combat Service Support to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by November 30, 2018, that includes: (1) options to accelerate this acquisition strategy; (2) courses of action to ensure the delivered system meets all key performance parameters; (3) findings and analysis from the user evaluations conducted by two brigade combat teams; and (4) an assessment of each variant's reliance on generators versus batteries, power generation capabilities, noise signatures, abilities to adapt to additional systems such as flail and mine rollers, dual stretchers, backhoe and loader kits, as well as any other capabilities considered to be essential by the program executive officer. Supercavitating ammunition technology In the committee report accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (H. Rept. 115-200), the committee noted that supercavitating ammunition can be used in various operational environments, including air-to-air, water- to-water, air-to-water, and water-to-air, and that this technology could potentially address critical mission capability gaps for the warfighter. The committee also directed the U.S. Army Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Ammunition, who acts as the single manager of all conventional ammunition, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services on the current status of supercavitating ammunition technology across the Department ammunition enterprise. The briefing acknowledged that the entire ammunition enterprise of the Department of Defense recognizes the value of supercavitating ammunition, and indicated that several efforts are underway to evaluate its performance. The committee notes that this technology is currently in use by the Department of the Navy and that other organizations in the Department of Defense are evaluating supercavitating small caliber ammunition. The committee is pleased that the Department of Defense is continuing to evaluate the performance of this technology and remains supportive of these efforts. Therefore, the committee directs the PEO for Ammunition, in coordination with all relevant Department of Defense agencies, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 14, 2018, on all current test and evaluation activity currently ongoing and planned for supercavitating ammunition technology. Third Generation Forward-Looking Infrared development The committee is aware of a growing parity in U.S. Army sights and sensors against current and emerging threats, particularly when it comes to combat vehicle platforms. The committee is concerned that the Third Generation Forward- Looking Infrared (FLIR) development program is proceeding at too slow of a pace to ensure it will enter production as an integrated system in the next Abrams tank and Bradley Fighting Vehicle upgrades. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by March 15, 2019, on the Army's plans to synchronize the Third Generation FLIR program with the M1A2 SEP V4 Abrams Upgrade and M2A5 Bradley Fighting Vehicle upgrade. The briefing should also include potential courses of action for, and costs associated with, the acceleration of Third Generation FLIR development. Transport telemedicine system The committee is aware that the Department of Defense is developing capabilities that would provide telemedicine and remote physiological monitoring for casualty care of deployed forces. The committee recognizes that such telemedicine capabilities can provide useful reachback support for complex injuries, especially for sensitive organs where combat medics and surgeons may not have in-depth specialty training. The committee encourages the Department to continue to experiment with and examine ways to use emerging telemedicine capabilities to allow for consultation with specialty subject matter experts to provide soldiers on the battlefield with access to high- quality care for complex and difficult injuries. Additionally, the committee supports the idea of partnering with subject matter experts in order to provide direct, real-time consultation between geographically dispersed military and civilian medical personnel; this would support complex diagnostic and surgical problems, as well as allow conferencing for complicated, but less urgent, patient management decisions and virtualized training and continuing medical education. Urban warfare training The committee has continuing interest in the Department of Defense's ability to prepare for and operate in complex, densely populated urban terrain. Recent trends reflect that the future of global violence is urban, and that the next war will likely be fought in densely populated cities. The committee is supportive of the Department's ongoing efforts, but remains concerned with the lack of Army prioritization and resourcing to address these challenges. The committee is particularly concerned with the Army's lack of realistic training sites that reflect the scale and density of real-world urban operating environments. The committee believes the Army should more aggressively prepare for urban warfare and explore the construction of an urban warfare training center that focuses on basic and advanced skills to fight, survive, and win in urban operating environments. This training should address the challenges associated with vertical, subterranean, and dense urban terrain, and the inclusion and integration of joint and interagency enablers. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than February 1, 2019, on the Army's plan for urban warfare training. The report should include: (1) a description of urban warfare training requirements; (2) an overview of a plan and timeline to integrate urban warfare training within the Army; (3) an identification of costs associated with an urban warfare training program; (4) a feasibility study on the construction of an urban warfare training center; (5) feasibility of utilizing existing private facilities and contracting training iterations until a final DOD facility can be constructed; (6) any critical technology, maneuver, or mobility shortfalls associated with operating in a dense urban environment; and (7) force design impacts or considerations within the Army. Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Navy Items of Special Interest Academic partnerships for undersea unmanned warfare research The budget request contained $58.0 million in PE 62747N for undersea warfare applied research. The committee supports the Navy's efforts to develop the next generation of nuclear submarines and other undersea systems and capabilities. Specifically, the committee supports research, development, testing, and demonstration of maritime robotic systems that may be used for security and surveillance, inspection and survey, munitions retrieval, and environmental monitoring. The committee understands that there are additional opportunities to enhance development of the next generation submarines and maritime robotics technology in the areas of autonomy, adaptive decision making, docking, 3-D imaging, energy technologies such as marine and hydrokinetic convertors, and data transfer. The committee believes that university-based research and innovation centered on the development of maritime robotic technology and other capabilities required for advanced undersea warfare will be essential in maintaining the Navy's competitive advantage. Therefore, the committee recommends $78.0 million, an increase of $20.0 million, in PE 62747N. Elsewhere in this title, the committee notes the importance of partnerships with academia to advance unmanned platforms and systems in order to maintain a competitive war fighting advantage. Artificial intelligence and computer vision technologies in Navy unmanned systems The committee has continuing interest in the Navy's ability to leverage artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision in exploitation and analysis. The committee also recognizes the increasing amounts of imagery and other sensor data that Navy unmanned undersea and unmanned surface vessels generate, and the demand this creates for additional processing, exploitation, management, and dissemination of information. The committee recommends the Navy synchronize their efforts with the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, and ensure that unmanned undersea and unmanned surface vessel computer vision and artificial intelligence requirements are incorporated into Project Maven and other Department of Defense research and development programs. The committee supports the Department's initiatives to leverage commercial technology and innovative solutions to rapidly address current Department challenges, and believes the Navy can benefit from similar capabilities. Briefing for the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Armed Services on US Navy's efforts to expand carrier air wing long-range strike capability The committee notes that the aircraft carrier air wing has been optimized for striking power and sortie generation and believes that it may not be configured to support the long- range strike required by current and future threat systems. While the introduction of the F-35C will significantly expand stealth capabilities, the F-35C could require increased range to address necessary targets. The committee believes that several options could be used to address this issue to include developing a stealth tanker capability, improved engine technology or to develop and procure a strike capability that is purposely built to strike at increased range. The committee further notes that the Navy previously desired to significantly increase the carrier air wing range with the development of the A-12 aircraft. The committee understands that the A-12 would have included a 5,000-pound internal carriage payload, stealth, and a range of 800 nautical miles. While the committee believes that requirements to support this capability remain relevant and the technology available, the development of the A-12 aircraft was mired in acquisition challenges that eventually resulted in the cancellation of the program. While the committee further believes that the Department of Defense has successfully developed a suite of long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, the committee also believes that it is vital that the Navy develop a carrier- based long-range strike capability. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Armed Services by January 25, 2019, on options to expand the strike range of a carrier air wing in a contested environment, including manned and unmanned capabilities, and, Department of the Navy capabilities it plans to pursue in the Next Generation Air Dominance capability. Briefing on Navy support for research into autonomous systems The committee is aware of the Robotarium, a laboratory hosted at the Georgia Institute of Technology, sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), where researchers conduct experiments with interconnected, heterogeneous unmanned ground and aerial systems. The committee is supportive of competitively awarded grant programs that enhance academia's ability to conduct complex experiments with autonomous systems. As the role of autonomous systems in operations is expected to grow, the Committee believes it will be increasingly important for ONR to continue to fund initiatives that prepare future engineers to conduct cutting edge research in this discipline, especially with different classes of autonomous systems including unmanned underwater vehicles, unmanned surface vehicles, and unmanned aerial vehicles operating simultaneously across multiple domains. Therefore, the committee directs the Director of ONR to brief the House Committee on Armed Services by November 1, 2018, on initiatives that enhance the ability of academia to conduct complex experiments with autonomous systems. Briefing on ongoing engine noise reduction efforts The Committee continues to support ongoing efforts to reduce engine noise from the F-414 engine on the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and E/A-18 G Growler. Attachments, known as chevrons, could reduce the noise associated with operations of these aircraft. A reduction in engine noise would benefit sailors working in close proximity to the aircraft, particularly on the carrier deck, and communities near installations home to these squadrons. Having received the briefing required by the House Report to the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, the committee is aware that the Navy may be requesting authority to reprogram Fiscal Year 2018 funding in order to engineer, manufacture, proof and test redesigned chevrons. The Committee supports such a request, provided the funding source is a program with unexecutable funds. The Committee is aware that these funds would be used to develop an improved chevron design which could achieve significant noise reduction at full military power. The committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to brief the House Committee on Armed Services no later than September 30, 2018 on engineering plans for Fiscal Year 2018 and 2019 and potential applications of chevron designs to additional aircraft. Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services The committee acknowledges the Navy's efforts to modernize the functions of its existing command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence network systems through Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) installation. The committee recognizes that, through CANES, the Navy seeks to build a more responsive and adaptable information technology platform by creating a common computing environment that will increase capabilities, address cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and lower sustainment costs across the fleet. Therefore, the committee continues to support full deployment of CANES, as scheduled, to ensure the Navy's networking environment remains adequately equipped for information warfare. Defense University Research Instrumentation Program The budget request contained $119.4 million in PE 61103N for University Research Initiatives. The Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP), administered by the Office of Naval Research, provides academic institutions conducting research for the Department of Defense the ability to acquire the necessary infrastructure to support high-quality research. Additionally, the instrumentation developed and acquired through the DURIP process ensures that the next generation of scientists and engineers are trained with cutting-edge capabilities for the defense science and technology workforce. The committee understands there is additional opportunity for the Navy to facilitate research in an area of interest to the Navy through the DURIP program. Therefore, the committee recommends $129.4 million, an increase of $10.0 million, in PE 61103N, to support the acquisition of infrastructure required by universities to conduct cutting-edge Navy research. Directed energy and non-lethal weapons technology policy and guidance The budget request contained $27.6 million in PE 63851M for Joint Non-Lethal Weapons testing. The committee continues to support the Department of Defense's efforts to develop non-lethal technologies as a materiel solution to provide military commanders with a non- lethal capability to protect military bases, security perimeters, and other secured spaces. The committee acknowledges the importance of these technologies as a force multiplier that gives service members more options, and minimizes civilian casualties and collateral damage. Recent development efforts of High Power Radio Frequency directed energy technologies have advanced these weapons to a maturity that can be used globally by the military services and combatant commands to stop vehicles, vessels, and other systems. The committee is concerned that the lack of policy, strategy, and guidance for employment of these non-lethal weapons has limited the potential benefits of deploying these technologies for use more broadly across the combatant commands. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by November 1, 2018, on the future strategy for non-lethal weapons, including development of appropriate policy and guidance for employment. The briefing should also describe the current organizational structure of the non-lethal weapons program and consider the assignment of a joint proponent for non-lethal weapons who would be responsible for coordinating command requirements, facilitating policy development, and setting conditions for further integration of these capabilities. The committee recommends $32.6 million, an increase of $5.0 million, in PE 63851M for the Non-Lethal Weapons program. E2-D Advanced Hawkeye Identification Friend or Foe The budget request contained $223.6 million for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program. The committee notes that the E-2D Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Interrogation System has certain limitations at long range. These limitations affect the ability of the crewmembers to identify threats at range, reducing critical time to react. The committee also notes that applying meta-materials to the E- 2D IFF system may improve the E-2D IFF range detection and overall ability of the fleet to react against distant threats. The committee recommends $225.6 million, an increase of $2.0 million, for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program. Joint Air-to-Ground Missile for fixed wing aircraft (JAGM-F) integration The committee notes the Department of the Navy, with the eventual retirement of the Maverick missile has similar requirements as the Air Force for Joint Air-to-Ground Fixed (JAGM-F) missile on its AV-8B Harrier, F/A-18C/D/E/F Hornet, and F-35B/C aircraft. JAGM-F is an improvement to the Army's JAGM which will allow the missile to be eject-launched from fixed-wing aircraft to eliminate time sensitive moving targets and high value covered/sheltered and armored targets. The committee understands JAGM-F will be able to combat adverse weather, low visibility and austere communication environments on land and at sea while engaging multiple targets near simultaneously in multiple engagement modes. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by February 8, 2019 that provides potential options for accelerating Navy and Marine Corps efforts with respect to integrating JAGM on fixed-wing aircraft. Marine Corps Group 5-class unmanned aircraft development The budget request contained $25.3 million in PE 34240M for development of advanced tactical unmanned aircraft system capabilities. The committee understands that the Marine Corps plans to develop a medium- to large-sized, long-range, medium-altitude, multi-mission, unmanned aircraft system that can persist and survive in an anti-access, area-denial contingency environment. The committee is also aware of multiple capabilities and platforms across joint-service portfolios that could likely mitigate, if not eliminate, the capability gaps and shortfalls identified in the Marine Corps' Initial Capabilities Document, from August 10, 2016, ``Marine Air Ground Task Force Unmanned Aircraft System Expeditionary Capabilities.'' The committee believes the Marine Corps underestimates the required communications, data link, launch, mission execution, and recovery infrastructure, or the human capital resources required to train, operate, maintain, and sustain such a system. The Marine Corps also underestimates the necessary human capital resources required to meet current deployment-to- dwell policy and guidance issued by the Secretary of Defense. Therefore, the committee recommends $10.3 million, a decrease of $15.0 million, in PE 34240M for development of advanced tactical unmanned aircraft system capabilities. The committee also directs the Chairman of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than February 5, 2019, that assesses all existing or future joint-service capabilities that are similar in nature to the Marine Corps' planned system, and includes a detailed explanation for why each of those joint- service capabilities could not mitigate or fulfill the gaps or shortfalls identified by the Marine Corps. The committee also directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than February 5, 2019, that explains the acquisition and funding strategy of the Marine Corps to affordably develop and field an unmanned capability of this nature, and the personnel, funding, infrastructure, and mission-execution resources that would be needed to viably sustain and support this capability. Maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities demonstration The budget request contained no funding for the MS-177A maritime enhanced sensor demonstration program. The committee notes that the Navy has the opportunity to leverage a $300.0 million Air Force investment in the MS-177A sensor, which is meant to improve maritime target detection and long-range imaging. This investment could significantly reduce procurement costs and expedite fielding. The committee is aware that U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) identified the MS-177A in its fiscal year 2018 integrated priority list for consideration. The committee believes that having an organic Navy MS-177A demonstration in the PACOM area of responsibility could help the Navy to assess the full range of anti-surface unit warfare and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. In addition, the MS- 177A would help gather needed intelligence against threats in the PACOM strategic environment. The MS-117A would improve the Navy organic capability to conduct standoff anti-surface unit warfare intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and long- range positive identification of targets. The committee recommends $23.5 million for the MS-177A maritime enhanced sensor demonstration program. Naval underwater test ranges The committee has continuing interest in the Department of Defense's plan to redevelop and modernize the Barking Sands Tactical Underwater Range (BARSTUR). The committee report (H. Rept. 114-577) accompanying the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017, directed the Navy to submit a report to the congressional defense committees on the plan to redevelop and modernize BARSTUR. The report was submitted on October 13, 2017. The report provided by the Navy noted that BARSTUR is an invaluable asset to numerous Hawaii-based and transiting subsurface, surface, and aviation platforms. The committee notes the underwater range is used extensively to conduct submarine sonar, fire control, and weapons technical and operational evaluations, and serves a critical role in hosting the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise, Rim of the Pacific. This exercise serves as a means of promoting stability in the region and represents a unique training opportunity to foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are necessary for ensuring the safety of sea lines of communication and security in the Pacific Ocean. The committee remains concerned about the readiness and operational status of the Barking Sands Tactical Underwater Range and its ability to support critical training and exercises. The committee encourages the Navy to aggressively sustain the modernization timeline, begin the program requirement and acquisition process, and support a competitive source selection and contract award to achieve operational capability in fiscal year 2026. MQ-25 Unmanned Carrier Aviation program The budget request contained $718.9 million for the MQ-25 Unmanned Carrier Aviation program. The committee supports the Navy's efforts to develop and field a carrier-based unmanned aerial system to provide refueling as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support to the fleet. The committee notes that the Chief of Naval Operations intends to accelerate this program by 2 years in order to provide this capability by 2026. To date, the Navy has provided insufficient air vehicle justification. Budget documents state that $598.78 million will go to Air Segment Primary Hardware Development with very little further justification or cost estimates. The committee recommends a decrease of $116.9 million, for a total of $602.0 million, to procure one test article for the MQ-25 Unmanned Carrier Aviation program. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal recovery operations Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) forces require a safe, effective, and supportable means to conduct Raise, Tow, and Beach (RTB) operations. These operations entail attaching suitable lifting mechanisms to the item of interest on the sea bed (e.g., threat items, Unexploded Ordnance (UXO), salvage items), actuating the lifting mechanism to raise the item to the sea surface, and securing and/or transporting the item of interest to a safe environment for subsequent action. The committee notes that Navy desired to employ the MK V Ordnance Recovery Air Bag (ORCA), a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) lift bag with similar lift capacity to legacy requirements. However, the ORCA system was never transitioned to a program of record that could replace the Mod 1 because the system experienced numerous material and design shortcomings making its continued use unacceptable without significant design modifications. Last year, Navy reassessed this issue and determined that the EOD Lift Balloon capability should be provided by the MK 2 MOD 2 Flotation Bladder Assembly. The committee notes that comparable capabilities exist to support this requirement including a developmental lift balloon and an automated tow coupling actuation system currently in limited use by EOD. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a brief to the House Armed Services Committee by October 1, 2018 that provides a comparison of the current program of record with other developmental efforts. Navy Next Generation Enterprise Network The committee acknowledges the Defense Information System Agency's current role in providing network management and security to the Navy's networks. The committee is also aware that the Navy has sought commercial sector input for modernizing its information technology services through the Navy Next Generation Enterprise Network. The committee recognizes that employing advanced commercial network capabilities for end-to-end network connectivity can promote rapid innovation, lead to cost efficiencies, and enhance security capabilities. Therefore, the committee encourages the Department of Defense, where practicable, to take advantage of commercial-off-the-shelf capabilities for supporting, securing, and modernizing its networks. Navy Theater Anti-Submarine Warfare prototyping The committee understands that the Navy plans to begin a Deployables Program of Record (PoR) in fiscal year 2020 which intends to address operational gaps in wide area undersea surveillance. The committee commends the Navy for conducting a robust prototyping program as a part of Theater Anti-Submarine Warfare (TASW) efforts since fiscal year 2015, which will inform future requirements and will produce valuable technical and operational information regarding the fielding and employment of deployables capabilities. However, the committee is also aware that under the current fiscal year 2020 start timeline, tested production units from the Deployable System of Systems Project effort will not be operationally available until late 2022. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to brief the House Committee on Armed Services by August 30, 2018 as to a plan to maximize the capabilities that have been achieved from current prototyping efforts as well as how the Secretary intends to mitigate the operational gaps that could result because of the Deployables PoR fielding schedule. Ocular Interruption System The Committee is aware the Marine Corps' new Ocular Interruption System, which will replace the current decades-old system, represents a materiel solution providing personnel a single, non-lethal hail and warning capability applicable across the range of military operations where the objective is to minimize civilian casualties and limit collateral damage. The Committee is concerned with the budget request's proposed reduction of the Marine Corps Approved Acquisition Objective (AAO) requirement of 1,758 units from the previously stated goal of 1,848 units, and the delay of Full Operational Capability (FOC) until the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020. The Committee is further concerned that the AAO requirement and the FOC timeline may have been altered without an associated change in requirements. Therefore, the Committee directs the Commandant of the Marine Corps to provide a briefing, not later than September 1, 2018, to the House Armed Services Committee on a plan to potentially fulfill its original AAO requirement of 1,848 units. This briefing shall include to planned delivery order schedule, pricing per unit, and fielding schedule. Passive rocket propelled grenade armor protection technology The committee notes there have been significant improvements in passive rocket propelled grenade (RPG) armor protection over legacy RPG armor systems, which are heavy and cumbersome, and present form, fit, and function constraints, particularly for Marine Corps ground combat tactical vehicle fleets operating in expeditionary environments. The committee encourages the Secretary of the Navy to consider lightweight RPG armor solutions that provide protection against RPG attacks while maintaining the ability to fold flat against the vehicle to allow for rapid deployment and transport from amphibious ships and aircraft. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by February 1, 2019, on the testing, evaluation, and integration of lightweight, textile, and flexible RPG armor solutions that provide protection against RPG attacks, while maintaining the ability to fold flat against the vehicle to allow for rapid deployment and transport from amphibious ships and aircraft. Small Business Innovation Research--Automated Test and Retest Program The committee recognizes the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a valuable tool to engage small business and provide a pathway for innovators to conduct business with the Department of Defense. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-81), Section 5001, also known as the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011, mandates that agencies, to the greatest extent practicable, shall issue Phase III awards to the SBIR award recipients that developed the technology. The committee is aware that the technology developed for the Automated Test and Retest Program has demonstrated success that has led to an enterprise-wide approach, and offers cost savings over current efforts. The committee encourages the Navy to continue to support SBIR award recipients to the greatest extent practicable for any Phase III awards associated with the Automated Test and Retest Program. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy, no later than 31 January 2019, to provide to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, a briefing on the Automated Test and Retest Program. The briefing should include an overview of SBIR award recipients associated with this program, the Navy's methodology and process for considering SBIR Phase III awards, and a plan detailing how the Navy's Automated Test and Retest program will comply with the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011 for future contract awards. TH-57 follow-on training system The budget request contained no funds in PE 63208N for the TH-57 follow-on training system program. The committee notes that the Department of the Navy procured the TH-57B and TH-57C helicopters used to train Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and foreign military partners between November 1981 and December 1985. The committee further notes that budget justification materials submitted with the budget request for fiscal year 2019 describe the TH-57 training system as experiencing obsolescence, diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages, and increasingly expensive operating costs relating to aging aircraft issues. The committee understands that this situation results in potential pilot training shortfalls that will have a negative impact on readiness. Accordingly, the committee believes the Department of the Navy should accelerate the program to procure a follow-on system to replace the TH-57B and TH-57C helicopters. The committee recommends $1.0 million in PE 63208N for this purpose. U.S. Navy MH-60R helicopter antisubmarine warfare and aircraft health monitoring The committee understands the U.S. Navy operates a fleet of Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW) equipped MH-60R helicopters. The committee notes the MH-60R is fitted with advanced mission systems and sensors that are capable of detecting and engaging modern submarines in littoral and open ocean scenarios. However, the committee understands that the current ASW sonobuoy receiver is heavy and limited to its specific mission of receiving and transmitting data to and from U.S. Navy sonobuoy fields for analysis through acoustic processors. The committee is aware that new Size Weight and Power (SWaP) receiver technology currently being used on the DDG-51 that could provide the Navy with enhanced capability while also reducing weight on the MH-60R by over forty pounds. Additionally, the committee understands that the new receiver has the capability to integrate a Next Generation Health Monitoring System (NGHMS), which has the potential to replace the current HUMS system on the aircraft, saving an additional fifty pounds of critical weight. The committee is also aware the U.S. Army is currently conducting demonstrations of NGHMS on the UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopter. The committee directs the Secretary of the Navy, or his designee, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 28, 2018 that provides operational details of the DDG-51 SWaP receiver to include capabilities, any challenges associated with integration with NGHMS and subsequently onto the MH-60R platform. The briefing should also include a notional plan for testing this technology as well as a notional acquisition strategy. Warfighter safety and performance The budget request contained $56.2 million in PE 62236N for Warfighter Sustainment Applied Research. The committee notes that this program has been instrumental in technology efforts to improve warfighter safety, prevent occupational injury in hazardous, deployed areas, and minimize the effects of extreme environments. The committee believes additional research focused on the safety, performance, and resilience of Navy divers can further reduce risk during dangerous missions in adverse conditions. Research areas that warrant additional focus include studies on decompression sickness, oxygen toxicity, optimization of diver performance, and assessment of the impact of thermal stress. This research can also illuminate human performance characteristics and technologies that have implications across a much larger set of mission-relevant performance calculations. The committee recommends $56.2 million, the amount requested, in PE 62236N for Warfighter Sustainment Applied Research. Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Air Force Items of Special Interest Academic and industrial partnerships for aerospace materials The budget request contained $42.0 million in PE 63680F for the manufacturing technology program. The Air Force has been studying materials for advanced aerospace needs to enhance lethality and survivability in accordance with the 2018 National Defense Strategy. The committee understands developing and manufacturing advanced materials can be challenging, and that opportunity may exist for the Air Force Research Laboratory to leverage existing relationships, and form new partnerships, with higher education and industrial partners in the Manufacturing Technology Program to better understand these challenges. Specifically, the committee believes greater leveraging of software and simulation tools to assess new machining, composite manufacturing, casting, and additive manufacturing technologies being developed by original equipment manufacturers, will ultimately improve advanced material development and manufacturing. Therefore, the committee recommends $47.0 million, an increase of $5.0 million, in PE 63680F to develop advanced materials and increase advanced materials manufacturing through academic and industrial partnerships to better support aerospace needs. Academic partnerships for modeling, design, and analysis of unmanned air platforms The budget request contained $190.9 million in PE 62203F for aerospace propulsion research and development. The committee is aware that the Air Force performs a wide range of advanced research and engineering in multi- disciplinary design for unmanned air platforms. Further, the committee recognizes that advanced modeling and design, as well as quicker comparative analyses, are beneficial to this effort. The committee believes that academia is well-suited to partner with the Air Force on modeling, design, and comparative analysis through the use of Educational Partnership Agreements, which are mutually beneficial agreements that may also enhance the Air Force's effort to recruit a diverse and educated workforce. Therefore, the committee recommends $195.9 million, an increase of $5.0 million, in PE 62203F for Educational Partnership Agreements for unmanned platforms. Elsewhere in this title, the committee notes the importance of partnerships with academia to advance unmanned platforms and systems in order to maintain a competitive war fighting advantage. Advanced engine development program The budget request contained $1.2 billion in PE 64858F for technology transition programs, of which $790.4 million was included for the advanced engine development project. The advanced engine development project enables demonstration of advanced turbine engine prototypes. The committee notes that the main effort in this project is the adaptive engine transition program, which is maturing fuel- efficient adaptive engine component technologies and reducing associated risk in preparation for next-generation propulsion system development for multiple combat aircraft applications. The committee understands that adaptive engine technology enables next generation combat aircraft capabilities by combining the efficiency of high-bypass turbofans used by commercial airlines with the performance demanded of military fighter engines. This technology has undergone initial development through the adaptive engine technology and adaptive engine technology demonstrator programs, which the committee has supported in past years. The committee believes that both legacy aircraft and future aircraft can benefit from this capability and technology. Therefore, the committee encourages the Department of the Air Force to continue to make the necessary investments in these critical technology demonstrations and engine developments to ensure operational capability is achieved at the earliest opportunity. The committee recommends $790.4 million, the full amount requested, in PE 64858F in order to continue the advanced engine development project, and further encourages the Department of Defense to consider early initiation of development programs aimed at transitioning advanced engines into the field for both legacy and future combat weapon systems. Advanced pilot training program The budget request contained $265.5 million in PE 65223F for the advanced pilot training (APT) program. The APT program will replace the Air Education Training Command's aging T-38C fleet with new aircraft, a ground-based training system, a maintenance training system, and support infrastructure currently used in the fighter/bomber advanced Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training track, as well as in the Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals program. The committee continues to view the APT program as a critical program to replace the aging T-38C aircraft in order to train student pilots in an advanced training aircraft so they can make a more effective transition to fifth-generation combat aircraft upon graduation from undergraduate pilot training. The committee notes that for fiscal year 2018, contract award had been planned for late 2017, and has now been delayed until the summer of 2018. If the delay in contract award extends beyond the summer of 2018, the committee expects the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services within 30 days of the delay announcement, detailing the reasons for further delay, impact on aircraft delivery, and efforts to mitigate the delay so that initial and full operational capability remains on schedule. The committee recommends $265.5 million, the full amount requested, in PE 64233F to continue the APT program. The committee also expects the Secretary of the Air Force to provide the briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services directed in the committee report (H. Rept. 115-200) accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, on potential options to accelerate the APT program, subsequent to contract award. Advanced radar threat system emitters The budget request contained $35.9 million in PE 64735F for Department of the Air Force combat training range development, of which $34.8 million was included for development of a family of advanced radar threat system (ARTS) emitters. The ARTS programs develop, design, build, and test threat system simulators based on advanced foreign-fielded surface-to-air missile (SAM) radar threat systems. ARTS will be used at Department of Defense training ranges for fourth- and fifth- generation aircrew training and tactics development to increase combat effectiveness and aircrew survivability by training aircrews to engage or defend against an advanced SAM threat before encountering it in actual combat to stress their tactics, techniques, and procedures. The committee understands that ARTS radars would add modern, high-fidelity threat training devices to the ranges that are capable of interacting with fifth-generation sensor- fusion technologies. During a visit to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, in April 2018, F-35A pilots briefed committee members that current training ranges are not equipped with the threat radars necessary to provide the most effective training for F- 35 pilots, and the committee believes that the ARTS emitter programs should be accelerated. Accordingly, the committee recommends $62.9 million in PE 64735F for Air Force combat training range development, an increase of $27.0 million, to accelerate the ARTS emitter programs, and understands that this amount is executable in fiscal year 2019. Advanced Turbine Engine Gas Generators The Advanced Turbine Engine Gas Generator project develops and demonstrates core engine technologies to address the growing need for affordable small turbofans utilized in current and future missile and remotely piloted aircraft propulsion systems. The project develops and demonstrates technology to reduce cost of ownership by half while improving mission flexibility and fuel consumption to increase range. It will also pave the way for providing much needed competition where there currently is none. The committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than February 15, 2019, on Department of the Air Force plans to fund technologies which lead to low cost, high performance turbofan engines of up to 1,200 pounds of thrust. Aerospace composite structures manufacturing The budget request contained $42.0 million in PE 63680F for the Air Force manufacturing technology program. Of this amount, $30.1 million was requested for advanced manufacturing technology, including agile manufacturing capabilities. The committee believes that manufacturing technology related to cost reduction for aerospace composite structures is a particularly important part of this overall effort. Specifically, the committee encourages work on production cost reduction methods, low-cost tooling, and agile manufacturing technologies to enable future Air Force unmanned systems requirements to be achieved at an affordable cost. The committee recommends $42.0 million, the full amount requested, in PE 63680F for the Air Force manufacturing technology program. Air Force test and evaluation support The budget request contained $692.8 million in PE 65807F for Department of the Air Force test and evaluation support. The committee notes that this amount is $14.5 million, or about 2 percent, higher than the budget request for fiscal year 2018. The committee also notes that test facilities, capabilities, and resources operated through this program include wind tunnels, rocket and jet engine test cells, armament test ranges, civilian payroll, and contractor services. In the committee report (H. Rept. 115-200) accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, the committee reported on a briefing it received on a comprehensive assessment of Major Range and Test Facility Base needs and investments to meet the testing required for fifth- and sixth- generation aircraft and air armament, including hypersonic strike weapons. The committee noted that among its findings were that fifth- and sixth-generation aircraft and weapons introduce test and evaluation gaps, and that significant research and development and operations and support investments are required to fill those gaps. For fiscal year 2018, Department of the Air Force officials informed the committee that funding for test and evaluation support is about $30.0 million below its historical norms, and that this funding erosion has diminished the ability of the Air Force Test and Evaluation (T&E) enterprise to support T&E of next-generation capabilities in the near term. Since the budget request for fiscal year 2019 would only provide an inflation increase over the previous year, the committee believes that the budget request for fiscal year 2019 is also about $30.0 million below historical norms. Consequently, the committee recommends $724.7 million in PE 65807F for Air Force test and evaluation support, an increase of $31.9 million, to provide improved open-air range test capabilities on a timeline that supports the Air Force's roles in the development of next-generation platforms and air armament, and addresses the growing range challenges. Air Operations Center software modernization utilizing agile development software processes The budget request contained $106.1 million in PE 27410F for the Air and Space Operations Center (AOC), of which, $97.6 million is for development of applications and software for the AOC utilizing agile software development and operations (Ag DevOps) techniques. The committee is disappointed in the past attempt to modernize and upgrade AOC capability through the AOC 10.2 program and the waste of fiscal resources that occurred as a result of AOC 10.2 program termination. The committee is concerned by the Air Force's lack of knowledge regarding contractual insights and cost data, the inability to explain cost-estimation tools and planning considerations necessary to formulate budgets, and how the Air Force values the goods and services received for the resources expended. Therefore, the committee recommends $79.6 million in PE 27410F, a decrease of $26.5 million, for development of applications and software for the AOC utilizing Ag DevOps techniques. The committee also includes a provision elsewhere in this title that would provide the Secretary of the Air Force 25 percent of authorized funding recommended until the Secretary provides a report to the congressional defense committees on software development cost-estimation tools needed to develop ``should-cost'' models, information regarding costs incurred to date for software development, and a sufficiency review of the report by the Department of Defense Director, Defense Pricing and Acquisition Policy office prior to submitting the report to Congress. Autonomous life support system The budget request contained $36.5 million in PE 63456F for human effectiveness advanced technology development, but included no funds for an autonomous life support system (ALSS). An ALSS is a system in development that would monitor the physiologic state, respiratory profile, and environmental conditions of a pilot in a fighter or training aircraft. It automatically adjusts to the pilot's physiologic demands, thereby diminishing the prospect that a pilot would be subjected to a physiological episode resulting from an inadequate supply of oxygen. A National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) report conducted by the NASA Engineering and Safety Center, dated September 14, 2017, on F/A-18 and EA-18 fleet physiological episodes, recommended the development of systems that would monitor a pilot's physiologic state. The committee understands that the Air Force's 711th Human Performance Wing is pursuing a cooperative research and development agreement with a contractor to develop an ALSS that includes capabilities for monitoring inhaled and exhaled gas. The committee further understands that the scope of funded work should also include the monitoring of pilot physiology for heart rate, pulse or tissue oxygenation, and estimated core temperature, and that an increase in funds for this purpose would accelerate the development of an ALSS. Consequently, the committee recommends $46.5 million, an increase of $10.0 million, in PE 63456F. Education and outreach for anti-tampering and cybersecurity research The committee recognizes the role that anti-tampering technology plays in safeguarding U.S. military weapon systems from theft, reverse engineering, and exploitation. The committee acknowledges and supports the Air Force's highly focused efforts to grow technological advances in this area. Therefore, the committee encourages the Department of Defense to fully fund programs that support anti-tampering research and development. Furthermore, the committee encourages the Department to leverage talent from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that have a proven track record of excellence in this particular field. The committee recognizes the vital contributions that HBCUs have made in supporting defense readiness and national security priorities through successful research initiatives. F-15 ALQ-128 electronic warfare warning set The budget request contained $192.9 million in PE 27134F for development of F-15 systems, but included no funds for development of the ALQ-128 electronic warfare warning set (EWWS). The ALQ-128 EWWS is a countermeasures receiver used on the F-15C, D, and E aircraft. The ALQ-128, used in concert with other systems, provides active jamming against enemy radar threats. The committee notes that with the fielding of upgraded active electronically scanned array radars on the F-15 fleet, the aircraft's automatic electronic warfare warning countermeasures and active jamming capability was lost because the legacy ALQ-128 EWWS is not compatible with the new antennas and cannot be upgraded. The committee understands that an ALQ- 128 development program to re-design the ALQ-128 would regain the lost warfighter capability to provide active jamming against enemy radar threats, and is necessary to provide an expandable and upgradeable system to meet mission requirements. Therefore, the committee recommends $242.9 million, an increase of $50.0 million, in PE 27134F for development of the ALQ-128 EWWS. F-35 follow-on development The committee notes that the F-35 program has accomplished the final developmental test flight of the system development and demonstration (SDD) phase of the program on April 11, 2018. While the SDD required flight test is now complete, the committee further notes that flight testing continues in support of phased capability improvements and modernization of the F-35 air system in an effort formerly known as block four and now known as continuous capability development and delivery (C2D2). The C2D2 program will provide timely, affordable incremental warfighting capability improvements to maintain joint air dominance against evolving threats to the United States and its allies. Section 224(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328) directed the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the congressional defense committees that contains the basic elements of an acquisition baseline for the F-35 block four program. However, the report delivered in January 2018 provided only an initial insight into the basic elements of the F-35 C2D2 program. The committee understands that a complete report is planned to be submitted in March 2019, and believes that the basic elements of an acquisition baseline are vital to the ability of the committee to conduct its oversight responsibilities of a significant F-35 modernization budget. Therefore, elsewhere in this Act, the committee recommends a provision that would limit the obligation of funds for the F- 35 C2D2 program until the Secretary of Defense submits the complete report required by section 224(b) of Public Law 114- 328. The committee also notes that in its annual report on the F-35 program, the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation assessed that the F-35 C2D2 schedule was not executable due to insufficient test resources, including an inadequate number of test aircraft configured to conduct C2D2 test flight activity. Accordingly, the committee believes the Department should procure an additional six new test aircraft, two in each of the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C configuration, to support the C2D2 program so that capability improvements and modernization can be more rapidly developed and procured to meet evolving threats. Metals Affordability Initiative The budget requested contained $37.9 million in PE 63112F for Advanced Materials for Weapons System. The committee recognizes the importance of this program in providing affordable materials and manufacturing technologies across the entire life-cycle of aerospace materials. Specifically, the Air Force Research Lab-managed Metals Affordability Initiative has reduced metallic aircraft component costs and accelerated the implementation and transfer of technologies across a wide range of aircraft platforms. The committee notes the value of this public-private partnership and the risk sharing model that has directly led to a nearly $2.4 billion return on the U.S. Government's investment. The committee recommends the Secretary of the Air Force create a dedicated funding line for the Metals Affordability Initiative to show the Air Force's clear commitment to this program. The committee recommends $47.9 million, an increase of $10.0 million, in PE 63112F for Advanced Materials for Weapons System. Passive ground-based imaging of space objects The committee is aware of the progress with ground-based space imaging experiments being made by the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Joint United States-United Kingdom Research Team. The committee recognizes the potential for high resolution imaging of geosynchronous satellites that also supports the AFRL Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education goals. The committee is also aware of positive initial test results and additional ground based experiments using full scale baseline separations of over 100 meters between the tracking telescopes. The committee recommends the AFRL continue ground-based space imaging experimentation with passive/unobtrusive optical amplitude interferometry imaging in combination with other surveillance systems for Department of Defense applications. Precision metrology tools The budget request contained $125.3 million in PE 62102F for materials research and development. The committee recognizes that metrology, or the development of precise measurement tools, is an important aspect of materials research. As the ability to manipulate materials at the subatomic scale, and to generate new and novel materials from computational design, continues to advance, it will also require further development of precision measuring tools. The committee encourages the Air Force to explore new and innovative methods to develop and provision for these tools, including through public-private partnerships to field and maintain cutting-edge metrology systems. Therefore, the committee recommends $128.3 million, an increase of $3.0 million, in PE 62102F to support the development of advanced, precision metrology tools. Recapitalization of Battle-Management, Command and Control, and associated intelligence capabilities in support of ground forces The budget request contained no funds in PE 37581F for the Joint Surveillance Target and Attack Radar System (JSTARS) Recapitalization (Recap) program, and $14.9 million for research and development, and $9.9 million for procurement activities related to the legacy E-8C JSTARS program. The committee is concerned and disagrees with the Air Force's decision to terminate the JSTARS Recap program. While the committee understands the Air Force's desire to transition to a new ``family of systems'' concept for providing intelligence to the Joint Force, it believes that the proposed plan involves significant risk in terms of technology development, integration, cost, and schedule, and therefore the termination of the JSTARS Recap program is unwarranted and will create a significant gap in overall ISR capability and capacity. While the Air Force claims to have accounted for such risks in its decision, the committee does not believe it is appropriate to accept these risks given the importance of this mission area to the Joint Force. In addition, the committee notes that the Air Force's decision on the JSTARS Recap program directly contradicts numerous Department of Defense analyses, and senior-officials' testimony provided to Congress regarding requirements, capabilities, war-gaming, and affordability that justified the existence and execution of the JSTARS Recap program, as recently as part of the fiscal year 2018 budget request. Further, the committee is also concerned that the Air Force's decision could impose an unacceptable level of risk to joint ground forces that will rely heavily upon JSTARS Recap to provide reliable, consistent, accurate, and highly integrated Battle-Management, Command and Control, and Ground Moving Target Indicator intelligence capabilities. Finally, the committee believes that the Air Force's decision did not take into account the significantly improved capabilities and increased capacity that the JSTARS Recap aircraft, utilizing a modern aircraft design with fifth-generation radar technology and integrated software processing, is currently designed to bring to the battlefield as compared to the current fleet of legacy E-8C aircraft. Therefore, the committee recommends $623.0 million, an increase of $623.0 million, in PE 37581F to fund the JSTARS Recap program's continued development. The committee also includes a provision elsewhere in this title that addresses this program. Reusable hypersonic vehicle structure development The budget request contained $130.5 million in PE 62201F, and $125.4 million in PE 62102F for aerospace vehicle technologies and materials. The committee supports the Department of Defense's efforts to accelerate the testing and development of hypersonic vehicles. The committee believes further investment in the development of economically efficient reusable hypersonic systems will extend national defense capabilities beyond the limits of expendable systems. Additional reusable hypersonic vehicle structure development and thermal protection system development is necessary to enable rapid global response to threats, and extend the survivability of platforms in highly contested environments. Further research focused on ceramic matrix components, fabrication, assembly, and full-scale component testing is necessary in order to meet the Air Force's fiscal year 2019 test bed vehicle operations goals. The committee recommends $140.5 million, an increase of $10.0 million, in PE 62201F and $135.34 million, an increase of $10.0 million, in PE 62102F for aerospace vehicle technologies and materials, to accelerate the development of reusable and air-launched hypersonic vehicle structures. Robust aircraft electrical power and thermal management systems The budget request contained $115.5 million in PE 63216F and $190.9 million in PE 62203F for the development and demonstration of electrical power, thermal management, and distribution for aerospace applications. The committee recognizes the Air Force is highly focused on developing directed energy and laser weapons systems, both for self-protection and to provide offensive capability for future aircraft. In order to meet those goals, the Air Force will not just need a lasing system and optics with the size and weight to be incorporated into aircraft-sized systems, but it will also need an end-to-end power generation system that can meet all of these new power demands in addition to all of the other electrical and avionics subsystems on these aircraft. The committee encourages the Air Force to focus developmental work on the aerospace electrical power for lightweight and efficient power technologies needed for those future aircraft concepts. Therefore, the committee recommends $125.5 million, an increase of $10.0 million, in PE 63216F, and $195.9 million, an increase of $5.0 million, in PE 62203F, to accelerate design, fabrication, and testing to support a light-weight, robust electrical power and thermal management system for future aircraft needs. Secure-live-virtual-constructive advanced training environment The budget request included $112.5 million in PE 62202F for Human Effectiveness Applied Research, a program element that includes learning and operational readiness. The committee notes that this project supports research on the application of cognitive science for performance improvement by enhancing training in mission-relevant environments. This includes advanced technology demonstrations for a secure live-virtual-constructive advanced training environment and live-virtual-constructive cockpit technologies. The committee recognizes the important advances that have resulted from this particular technology demonstration since its inception in 2015, and looks forward to a joint services proof of concept demonstration, as well as accelerated encryption and waveform development. As the U.S. Air Force continues to seek ways to leverage cutting-edge technologies in realistic training and improve mission readiness, the committee is interested in ensuring the joint interoperability of this technology in fifth generation aircraft. The committee recommends $112.5 million, the full amount requested, in PE 62202F for Human Effectiveness Applied Research. Small diameter bomb II cost reduction initiative The committee understands the small diameter bomb increment II (SDB II) is a joint program between the Air Force and Navy. The SDB II can be used on every tactical fixed-wing aircraft platform and provides the warfighter the capability to attack mobile targets from stand-off ranges, through inclement weather and adverse conditions. The committee notes that since the award of the initial production contract the cost of an all up round (AUR) has increased largely as a result of lower-than- expected quantities of the tri-mode seeker that is currently used on SDB II for other precision guided munition programs. The committee is concerned that this could negatively impact potential planned procurement of SDB IIs in the out-years, and as a result could delay SDB II fielding when the program is scheduled to increase production. The committee encourages the Secretary of the Air Force to examine implementing potential cost reduction efforts to address rising AUR costs related to the tri-mode seeker at this early stage of SDB II production in order to maximize return on investment for the Department of Defense and the taxpayer. Technology Transition Program The budget request contained $1.2 billion in PE 64858F for the Technology Transition Program. The committee commends the program's efforts to accelerate and transition technologies and prototypes into acquisition programs of record and operational use. The committee notes a majority of the funds are allocated towards advanced engine development and prototyping, and is concerned that only $87.2 million is allocated for experimentation with other technologies. The investment in non-engine technologies is insufficient to address the critical technology and development required to transition systems-of-systems research, mixing low- tech and high-tech assets in a combat-effective framework, and scalable and additive manufacturing solutions. The committee recommends an increase of $15.0 million in PE 64858F for non-engine technology experimentation and competitively awarded transition programs within the Technology Transition Program. Wide-area motion imagery intelligence capability The budget request contained $175.3 million in PE 35206F for development of airborne reconnaissance systems, but contained no funding for continued development and modernization of wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) beyond line-of sight (BLOS) capabilities. The committee notes that persistent, near real-time day and night WAMI capability is considered by operational commanders to be a critical BLOS intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability for numerous combat units. WAMI capability has been deployed in support of combat operations in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan since 2010 and in the Republic of Iraq since 2015; however, despite the invaluable capability that WAMI provides, the Air Force has only been able to provide four steady-state unmanned aircraft system lines of WAMI capability. The committee understands that 2 years ago, the Department of Defense validated a U.S. Central Command Joint Urgent Operational Need Statement that requires the further development and procurement of WAMI BLOS capabilities for forward-deployed operations. The committee notes that previous funding has resulted in preliminary multi-intelligence fusion capabilities, near-vertical-direction finding, and enhanced BLOS capabilities. However, a lack of fiscal year 2019 funding will impede final delivery of these capabilities, and will prevent necessary sensor system upgrades to satisfy validated warfighter requirements. Accordingly, the committee recommends $186.1 million in PE 35206F, an increase of $10.8 million, for development of WAMI BLOS sensor improvements, and to continue processing and exploiting improvements that would enable automated multi- intelligence sensor fusion. Wind energy development radar mitigation efforts The budget request contained $6.3 million in PE 35114F for the Air Traffic Control, Approach, and Landing System. The committee understands the growing importance of renewable energy as a national security imperative, in particular the rapid expansion of wind energy as an alternative energy source. The committee also recognizes the potential impact of wind energy development on the operational readiness, training activities, safety, and force protection of Department of Defense service members, aircraft, and installations. Given the expected increase in the U.S. wind energy development, mitigation approaches must be further developed and accelerated. The committee recommends that the U.S. Government and industry continue to evaluate the impacts of existing and planned wind energy developments in coordination with the Federal Interagency Wind Turbine Radar Impact Mitigation Working Group, and develop best practices for radar mitigation strategies. The committee is aware of an existing pilot program by the U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command to integrate gap-filler radar systems into their air traffic control operations to mitigate the impact of wind energy developments. This mitigation pilot program has reduced false target alerts and improved the situational awareness of air traffic control operators and the safety of aircrew. The committee recommends additional analysis to assess the feasibility and development requirements associated with the integration, operation, and performance of gap-fill radars integrated into existing air traffic command and control systems. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than October 31, 2018, on the status of the pilot mitigation project and strategy for developing gap-filler radar thresholds and requirements. Additionally, the committee recommends $8.8 million, an increase of $2.5 million, in PE 35114F for the Air Traffic Control, Approach, and Landing System. Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-Wide Items of Special Interest Advanced ceramic capabilities The committee is interested in advancements in dual-use ceramic capabilities and production technologies. The committee is aware that recent advancements in smelting have significant overlap with ceramic production methods and could lower ceramic production costs. Advanced ceramic capabilities have demonstrated versatility in critical military applications, including composite armor for soldier and vehicle protection, and for use in advanced hypersonic vehicle development. Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, no later November 1, 2018, to provide to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a briefing on dual-use ceramic capabilities. The briefing should include an overview of advances in ceramic production processes and technologies, the benefits ceramic capabilities provides, and any forecasted adoption of ceramic capabilities into current weapon systems. Antitoxin to combat botulinum toxin Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) is a highly potent toxin, as well as a medical therapy with numerous uses in neurophysiology. The Department of Defense is managing efforts to develop a vaccine against BoNT/A; however, the potential impact of BoNT/A vaccination on future benefits of the medical uses of BoNT/A is unknown. These benefits include treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder-associated migraines and amputation pain. The committee understands that the Department is also pursuing a small molecule antitoxin drug to combat BoNT/A, which could be used by military personnel without impacting future use of medical therapies derived from BoNT/A. Therefore, the committee encourages the Secretary of Defense to continue its work to develop a monoclonal antibody-based BoNT/A antitoxin drug through the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense. Autonomous capabilities Not later than April 1, 2019, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the committee on Armed Services an assessment on the consequences of the international proliferation of autonomous weapons, including those utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning, and a strategy for U.S. engagement in international discussions. In conducting such an assessment, the Secretary of Defense shall consider each of the following: (1) An evaluation of the consequences of an arms race in autonomous weapons, cyber weapons, artificial intelligence and machine learning, both from the domestic and competitor point of views. (2) An explanation of the of the concept of ``appropriate human judgement'' and how it differs from ``meaningful human control''. (3) An explanation of the U.S. strategy towards influencing how other nations approach autonomous weapons, including human judgement, national safety review processes, and stability concerns. Further, the study should include an assessment of the current policy guidelines with respect to the role of autonomy in offensive and defensive cyberspace operations, and a discussion of how artificial intelligence and machine learning could impact current policy and doctrine. In conducting such an assessment, the Secretary of Defense shall evaluate the sufficiency of Department of Defense policies governing autonomy in cyberspace. Central Test and Evaluation Investment Program The budget request contained $258.7 million in PE 64940D8Z for the Central Test and Evaluation Investment Program (CTEIP). The committee notes that CTEIP has been used to fund the development of critically needed, high-priority test and evaluation capabilities for the Department of Defense. CTEIP has used a corporate approach to combine service and Department requirements to maximize opportunities for joint efforts and avoid unwarranted duplication of test capabilities. The committee recommends additional focus on developing a geospatial architecture to assist in the testing, analysis, and visualization of cyber and electronic warfare threat systems, and their impact in a radio frequency compromised environment. The committee encourages the Department to explore efforts to automate data collection and analysis capabilities, thereby reducing manual data entry and expediting the preparation of products and reports. The committee recommends $258.7 million, the amount requested, in PE 64940D8Z for the Central Test and Evaluation Investment Program. Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive standoff detection The committee is aware of the enduring challenge of detecting chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) threats from a safe distance. The committee is also aware of a new technology that may be capable of dynamic wavelength modulation of laser light with potential applications in multiple mission areas, including standoff detection of CBRNE threats. Given the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic and the threat of CBRNE use in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sensors capable of standoff detection would provide early warning, thereby increasing timelines to prepare and respond to threats. Therefore, the committee encourages the Department of Defense to continue its efforts to develop standoff CBRNE detection. Common data environment for modeling and simulation The committee recognizes that common data environments can yield benefits, such as increased interoperability and strong modeling and simulation (M&S) capabilities. The committee supports continued funding for projects that provide critical Department of Defense-wide data services, such as the Army's Enterprise Data Services Common Data Production Environment. The committee is aware that in the committee report (S. Rept. 115-125) accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, the Senate Committee on Armed Services directed the Secretary of Defense to take actions to identify and address data collection, analysis, and sharing issues that limit robust M&S. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by November 1, 2018, on the Department's findings from the directive in S. Rept. 115-125. Contraband cellular devices The committee is aware that the illegal use of cellular devices in Federal prisons is on the rise. The committee is also aware that new technologies, such as managed access systems, are being developed, tested, and deployed to detect the use of contraband cellular devices among Federal prison populations. The committee acknowledges that military correctional facilities are often plagued with the same ills that infiltrate Federal correctional facilities. Therefore, the committee encourages the Department of Defense to study the effectiveness of new technologies that detect contraband cellular devices to identify and prevent instances of such use in military correctional facilities. Counter small tactical unmanned air systems The committee notes that Class I and II unmanned air systems (UAS), which in most cases are readily available commercial-off-the-shelf small and lightweight UAS, can be employed by state and non-state actors for use against U.S. military and civilian personnel. The committee understands that current maneuver short range air defense initiatives, as well as counter-UAS initiatives would address fixed-wing, rotorcraft, and medium-to-large UAS platforms. The committee is concerned by the rapid proliferation of small UAS and believes the military services should examine all potential combined kinetic and non-kinetic options to immediately address this perceived capability gap in organic air defense for Army Maneuver Brigades. The committee directs the Secretary of the Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 15, 2018 that provides an update on current Department of Defense programs to counter class I and II UAS. The briefing shall include: (a) The command responsible for developing and promulgating counter-UAS performance requirements; (b) A resource plan for developing and assessing potential material solutions for near-term and mid-term timeframes; (c) How the Department of Defense intends to ensure that units at the battalion and below echelons will be capable of defeating single and swarming Class 1 and II UAVs; and (d) The procedures whereby technical assessments will be shared and coordinated with the other military services. Counter-unmanned aerial system threat detection The committee is interested in advancements in counter- unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) technology and the threat these systems pose to the Armed Forces. The committee supports ongoing efforts by the U.S. Army and U.S. Special Operations Command to develop and employ unmanned aerial system (UAS) threat detection technology, and commends the services for recognizing the seriousness of the threat. In light of recent UAS attacks in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, the committee is concerned about the increased threat from unmanned aerial systems to forward operating bases and special operations forces personnel. The committee believes additional advancements in scalable C-UAS technologies are necessary to effectively detect, track, neutralize, and ensure the force protection and operational security of deployed service members. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by October 31, 2018, on the employment of C-UAS systems. The briefing should include an assessment of the UAS threat to the Armed Forces, a roadmap for C-UAS threat detection technology and capabilities, and the results of operational fielding of C- UAS systems. Enhanced Maritime Biological Detection The budget request contained $145.7 million in PE 64384BP for Contamination Avoidance (CA) Engineering Manufacturing Development (EMD) within the Department of Defense Chemical and Biological Defense Program (CBDP). The Enhanced Maritime Biological Detection (EMBD) program, an ongoing effort that began in fiscal year 2017, is included in CA EMD and will transition technology from the Joint United States Forces Korea Portal and Integration Threat Recognition Advanced Technology Demonstration to a program of record for the U.S. Navy. EMBD will complete development, testing, integration, and production of a lower cost biological point detection system that will detect, collect, and identify biological warfare agent aerosols, and provide automated warning at a lower sustained cost. The committee recommends $145.7 million, the amount requested in PE 64384BP, for CA EMD within the CBDP. Fielding of radiation detection devices The committee is encouraged by the Army's efforts to field additional radiation detection devices, and endorses the Army's efforts in fiscal year 2019 to develop and field the next- generation Joint Personal Dosimeter Individual (JPD-I), an individual dosimeter that includes immediate visual alert, measurement of radiation dose, and inclusion of a comprehensive record of radiation exposure over a soldier's career. The committee encourages the Army to conduct a rigorous, fair, and open competition for this new system to ensure the best dosimeter is developed and selected. Future uses of synthetic biology The committee is aware of recent advancements in synthetic biology, genomics, biotechnology, and related novel technologies that may enhance human performance and improve traditional approaches to healthcare. This includes enhancing human ability to perform through stressful and resource-limited environments, improving decision making, minimizing the time between disease identification and treatment, and augmenting human immune systems to defeat a variety of diseases, rather than depending on specific vaccines and therapeutics. The development of advanced biosensors to understand hypoxia is a current example of the type of human performance challenges that can be addressed through these advancements. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 1, 2018, on how the Department of Defense may leverage these advancements, when appropriate, and in accordance with ethical standards, U.S. law, our nation's values, and Department of Defense policy, to enhance service members' performance, increase lethality and survivability, and improve battlefield healthcare. The briefing should also identify opportunities, when appropriate and feasible, to facilitate the maturation of capabilities based on recent advancements. Historically black colleges and universities, and minority serving institutions The budget request contained $30.4 million in PE 61228D8Z for research work with historically black colleges and universities, and minority serving institutions (HBCU/MI). The committee recognizes the important role this program plays in bolstering the research capabilities and capacities at HBCU/MIs. Not only is such work important in meeting the defense research needs of the Department of Defense, but the committee also believes it provides an added benefit by diversifying the supply of scientists, engineers, and researchers working on the Department of Defense's most challenging problems. Therefore, the committee recommends $40.4 million, an increase of $10.0 million, in PE 61228D8Z for additional research between historically black colleges and universities, and minority serving institutions, as well as increased teaming opportunities between these institutions and other research universities with experience supporting the Department's unique requirements. Innovative installation capabilities The budget request contained $29.4 million in PE 63342D8W for the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx). DIUx supports the identification, development, and demonstration of game-changing technologies to satisfy joint force priorities at a faster pace than the traditional Department of Defense planning, programming, budgeting, and execution process. As DIUx leverages partnerships with academic institutions, science and technology communities, and private industries, the committee recognizes the advantages that DIUx may provide to accelerate fielding of decisive technical capabilities and interoperability while mitigating operational risk to the warfighter and promoting affordability. The committee supports the objective of DIUx to maintain U.S. technological superiority across the range of military operations. The committee believes DIUx should also increase efforts to support technological superiority at Department installations by addressing critical technological needs. This may also include mitigation of cybersecurity vulnerabilities identified during the ongoing review of critical infrastructure being conducted by the Department as directed in section 1650 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328). Therefore, the committee recommends prioritizing critical technological needs at Department installations, and directs the Director of DIUx to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by October 1, 2018, on a plan to invest in the rapid insertion of innovative installation capabilities. Joint Regional Security Stacks The committee supports the Department of Defense's efforts to secure and simplify the Department's network environment through modernization. Specifically, the committee supports continued use of the Joint Regional Security Stacks (JRSS) and the modernization, streamlining, and optimization of JRSS architecture to improve performance, reduce the Department's attack surface, and eliminate outdated technical redundancy. The committee believes incorporation of next-generation technology may further increase the Department's cybersecurity posture and resiliency. Therefore, the committee encourages the Defense Information Systems Agency to make full use of next- generation packet brokers which reduce costs by employing active-failover features, reducing redundancy of cybersecurity tools, and implementing new technology that eliminates duplicate network traffic. Joint threat warning system The committee recognizes that the Joint Threat Warning System (JTWS) provides credible threat warning and intelligence information to special operations forces (SOF). The committee notes that this program has been critical to enhancing the situational awareness of SOF elements by alerting them to threats to the force and illuminating targeting opportunities. The committee is concerned that the program does not include an air-variant precision high frequency band capability. This gap in coverage exposes SOF operators to unknown threats and decreases their situational awareness. The committee recommends U.S. Special Operations Command further explore collection capabilities that address this critical air-variant high frequency gap in coverage. Military Free Fall School The committee is aware of the increased demand being placed on the U.S. Army's Military Free Fall School (MFFS). The committee understands the increased student throughput is largely a result of the expanded population of U.S. Army Special Operations Command personnel who are required to attend MFFS. Consequently, the increased student throughput has resulted in shortfalls in resourcing, an over-reliance on contract personnel, and an increased risk to students and cadre. Therefore, the committee directs the Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than October 15, 2018, on Special Operations Force Military Free Fall requirements, the funds expended, the expected cost of operating the MFFS across the Future Years Defense Program, and any change in the rate of MFFS safety incidents or injuries from fiscal years 2012 through 2018. Minerva Research Initiative The committee recognizes the valuable contributions the Minerva Research Initiative has had on social science research relevant to national security. This initiative has supported innovations in social science and translated important scientific discoveries in the field of counter-terrorism and counter-violent extremism. The committee believes similar research examining our peer and near-peer adversaries' growing influence and competitive advantage against the United States is necessary. According to the National Security Strategy of 2017, the People's Republic of China is reasserting its influence in order to deny the United States access in times of crisis and contest the Department of Defense's ability to operate freely in decisive locations. The committee believes additional national security-related social science research dedicated towards the Russian Federation, China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and their export of military and security technology, will help understand these nations' true intentions and develop and implement strategy aimed at countering their influence. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than November 16, 2018, on the feasibility of expanding the Minerva Research Initiative to state actors, including Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. The briefing should include the program's ability to provide substantive research addressing peer and near-peer adversary statecraft, to include, but not limited to, foreign influence, foreign investment, emerging technologies, and military exports. National Hypersonics Initiative The committee is aware of a National Hypersonics Initiative under development by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, in conjunction with the military services, defense labs, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The committee recognizes the growing amount of resources and emphasis placed by the Department of Defense on the research and development of hypersonic vehicle technology. The committee supports the development of a National Hypersonics Initiative, and believes it is prudent and consistent with the roles and responsibilities granted to the Department's Joint Hypersonics Transition Office as authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-91). The committee is interested in any impact that the Treaty Between the United States of America and The Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles, signed in 1987 and commonly referred to as the INF Treaty, is having on the research and development of hypersonic vehicle technology. The committee understands there is concern that the INF treaty obligations may limit the Department of Defense's ability to flight-test and operationally employ hypersonic vehicles. Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than September 15, 2018, on the status of the National Hypersonics Initiative and any impacts of the INF Treaty obligations on the research, development, prototyping, testing, or employment of hypersonic vehicle technology. National lab integration in defense innovation hubs The committee has continuing interest in the Department of Defense laboratories and engineering centers, their responsiveness to Department of Defense requirements, and maximizing their expertise and reach. The Department's laboratories are integral to the Department's ability to retain capability in areas where the private sector has no commercial interest, and ensuring that commercial solutions are adapted for warfighter needs in a timely manner so that the United States remains dominant in the land, air, sea, space, and cyber domains. The committee recommends that the Department better enable laboratories and centers to embrace an open and innovative posture, while simultaneously becoming more active in the Department's requirements process. The committee is aware of the Army Research Lab's Open Campus project as an example of open innovation that encourages groundbreaking advances in basic and applied research areas through increased collaboration with the broader research enterprise. The committee believes that this serves as a model for laboratories to become more ingrained in the scientific and research communities, both locally and globally, and become a greater sensor for disruptive technologies that present opportunities or highlight vulnerabilities for the Department. Additionally, the committee recommends that the laboratories increase their presence in innovation hubs across the United States, like those established by the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, and enhance existing relationships with the Strategic Capabilities Office and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than October 1, 2018, on the respective plan for further integrating the laboratories across defense and commercial innovation hubs, and maximizing their expertise and reach. The briefing should include a robust plan and timeline for increasing the Department's laboratory joint presence in innovation hubs across the United States. Non-lethal directed energy technologies The committee continues to support the need to minimize collateral damage, pursue all available avenues to reduce civilian casualties, and prevent damage to infrastructure in engagements abroad. The use of non-lethal directed energy technologies provides many opportunities to do so. Some of these technologies have matured and are already employed by military service and combatant commands in the operational environment across the globe. These technologies have the capacity to stop ground vehicles, small vessels, and unmanned aerial vehicles from infringing upon protected spaces, or to deny access to secured facilities. The committee continues to encourage the Department of Defense to make greater efforts to use these technologies where appropriate. Elsewhere in this report, the need for concurrent policy development, sustained integrated non-lethal directed energy technologies, and continued development of next-generation directed energy non- lethal technologies, like the Marine Corps' Ocular Interruption System, is addressed. Protect DIB critical technologies The committee recognizes the importance of safeguarding defense industrial base (DIB) critical technologies from cyber and economic actions conducted by our adversaries. The challenge in doing so is particularly acute as supply chains become increasingly globalized, as noted in the report published by the RAND Corporation entitled ``U.S. Authorities and DoD Options for Protecting the Defense Industrial Base from Cyber Intrusions and Economic Enticement, Influence, and Control.'' The report calls attention to the difficulties in protecting DIB members with supply chains in foreign countries and the resulting risks to the integrity of various critical technologies and materials. Therefore, the committee directs the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (R&E) to provide a briefing to the House Armed Services Committee no later than 1 March 2019 on activities and investments the Department is making with respect to foreign suppliers of critical technologies to national defense to ensure their integrity, including microelectronics. Rapidly deployable radar system The committee is aware of U.S. Special Operations Command's efforts to accelerate development of an ultra-low power, rapidly deployable radar system. This modular technology can enhance radar situational awareness for special operations forces elements in austere environments. The committee notes the value of this technology and its relevance in current conflicts, particularly due to the persistent threat of adversary controlled, small unmanned aerial systems. The committee looks forward to the results of additional testing and encourages the integration of this ultra-low power, rapidly deployable radar with other counter-unmanned aerial system efforts across the Department of Defense. Report on DoD target and threat systems The Committee recognizes that military capabilities of adversary nations continue to improve over time thus challenging the ability of the United States military to project power and protect its national interests throughout the world. In order to ensure thorough and realistic testing and evaluation of defense weapons systems and effective operational unit training, it is imperative that DoD continues to develop and maintain a sufficient inventory of realistic targets and threat systems that accurately represent the capability of adversary nations. In support of that imperative, the Committee believes that the status and adequacy of target and threat systems programs need to be assessed. The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a review of the Department's targets and threat systems in support of test and evaluation and training and shall identify recommended actions to address shortcomings in those systems in a final report. The review, recommendations, and final report shall address, but not be limited to, the following: (A) All airborne, seaborne, ground, and undersea targets and target control systems used to support open air test and evaluation and warfighter training exercises; (B) All real and simulated threat systems used to support open air test and evaluation and warfighter training exercises; (C) The degree to which all of the above systems replicate both current and future threats; (D) The adequacy of target and threat systems inventories to meet current and future test and evaluation and training requirements; (E) The ability of the above systems to support effective testing and evaluation of future U.S. combat and weapon systems; (F) The ability of the above systems to support effective warfighter training against future threats. Not later than one year after the date of enactment, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a final report on the review and recommended actions to address all shortcomings in the abilities of DoD targets and threat systems to effectively support open air test and evaluation events and training exercises. Research to enhance the understanding of adversarial influence operations Manipulation of the global information environment by adversaries using both human and machine means poses a challenge to the viability of democratic institutions and social stability. The committee is aware of research conducted by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop technologies for high-fidelity simulation of online social behavior, while testing and measuring simulation accuracy and other research projects to better understand influence. For example, the Social-Cognitive Information Security research program uses modeling and simulation to examine how behavior is manipulated in a way that compromises cyber or social infrastructures. The committee is aware that the Secretary of Defense recently designated the Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, to be the Joint Proponent for Military Information Support Operations (MISO), and to establish a global messaging/ counter-messaging capability. The committee believes research conducted to enhance the understanding of the impact of adversarial manipulation of the global information environment may complement and inform information operation activities of the Department of Defense. Therefore, the committee encourages the Director of DARPA and the Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, to collaborate and provide for transition of appropriate research projects that enhance and complement MISO. Use of authority for transactions other than contracts and grants by the Department of Defense The committee recognizes the need for agility and innovation in the procurement process. The committee believes that, when used appropriately, other transaction authority (OTA) of section 2371 of title 10, United States Code, can provide the necessary flexibility to give the Department of Defense a competitive edge in the commercial marketplace. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114-92) modified and made permanent the Department's ability to carry out certain prototype projects using OTA. Further recognizing the benefits of OTA, section 867 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) required the Secretary of Defense to establish a preference for using other transactions (OTs) ``in circumstances determined appropriate by the Secretary.'' The committee supports the Department's continued use of OTA to rapidly explore cutting-edge technologies and reduce barriers to attract non-traditional defense contractors. The committee also acknowledges the Department's guidance that OTs should be used appropriately by individuals possessing the requisite level of business acumen and judgment to operate in a ``relatively unstructured environment.'' However, the committee is increasingly concerned by a perceived lack of transparency surrounding the use of OTA within the Department. The committee is particularly concerned by the limited details provided on the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental's use of OTA to award a large-scale follow-on production contract for cloud services. While the Department significantly reduced the original award from $950.0 million to $65.0 million, and greatly limited the scope of the production agreement, the committee remains concerned about the Department's failure to provide a comprehensive explanation for how such a large-scale award was made unbeknownst to senior Department officials, and why the award was later reduced. Therefore, the committee urges the Department to exercise greater prudence and transparency when employing OTA to prevent misuse and abuse. The committee also urges the Department to reiterate through established guidelines that OTA is not a means for circumventing appropriate use of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, and that full and open competition should be used to the maximum extent practicable to maintain a sense of integrity, fairness, and credibility in the Federal procurement process. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations Section 201--Authorization of Appropriations This section would authorize appropriations for research, development, test, and evaluation at the levels identified in section 4201 of division D of this Act. Subtitle B--Program Requirements, Restrictions, and Limitations Section 211--Modification of Authority to Carry Out Certain Prototype Projects This section would make modifications to section 2371b of title 10, United States Code, regarding use of transactions other than contracts and grants for follow-on production. Section 212--Extension of Directed Energy Prototype Authority This section would extend the directed energy prototype authority provided for in section 219(c)(4) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114- 328) through fiscal year 2019. Section 213--Prohibition on Availability of Funds for the Weather Common Component Program This section would restrict funding for further development of meteorological situational awareness sensor programs for unmanned aircraft systems, and require the Secretary of the Air Force to submit a report to the congressional defense committees that describes requirements, existing technologies, current program efforts, testing and evaluation, and a fielding plan for capabilities associated with providing meteorological situational awareness to unmanned aircraft aircrews. The committee notes that the Air Force office for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Innovations and Integration under the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (HAF/A2) began an initiative in 2010 to develop an UAS sensor that could provide real-time meteorological situational awareness for UAS aircrews to increase mission effectiveness and mitigate reliance upon weather forecasting capabilities in geographic regions with limited or no weather services provided for flight operations. The effort culminated in 2015 and cost the Air Force $10.6 million. On October 30, 2015, the then-12th Air Force Commander, and now current Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force for Operations (HAF/A3), validated key global weather requirements for UAS operations, to include: increasing UAS situational awareness of current and predicted state of environmental phenomena to maximize mission effectiveness, efficiency, safety, resource protection, and risk management; relaying all onboard-UAS weather data and information, such as air temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, turbulence, ice accretion, and weather radar in real-time; and increasing real-time, on-board weather collection capability to provide pilot situational awareness and support Air Force forecast processes. However, the HAF/A2 sensor remains non- deployed, despite the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center finding the sensor and its associated software to be potentially operationally effective and suitable in a formal report published in January 2018. More concerning to the committee is that a separate development effort is being undertaken by HAF/A3 weather officials that appears to duplicate the technology. Thus, this section would restrict further funding for additional systems until the Air Force provides a report that will allow the committee to evaluate the need for additional capability. Section 214--Limitation Pending Certification on the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System Recapitalization Program This section would restrict obligation of funding for the Advanced Battle-Management System (ABMS) of Systems initiative of the Department of the Air Force, as well as a portion of the proposed divestment of legacy E-8C aircraft contained in the fiscal year 2019 budget request. The restriction would remain in effect until the Secretary of the Air Force certifies to the congressional defense committees that the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) Recapitalization (Recap) program, as submitted and described in the fiscal year 2018 budget request, is proceeding unhindered with originally planned activities associated with engineering, manufacturing, and development; low-rate initial production; production; and initial contractor support. This section also would require the Comptroller General of the United States to provide a report to the congressional defense committees that assesses the acquisition strategy associated with ABMS, and would require the Secretary of the Air Force to submit a report to the congressional defense committees that includes a strategy for accelerating the JSTARS Recap program, while also managing appropriately the legacy fleet of E-8C aircraft. This section would also authorize use of JSTARS Recap program funding to maintain the program office's functionality. Section 215--Limitation on Availability of Funds for F-35 Continuous Capability Development and Delivery This section would limit the obligation or expenditure of 25 percent of the funds for the F-35 continuous capability development and delivery program until 15 days after the Secretary of Defense provides the congressional defense committees a detailed cost estimate and baseline schedule for the program. This section does not apply to any funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act for the development of F-35 dual capable aircraft capability. Section 216--Limitation on Availability of Funds Pending Report on Agile Software Development and Software Operations This section would temporarily restrict funding for software development efforts that use agile development and operations methodology until the Secretary of the Air Force provides a report to the congressional defense committees that describes the cost-estimation tools, the types of contracts, and the mitigation efforts to avoid duplicative development related to the strategy for modernizing and upgrading existing software at worldwide Air Force Air Operations Centers. Section 217--Limitation on Availability of Funds for Certain High Energy Laser Advanced Technology This section would limit the availability of 50 percent of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act, or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2019, until the Secretary of Defense provides the High Energy Laser logical roadmap and assessment to the congressional defense committees. Section 218--Plan for Elimination or Transfer of the Strategic Capabilities Office of the Department of Defense This section would direct the Secretary of Defense to submit a plan to the congressional defense committees by March 1, 2019, for the elimination or transfer of the functions of the Strategic Capabilities Office to another organization or element of the Department of Defense. Section 219--National Security Science and Technology Strategy This section would direct the Secretary of Defense to develop a National Security Science and Technology Strategy to prioritize Department of Defense science and technology efforts and investments. The Secretary of Defense would be required to submit the most recent version of the strategy to the congressional defense committees not later than February 4, 2019, and annually thereafter through December 31, 2021. Section 220--Modification of CVN-73 to Support Fielding of MQ-25 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle This section would require the Navy to fund the modification of CVN-73 during its refueling and overhaul period in support of future MQ-25 unmanned carrier aircraft operations. Subtitle C--Reports and Other Matters Section 221--Report on Survivability of Air Defense Artillery This section would require the Secretary of the Army to submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by March 1, 2019, on efforts to improve Army Air Defense Artillery (ADA) survivability and require the Army to assess measures that could better enhance ADA defenses, both active and passive. The committee is concerned that U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery units may lack required active and passive non- kinetic capabilities and training to maximize their level of survivability against sophisticated threats. The committee recognizes that ADA is a critical and increasingly important component of Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense. The committee also supports continued modernization and expansion of ADA capability. Section 222--Report on T-45 Aircraft Physiological Episode Mitigation Actions This section would require the Secretary of the Navy to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by March 1, 2019, on modifications made to T-45 aircraft and associated ground equipment to mitigate the risk of physiological episodes among T-45 aircraft crewmembers, and would require the Secretary include certain elements in such report. Section 223--Report on Efforts of the Air Force to Mitigate Physiological Episodes Affecting Aircraft Crewmembers This section would require the Secretary of the Air Force to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by March 1, 2019, on all efforts of the Air Force to reduce the occurrence of, and mitigate the risk posed by, physiological episodes affecting crewmembers of covered aircraft and would require the inclusion of certain elements in such report. In this section, the term ``covered aircraft'' would mean F-35A aircraft of the Air Force, T-6A aircraft of the Air Force, and any other aircraft of the Air Force as determined by the Secretary of the Air Force. Section 224--Briefing on Use of Quantum Sciences for Military Applications and Other Purposes This section would require the Secretary of Defense to provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing and plan for using quantum sciences for military applications and other purposes. Section 225--Report on Defense Innovation Unit Experimental This section would require the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by May 1, 2019, on the integration of Defense Innovation Unit Experimental into the broader Department of Defense research and engineering community, the unit's measures of effectiveness, the number and type of transitions, and the impacts of the unit's initiatives and investments on the Department. TITLE III--OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Logistics and Sustainment Issues Briefing on Rapidly Deployable Structures The committee is aware that the military services, including but not limited to the Air Force Civil Engineer Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, are testing and evaluating options that improve the deployability, safety, and energy efficiency of structures used by the Armed Forces in a variety of operational environments. Of particular interest is the use of such structures in remote areas, where access to reliable energy sources can be difficult and environmental conditions can be severe. As such efforts continue, the committee encourages the Department of Defense to allocate appropriate resources for the research, development, test, evaluation, and procurement of structures that leverage energy efficient and insulation technologies. Toward that end, the committee directs the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment to provide a briefing to the House Armed Services Committee, by September 28, 2018, on the Department of Defense's efforts to leverage energy efficient technologies in deployed structures, particularly those capabilities that support operations in remote environments. This briefing shall include, a detailed assessment of recent tests and evaluations of such structures conducted by the military services, including but not limited to findings and analysis regarding thermal efficiency, energy generation and use, modularity, and other required capabilities; a description of key requirements, such as billeting, medical, command and control, and humanitarian and disaster relief, that could be addressed by these structures across the military services; and a plan to develop and promulgate guidance throughout the Department of Defense regarding energy efficient structures in operational environments. Corrosion Prevention for Improved Air Force Readiness The committee recognizes the importance of efforts to minimize corrosion, decrease aerodynamic drag, and reduce environmental and occupational risks in aircraft operations. These efforts include the application of alternative coatings applied to aircraft, such as powder-applied coatings, that increase durability while minimizing hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds. In addition, the committee recognizes the importance of innovative technologies that can rapidly and efficiently remove coatings, such as advanced laser technologies, that enable the safe and efficient repair and sustainment of aircraft skin made of metal or composite materials. In addition to surface coatings, adhesives and sealants are critical to providing corrosion protection and structural strength. Lighter weight sealants can reduce aircraft weight, extending operational range and reducing fuel consumption. Furthermore, advances are being made in screening technologies to reduce the amount of time required to validate a material's performance and incorporate it into aircraft maintenance strategy. The committee supports additional efforts that incorporate a range of targeted solutions designed to minimize corrosion and meet Air Force needs for manned and unmanned aircraft. The committee encourages the Secretary of the Air Force to continue to support those efforts that improve operational capability and reduce the cost and amount of time required to sustain these weapon systems. Innovative Engine Sustainment Wash-Down Management Program The committee notes that aircraft flown by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps often fly in corrosive or dusty environments. As a result, contaminants adhere to the turbine blades behind the combustion chamber and could adversely affect engine performance or operation. The committee believes the Department of the Navy should assess what additional operational or maintenance actions could be taken to further to improve fuel efficiency and aircraft availability rates in these corrosive and dusty environments. The committee understands the Navy and Marine Corps must be able to operate independently worldwide and that targeted investments in energy efficiency enhance combat capability and reduce need for logistics support. The committee understands that maintenance practices and technologies exist for aircraft engine sustainment, to include using ``washdown'' processes, that could potentially improve fuel efficiency, extend the servicelife of engine components and in turn, improve overall aviation readiness. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 28, 2018 on the advisability and feasibility of the establishment of a pilot program led by the Commander, U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to test new technologies and best practices in operational energy and resiliency for engine sustainment which reduces maintenance costs, improves aircraft availability rates, and lowers aircraft fuel consumption rates. Leveraging Technology To Improve Equipment Readiness The committee notes that readiness is defined by the Department of Defense as ``the ability of military forces to fight and meet the demands of assigned missions'' and is supported by personnel, training, and equipment readiness. Increasing and sustaining equipment readiness relies on balancing modernization initiatives with ensuring the proper maintenance, utilization, and sustainment of existing weapon systems. The committee is aware of innovative maintenance technologies and practices that may help reduce costs and the time that equipment and weapon systems are down for maintenance, while helping to maximize lifespan and operational availability rates. A significant amount of data can be captured through embedding diagnostic sensors and collecting operator observations, enabling predictive analytic software to proactively identify pending maintenance issues. The committee encourages the service secretaries to seek additional opportunities to leverage innovative technologies and maintenance practices, either as demonstration projects or by incorporating them into a fleet maintenance plan, to increase maintenance responsiveness and the operational availability of weapon systems. Life Cycle Costs of Major Defense Acquisition Programs The committee notes that section 2340 note of title 10, United States Code, requires the Department of Defense to ensure competition throughout the life cycle of major defense acquisition programs and the acquisition strategy for each major defense acquisition program includes measures to ensure competition or the option of competition and adequate documentation of the rationale for selection. Furthermore, the committee notes that section 2340 note of title 10 requires whenever a decision regarding source of repair results in a plan to award a contract for performance of maintenance and sustainment of a major weapon system or subsystem of a major weapon system, the Department shall take actions to ensure that, to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with statutory requirements, contracts for such maintenance and sustainment are awarded on a competitive basis and give full considerations to all sources. The committee is concerned about the life cycle costs of major defense acquisition programs and how the Department's implementation of section 2340 note of title 10 is impacting these associated program costs. The committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than December 1, 2018, on the Department's implementation of section 2340 note of title 10. Specifically, the briefing will include the strategy for each major defense acquisition program, the measures taken to ensure competition at both the contract and subcontract level, and the impact of these measures on the life cycle costs for each major defense acquisition program. Additionally, the briefing will include for each major defense acquisition program the consideration of competition throughout the maintenance and sustainment phases. Management of Navy Legacy F/A-18 Aircraft The committee is aware of the Department of the Navy's intent to divest legacy F/A-18 aircraft when the majority of the F/A-18 aircraft inventory remains non-flyable due to maintenance backlogs and availability of spare parts. Further, these aircraft experience high physiological event rates. Even so, the committee was encouraged by the Navy's decision to award an alternative-source contract for F/A-18 A/B/C/D depot- level maintenance to reduce the backlog of legacy F/A-18 depot- level maintenance. This contract, awarded in February 2016, can help improve overall aviation readiness rates. The committee is concerned, however, that the Navy's plan for managing the life cycle of the fleet is not clear. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by November 30, 2018, on the Navy's plans for the F/A-18 legacy fleet. The briefing should address the divestiture plan for the F/A-18 aircraft and the rationale for divestiture. For the aircraft remaining, the briefing should address the readiness recovery plans, including plans to fully utilize the alternative-source depot-level maintenance contract. Navy Next-Generation Small Arms Weapons Training and Readiness Requirements The committee is concerned that after 5 years, the Navy has not developed a comprehensive plan to address significant small arms training shortfalls identified following the 2013 Washington Navy Yard shooting. The committee reiterated these concerns in the committee report (H. Rept. 114-537) accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. The report directed the Navy to evaluate innovative, non-program-of-record small arms and crew-served training systems to improve Navy security force and fleetwide small arms tactical and crew-served training. The committee is aware of next-generation synthetic small arms training systems that can provide consistent, metrics-based proof of live-fire transfer across warfighter skill levels for individual and crew-served training. Such systems, which reduce ammunition expenditure and training time, have been demonstrated by the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command. The committee believes that these systems can improve reaction time and decision making under stress, skills critical to determining hostile intent and making escalation of force decisions. Given the benefits of these next-generation systems, the committee is concerned that the Navy has continued to rely on legacy simulation systems built for other services, without consideration of unique Navy small arms training and readiness requirements. Therefore, the committee directs the Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than November 30, 2018, regarding a comprehensive plan to meet small arms training requirements, how next-generation synthetic small arms training systems will be integrated into the comprehensive plan, and the Navy's acquisition strategy to support small arms training requirements. Navy Ship Maintenance and Repair The committee is aware that the Navy changed its contracting strategy for ship maintenance and repair in 2013, moving away from the system used since 2004. Despite this change, the Navy continues to experience delays in completing ship availabilities, leading to a reduction in the time a ship's crew has to prepare for deployment. The committee appreciates the need to control costs and to resolve all emergent maintenance issues when a ship is in a maintenance availability. However, the committee is not persuaded that the Navy's current Multiple Award Contract, Multiple Order (MAC-MO) mechanism is always the best contracting approach. The committee has learned of delays in renegotiating contracts while vessels sit idle in the yard, as well as third party planning contractors not obtaining long lead time materials when needed. The committee is aware that the Comptroller General of the United States looked at similar issues, described in Government Accountability Office report GAO-17-54, issued in 2016. To better understand what adjustments may be needed to make improvements to the Navy's ship maintenance and repair process, the committee directs the Comptroller General to: (1) compare the Navy's execution of the MAC-MO strategy against the previous Multi-Ship, Multi-Option strategy, with particular emphasis on cost, lost operational days, and on-time completion; (2) assess the effectiveness of third party planners in the MAC-MO strategy, including their performance in developing stable well-defined requirements during advance planning; (3) assess the adequacy of the Navy's structure for contract oversight; (4) assess the stability and viability of the ship repair industrial base, including private industry's capacity to recruit and retain critically skilled workers and maintain safe and efficient facilities; and (5) assess advantages, disadvantages, or key differences between the MAC-MO and Multi-Ship, Multi-Option strategy depending on the location where the work will be performed. The committee directs the Comptroller General to submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representative by March 1, 2019, on these matters and recommendations to improve the Navy's contracting process. Supply of Aviation Parts and Spares The committee is concerned by the rate of non-mission capable aircraft due to issues with supply of parts and spares. The committee is aware of numerous examples of aircraft that have been non-mission capable for several months waiting for the arrival of a part. Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than September 30, 2018, on the Department's efforts to address issues associated with the availability and supply of aviation parts and spares. At minimum, the briefing should provide an update on the rate of non-mission capable aircraft due to supply, specific actions the Department is taking to decrease this rate, and commercial and industry best-practices for maintenance and supply that may be adopted as part of an overall strategy to improve aircraft mission capability rates. Readiness Issues Additive Manufacturing in Depot Facilities The committee is encouraged by the progress that depots and arsenals in each military department are making in developing additive manufacturing capabilities. The committee understands that this capability allows depots to quickly manufacture parts that are no longer available from commercial suppliers, allowing rapid repair of essential operational equipment. However, there remains substantial room across each of the services to add more additive manufacturing capacity. Additionally, the committee has observed little commonality across the Department of Defense in addressing intellectual property issues associated with this process. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than December 3, 2018, on a strategy to further integrate additive manufacturing capabilities into industrial facilities across the Department to speed parts production, return equipment to the force, and improve material readiness. The briefing should also address progress in resolving legal and patent questions around use of additive manufacturing. Adversary Air Training The committee notes that the budget request contained increased funds for the Air Force to provide more adversary air contracted support for Red Flag exercises, Warfighter Integration Center, and combat air force fighter formal training unit locations. The committee also notes that the budget request contained increased funds for the Navy to provide adversary air support at specialized schools including the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center. The committee supports these efforts to contract for adversary air training to aid aviation readiness recovery. Contract support will make more combat-coded pilots available for operational duties rather than adversary air training missions and reduce the number of training hours being placed on airframes. In acquiring contracted services for adversary air, the committee encourages the Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary of the Navy to maximize competition and ensure the contracts provide flexibility to adjust to emerging training requirements. Finally, the committee encourages the Secretary of the Air Force and Secretary of the Navy to seek opportunities to coordinate adversary air requirements to reduce overall costs and maximize the support to aviation readiness recovery of both departments. Army Soldier and Squad Virtual Trainer The committee commends the Army's decision to replace its legacy small arms simulation trainer and call for fire trainer with an advanced Soldier and Squad Virtual Trainer (S/SVT) program to achieve next-generation synthetic small arms, call for fire, use of force, and close quarters combat training and readiness objectives. The committee believes continued improvement of these systems is essential to future success of small units on the battlefield. The committee believes the Army should consider key capabilities such as the use of biometrics, advanced human performance techniques, cognitive drills, and robust data collection to verify soldier improvement. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than December 3, 2018, that details the status of the Army's plan for S/SVT and how key capability and system requirements currently projected by the Army are being accounted for, and will be implemented, in the final S/SVT program in order to sustain readiness. Assessment of Navy Standard Workweek The committee notes that the Navy's Comprehensive Review identified fatigue and ineffective crew rest management in the four mishaps that occurred in the Western Pacific in 2017. As noted in the review, ``if crewmembers are overly fatigued, mission accomplishment, performance, and safety are in jeopardy.'' The Comprehensive Review went on to recommend the Navy establish a comprehensive fatigue management policy, and a circadian ship and watch rotation for surface ships. The committee directs the Chief of Naval Operations to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than September 30, 2018, that identifies how Chief of Naval Operations Instructions, and other relevant policy documents, have been updated to implement the recommendations of the Comprehensive Review and address crew fatigue, watch rotations, and overall workload for crewmembers of surface ships. Availability and Sufficiency of Training Ranges to Conduct Training against Near-Peer Adversaries To build and sustain full-spectrum combat readiness, the military services must train on ranges that replicate the capabilities of near-peer adversaries. Such training requires ranges with sizable land, sea, and air space to accommodate the tactics of modern systems and weapons. In addition, modern war demands extensive training on weapons employment and target identification, as potential adversaries possess complex air defenses and highly sophisticated electronic countermeasures. However, training ranges lack sufficient capability and capacity to support full-spectrum training requirements, including the replication of near-peer adversaries' capabilities. Further, because of the strategic significance of forward-deployed and rotational forces, building overseas training range capabilities is becoming more important to sustaining full-spectrum readiness. The committee is concerned that the Department of Defense's training range infrastructure is not keeping up with the demand to support full-spectrum training requirements. Therefore, the committee directs the Comptroller General of the United States to assess the following: (1) the extent to which the Department of Defense has identified the current capacity of training range infrastructure to meet the military services' demand for range access; (2) the extent to which the Department of Defense has evaluated the training range infrastructure to determine whether it is sufficient to conduct training against near-peer adversary capabilities; and (3) the extent to which the Department of Defense has developed a comprehensive strategy and investment plan to improve the availability and sufficiency of training ranges to meet the Department's training needs. The committee further directs the Comptroller General to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than February 1, 2019, on the findings of this review and to submit a report to the congressional defense committees on a date agreed to at the time of the briefing. Briefing on Security Forces Assistance Brigade Location Plan The committee recognizes that a future Security Forces Assistance Brigade (SFAB) construct should highly encourage an expansion of alliances and partnerships as called for in the 2018 National Defense Strategy. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than January 1, 2019, on the strategic alignment decision matrix and installations plan for the fielding of the Security Forces Assistance Brigades. The plan shall include an assessment of the feasibility and advisability of stationing SFABs appropriately to address the requirements of the geographic combatant commands. CONUS Training Facilities In support of the Department of State's Anti-Terrorism- Assistance program, many commercial companies created state of the art CONUS training facilities that provided critical skills to deployable personnel. However, these CONUS training facilities are now being underutilized due to an increased tendency to conduct training OCONUS. These training facilities have successfully increased readiness and contributed to overall mission success through partnerships with programs such as U.S. Military Afghanistan-Pakistan Hands (APH) as well as U.S. Military Observer Group (USMOG). The committee is aware of the excess capacity available at these commercial training facilities and encourages the Department of Defense and Department of State to use them to further enhance anti- terrorism training. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to provide a report by March 1, 2019 detailing the requirement for all services to conduct enhanced and critical skills training. In addition, this report should detail the feasibility of using CONUS facilities to conduct this antiterrorism training and identify any training backlogs and any facility infrastructure shortfalls that exist in order to accomplish this type of training. Entry Control Facility Technology The committee remains concerned about the physical security of U.S. military facilities, both in the continental United States as well as abroad. Entry control points at such facilities are particularly vulnerable and require special attention and protection. The committee recognizes the need to continually assess new technology and develop enhanced entry control options in order to protect Department of Defense facilities against evolving adversarial technologies, such as drones and autonomous vehicles. The committee encourages the service secretaries to seek additional opportunities to leverage innovative technologies and research and development in order to enhance overall security, reduce military construction requirements, reduce annual operation and maintenance costs, increase joint interoperability, and protect valuable resources. Foreign Language Readiness The committee believes that a globally engaged military force requires an adequate number of personnel trained and proficient in foreign languages. The committee notes the significant number of personnel who attend the Defense Language Institute--Foreign Language Center, the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, and other foreign language training programs each year, as well as the global allocation of linguists among the geographic combatant command areas of responsibility. The committee believes these institutions can be augmented by innovative online programs conducted as a traditional classroom, with a live instructor engaging a small student group. Such programs reduce the need for travel and have proven more effective than self-paced instruction. The committee also notes efforts by the Department of Defense to recruit and utilize native speakers of critical languages to support combatant command requirements. Despite the critical requirements for foreign language expertise in certain career fields, the committee is concerned that the overall foreign language readiness of the total force is not adequately documented and assessed. Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than March 1, 2019, that assesses the foreign language readiness of the total force. The briefing shall address the required number of personnel trained and proficient in foreign languages, the current number of personnel trained and proficient in foreign languages, and the distribution of linguist personnel to the appropriate combatant commands; identify any gaps in foreign language readiness to include specific shortfalls in critical languages and mitigations to address those gaps; and assess the current foreign language training, education, and proficiency testing programs. Forward Deployed Naval Force Ship Maintenance and Repair Capacity The committee notes that since 2006, the Navy has doubled the number of surface ships assigned to overseas homeports, with more than 14 percent of the Navy's ships based at ports in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Italian Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, and Japan. The committee also notes that combatant commander demand for naval presence drives the Navy to base ships at overseas ports. However, the extent to which the Navy has the capacity for ship maintenance and repairs overseas is not clear. To assess that capacity, the committee directs the Comptroller General of the United States to review the following: (1) ship maintenance and repair capacity overseas in either U.S. ports or foreign repair yards; (2) to what extent has the Navy identified and taken action to address its overseas maintenance requirements; (3) to what extent has the Navy identified the underlying causes of overseas maintenance overruns; (4) mitigation options to address any maintenance shortfalls; and (5) any other issues the Comptroller General determines appropriate with respect to forward deployed naval force ship maintenance and repair capacity. The committee further directs the Comptroller General to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than November 12, 2018, on the Comptroller General's preliminary findings and to submit a final report to the congressional defense committees on a date agreed to at the time of the briefing. Immersive Virtual Shipboard Environment Training The committee notes that the Navy has used game-based learning concepts and immersive virtual shipboard environment (IVSE) training for select watch stations aboard Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). The committee understands that IVSE courses offer scalable solutions that have led to faster qualification and certification times, a higher degree of training proficiency, and increased knowledge retention. The committee notes that the Navy's Strategic Readiness Review recognized that the Navy must ``foster a culture of learning and create the structures and processes that fully embrace this commitment'' in order to restore readiness, yet the Navy has made little progress in adopting proven methods to cultivate the learning culture. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than September 28, 2018, on the Navy's plans to improve training. The briefing should: (1) identify training benefits and lessons learned from the Navy's experience with game-based learning concepts and IVSE training for LCS watch stations; (2) outline a plan, including associated timelines, for applying such training to Navy and Marine Corps training requirements across all naval surface ship platforms in alignment with the Chief of Naval Operations' tenet of achieving high-velocity learning using 21st century technology; (3) identify discrete mission areas where insufficient assets are available to provide traditional training to achieve full-spectrum readiness and where IVSE would improve watch- station training, including training for new platform development programs, coastal riverine operations, and amphibious operations; and (4) provide a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives by March 1, 2019 on the advisability and feasibility of procuring, altering, or otherwise modifying the Navy's bridge simulators, including the Navigation, Seamanship, and Shiphandling Trainer, to enable high-fidelity physical representation of the different bridge layouts, characteristics, and operating environments of ships across the fleet. Information Operations The committee understands the growing importance of space and cyber operations in military operations and in another provision elsewhere in this Act directed the Secretary of Defense to report readiness to conduct operations in the space and cyber domains. The committee believes that information operations are similarly becoming a major factor in military planning and that operational skill in conducting information operations will be critical to future military success. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to assess the value of measuring and regularly reporting the readiness of the joint force to conduct information operations and report his recommendations to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by January 31, 2019. Live, Virtual, and Constructive Training Solution Enhancements The committee recognizes the important role that live training systems play as part of a comprehensive effort to improve readiness. The committee is aware the Army and Marine Corps are planning for the use of live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) simulation training systems that emphasize joint interoperability. However, the committee is concerned that despite recent progress advancing such LVC capabilities there remain challenges in both fielding and integrating live training devices with both individual and collective training objectives. Additional challenges occur when planned upgrades to new and existing vehicle platforms occur without the corresponding modifications to the training systems. The committee believes that the acquisition and fielding of training systems must be synchronized with the procurement, fielding, and modernization of weapon systems to ensure the services' overall training objectives are supported in a coordinated and cost-effective manner. In addition, the committee encourages the military departments to ensure that new LVC training systems are interoperable with both the joint force infrastructure and the advanced training systems of key allied nations and coalition partners. The committee directs the Secretary of the Army, in coordination with the Secretary of the Navy, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than December 3, 2018, on the plans of the Army and Marine Corps to utilize live training systems as part of readiness recovery and long-term training efforts. The briefing should address the plans and timelines for fielding live training systems and synchronizing such efforts with the fielding or modernization of weapon systems and efforts to ensure such systems are interoperable with our military partners and allies. Military Working Dog Capacity and Facilities The committee is aware that military working dogs are a critical enabler to both facility and operational force security and that the operational need continues to grow. The committee is concerned about the average age of the military working dog population and the capacity to train and access new dogs and handlers to meet future requirements. Additionally, the committee notes that investments in military working dog facilities have not kept pace with the increased demand for military working dogs. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force, as the executive agent for the military working dog program, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than December 1, 2018, that addresses: (1) the total current and future requirement for military working dogs, handlers, and instructors by mission capability; (2) the total number of military working dogs and handlers currently available for operational tasking by mission capability; (3) an assessment of the condition and capacity of military working dog facilities to support current and future requirements, to include the ability to provide adequate medical care as well as meet mission training requirements; and (4) an assessment of capability gaps and plans to mitigate these gaps, including programmed investments. Modeling and Simulation for Training, Exercises, and Joint Planning The committee recognizes that the defense modeling and simulation technological and industrial base, including in academia, industry, and government, is an important national security asset. The committee appreciates that the Department of Defense continues to use modeling and simulation technologies across the spectrum of defense activities, including for training, exercises, and joint planning activities. The committee encourages the military services and the combatant commanders to maximize the use of modeling and simulation, including in service, joint, and combined exercises; in joint planning for theater operations and contingencies that cannot be accurately planned for by other means; and in the development of options for senior leadership at the strategic level. The committee believes it is important for Congress to have a clearer understanding of the benefits and impacts of the Department's use of modeling and simulation. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a report to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than November 30, 2018 on the effects of integrating modeling and simulation into the review and development of operational plans, joint training and exercises, and high-priority security cooperation initiatives. Modernization and Integration of Major Range and Test Facilities Bases The committee notes a lack of consistent policy and standardized processes within the Department of Defense to guide the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation and the Director of Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) in scheduling systems utilized by shared military test and training ranges. The committee is concerned that lack of standardization fails to optimize these vital resources nor accommodate joint force utilization. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than January 23, 2019, on its plan to standardize major range and test facilities bases (MRTFB) scheduling. At a minimum, the briefing should: (1) identify processes to standardize and integrate current scheduling systems between the joint users of MRTFB ranges and facilities; (2) identify process that efficiently integrates next generation aircraft avionics, propulsion and weapons systems test and training; (3) optimizes use and capacity of training range land and airspace between competing needs; and, (4) provide recommendations on metrics and methods which will ensure each service has an equal opportunity to test and train on MRTFB. Surface Fleet Live Fire Training The committee recognizes the Navy's desire to increase fleet readiness training and exercise ship systems before deployment by including live-firing of missiles in pre- deployment training exercises. The committee also notes the Navy's Standard Missile-3 Block IA inventory is approaching the end of service life. Furthermore, the committee is aware that in lieu of demilitarization, the Navy intends to assess repurposing these missiles to conduct live-fire readiness training using shipboard ballistic missile defense systems. The committee encourages this initiative and directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than November 5, 2018, on the Navy's progress in making SM-3 Block IA missiles approaching the end of their service life available for live-fire readiness training for ships and crews. Universal Camouflage Inventory and Overdye Technology The committee notes the Army's transition from Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) to Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) for soldier uniforms and personal equipment, even though the Army possesses a substantial inventory of now obsolete UCP products. The committee is also aware of Program Executive Office Soldier's efforts to evaluate overdye technologies and processes. This evaluation could validate processes that could alter UCP printed products into a color palette that blends with the new camouflage prints, allowing the Army to conserve resources by overdying UCP materials for use with OCP patterned equipment. The committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than August 31, 2018, that includes any current efforts to repurpose and field UCP personal equipment, any evaluations of overdye technologies and processes, and a business case analysis of fielding these overdye technologies and processes. Other Matters Air Refueling Capability and Capacity The committee notes that air refueling capability is a critical component of logistical capacity and that the Air National Guard fulfills the majority of air refueling requirements. The committee notes that section 144 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) required the Secretary of Defense to carry out a mobility capability and requirements study that includes an assessment of the air refueling tanker aircraft military requirement. Upon completion of the study, the committee is interested in how the Air Force will support the requirements for force structure and strategic laydown of aircraft necessary to implement the study. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than March 1, 2019, on how the Air Force will support the requirements for aerial refueling. At a minimum, the briefing shall include: (1) the current and future laydown plans for air refueling locations; (2) an overview of air refueling operations per air refueling wing locations to include the number of sortie requests, the number of sorties fulfilled, and the locations or missions the sorties supported; (3) fully mission capable and aircraft availability rates for all air refueling wings over the past 5 years; (4) an assessment of how the Air National Guard force structure, across all States and territories, can be leveraged to support current and emerging air refueling requirements; (5) a description of the long-term plan to maintain adequate refueling capability to meet current and emerging requirements; (6) a review of manpower levels across the air refueling force, an identification of current and projected skill set gaps, and recommendations on how to address these gaps; and (7) an overview of how the Air Force will determine the disposition of KC-135 aircraft as they are replaced by arrival of KC-46 aircraft. Disposition of Excess Military Ground Vehicles The committee notes that the Defense Logistics Agency's Disposition Services is responsible for disposing of excess property received from the military services. Excess military property is screened for reutilization within the Department of Defense; transfer to other Federal agencies; donation to State and local governments, or other qualified organizations; or sale to the general public. As part of the screening process, Disposition Services must assess demilitarization (DEMIL) requirements for the excess property to prevent unauthorized use or the compromise of national security. For ground vehicles, such DEMIL requirements can range from the removal of certain parts and components to the full mutilation and scrapping of the vehicle. The committee is aware of concerns that types of ground vehicles heretofore available for donation are now consigned to scrap. Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in coordination with the Commander of the Defense Logistics Agency, to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by February 1, 2019, regarding the disposition of military ground vehicles. The report should include classes and types of Department of Defense military ground vehicles eligible to be considered in the donation and sale program and explanation of the DEMIL codes used in the determination process. Additionally, the report should outline the DEMIL code determination process for ground vehicles, whether applicable polices were followed when ground vehicles previously made available to State and local governments or civilian military museums have instead been scrapped, and steps taken to reevaluate current policies and practices. Finally, the report should include measures taken by the Disposal Services program to improve transparency so that State and local governments or civilian military museums have appropriate access to ground vehicles. Fluorine-Free Fire Fighting Foam The committee is aware that the military departments are in the process of replacing legacy aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) with an AFFF that does not contain perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) compounds. In addition, the committee is aware the Department of Defense has undertaken research and development efforts related to fluorine-free AFFF. The committee encourages the Department to accelerate such efforts, to the extent possible. Therefore, the committee directs the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than March 1, 2019, on the progress made towards development and fielding of a fluorine-free AFFF that meets military requirements. At minimum, the briefing should summarize research and development initiatives on fluorine-free AFFF that have been funded by the Department of Defense to date, a summary of the current status and findings of such initiatives, and what additional research and development may be required prior to fielding a fluorine-free AFFF. Improving Water Security and Efficiency on Installations Efficient facilities are critical for the support, redeployment, and operation of military forces. While some installations have done great work to improve water efficiency, the Committee is concerned that the military may not be maximizing strategic use of water resources at all installations, and that this could be adding unnecessary costs that could be more effectively used elsewhere. Furthermore, water security is a vital component of installation readiness. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a report on innovative ways to reduce water use across installations in order to strengthen base readiness through improved water security, and to identify opportunities to replicate across installations some of the successful water- saving tactics already being deployed at some bases, such as planting more native species and increasing use of gray water systems. The report shall be submitted to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than March 1, 2019. Joint Navy-Coast Guard Arctic Strategy The Navy and the Coast Guard currently produce their own Arctic strategies. The Committee believes the absence of a joint strategy stands in contradiction to the Secretary of Defense's National Defense Strategy, calling for greater integration of a joint force and renewed attention on more traditional peer competitors, namely Russia and China. Therefore, the committee directs the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Coast Guard to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure by September 30, 2018 that provides a framework for a joint strategy integrating all components of the Navy and Coast Guard Arctic mission sets and providing adequate vessel and aircraft resource allocation allowing for the United States to effectively advance security and commercial interests in the region. The briefing should take into consideration the Arctic's relevance in the Navy's configuration of a 355 vessel fleet and identify proper Navy and Coast Guard resource allocation to that effect. Meeting Readiness Requirements Efficiently The House Armed Services Committee is concerned that the number of mandatory training and administrative requirements for Service members of the Department of Defense, and the burden that they maintain a multitude of different accounts on different systems to accomplish an array of administrative and training mandatory requirements especially for Reserve Component Service members, impedes their ability to efficiently achieve worldwide deployment readiness. The Committee is aware that, for example, the U.S. Navy Reserve maintains no fewer than ten different computer systems that service members must regularly use. The Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation is directed to submit to the congressional defense committees a report by April 1, 2019, detailing the costs incurred by each military service to maintain each training and administrative personnel system, particularly computerized systems, and options to consolidate these systems to save taxpayer money, reduce the burden on military members, and promote readiness. Motorcycle Safety Training The committee is aware that each of the armed services conducts motorcycle safety training before allowing service members to operate a motorcycle on base. The committee applauds this training and encourages the Department of Defense to continue. The committee has learned that nine States, including several with large military installations, have imposed unique training requirements that go beyond those contained in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration compliant curriculum. The committee has also learned that the Air Force and Coast Guard adjust their training to meet unique State requirements, while the Departments of the Army and Navy do not, forcing soldiers, sailors, and marines to seek and pay for the added required training individually. The committee encourages the Secretaries of the Army and Navy to review the adequacy of motorcycle safety training in their respective military departments to ease the burden on soldiers, sailors, and marines. Open-Air Disposal of Munitions and Munition Constituents The committee remains concerned about the Department of Defense's continued reliance on open burning and open detonation for the demilitarization of excess, obsolete, or unserviceable munitions by its industrial depots rather than using alternative contained technologies. While the committee recognizes the Department may have a need to retain some open burning and open detonation capability for explosive safety reasons, the committee is aware of the Department's efforts to reduce its use of open burning and open detonation. Section 1421 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328) directed the Secretary of the Army to enter into an arrangement with the Board on Army Science and Technology of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study of the conventional munitions demilitarization program of the Department of Defense. The intent of this study was to better understand the Department's current procedures, its rationale for using open burning and open detonation, and the status and suitability of alternative technologies in use or under development to reduce the Department's reliance on open burning and open detonation. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than 90 days after the date on which the National Academy of Science releases its report, on the actions the Army intends to take in response to the National Academy of Science committee's recommendations. Physical Security at U.S. Shipyards The committee believes it is important to ensure the safety and security of personnel and Navy vessels undergoing maintenance in public and private shipyard facilities. While the security of the public shipyards is the responsibility of the Navy, the committee understands that private shipyards must meet specific requirements for physical security barriers, perimeter and waterfront access control, security forces, patrol craft, and other security measures while performing work on Navy vessels. The committee notes there are certain locations where private shipyards are near or adjacent to a Navy installation or to another shipyard performing work on Navy vessels. In such cases, each shipyard is required to individually meet the security requirements associated with a repair contract. The costs associated with these security requirements are ultimately passed back to the government through the cost of the repair contract. Therefore, the committee encourages the Secretary of the Navy to examine this issue and work with private shipyards to find opportunities to meet security requirements in a more collaborative and cost- effective way at shipyards that are near or adjacent to a Navy installation or another shipyard performing work on Navy vessels. Quality of Life at Remote Sites The committee notes that the Army and other military services operate several installations at isolated locations in the western United States. Some Army examples include Dugway Proving Ground, Utah; Hawthorne Army Depot, Nevada; and White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. These remote locations are usually staffed with small populations, presenting financial solvency challenges for morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) business activities of the Department of the Army. As a result, there are few MWR activities, shopping venues, or dining options on or near the installation to support the daily working population of military personnel, Federal civilian personnel, contract employees, and family members. The committee encourages the Secretary of the Army to review the quality of life support options for all those who work at such installations and develop a plan for improvement. Regional Biosecurity Plan The Secretary of Defense is directed to submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, at the same time as the President submits the budget for a fiscal year under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, a report describing the activities of the Department of Defense during the preceding fiscal year to implement the Regional Biosecurity Plan for Micronesia and Hawaii, which is a strategic plan led by the Department of Defense in collaboration with other Federal and non-Federal entities to prevent and control the introduction of invasive species in the United States Pacific region. The Department of Defense's report shall also include next steps and planned activities of the Department for further implementation of the plan, including estimates of additional funding to be used or needed for such next steps and planned activities. Review of Household Good Weight Allowances The committee believes that service members should pursue intellectual development by reading thoughtful books related to the military profession. Indeed, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and each Service Chief maintains active professional reading lists to encourage military members to read as part of professional development. The committee further recognizes that a growing number of military families opt for home schooling as a means to provide stability to children's education. The committee notes that the current household good movement weight allowance for military professional gear is 2,000 pounds for military members and 500 pounds for dependent spouses. Professional gear includes a range of items including books, uniforms, and technical equipment. The committee understands that Joint Travel Regulation 051304 modified the allowable weight credit computation for professional gear and definition of professional gear. The committee is concerned that the household good professional gear weight allowance and allowable weight credit computation is insufficient to support increasingly educated workforce and military families who homeschool; therefore, the committee directs the Commander of U.S. Transportation Command in coordination with the military departments and the Defense Travel Management Office to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than August 31, 2018, on the household goods weight allowances. This briefing shall include, at a minimum: (1) A summary of the most recent assessment of weight allowance requirements (2) Any changes to the household weight allowance for professional gear for the previous ten years (3) A review of complaints from service members on professional gear weight allowances and actions taken to address these concerns (4) Any recommended policy changes and actions. Review of Mandatory Training Required by Law The committee is encouraged by recent initiatives across the military services to review and reduce mandatory administrative training requirements. Such mandates consume time and resources of operational unit leaders and troops and should only be required when necessary to improve the readiness of the force. This issue is especially acute in the Reserve Components, with limited training days. The committee recognizes that such requirements are generated from within the Department of Defense as well as through legislative mandates and statutes. The committee intends to review current military training mandates that arise from statute for possible repeal and would welcome the views of the Secretary of Defense. To that end, the committee encourages the Secretary of Defense to provide a list of any legal mandates to conduct training to the House Committee on Armed Services, accompanied by his recommendation of any that should be repealed. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations Section 301--Authorization of Appropriations This section would authorize appropriations for operation and maintenance activities at the levels identified in section 4301 of division D of this Act. Subtitle B--Energy and Environment Section 311--Inclusion of Consideration of Energy and Climate Resiliency Efforts in Master Plans for Major Military Installations This section would amend section 2864 of title 10, United States Code, to require energy and climate resiliency efforts to be considered in installation master plans to ensure the ability to sustain mission-critical operations. Section 312--Use of Proceeds from Sales of Electrical Energy Derived from Geothermal Resources for Projects at Military Installations Where Resources Are Located This section would amend section 2916 of title 10, United States Code, to enable certain proceeds from the sale of electrical energy generated from a geothermal energy resource to be used for installation energy or water security projects at the military installation in which the geothermal energy resource is located. Section 313--Extension of Authorized Periods of Permitted Incidental Takings of Marine Mammals in the Course of Specified Activities by Department of Defense This section would amend section 1371 of title 16, United States Code, to extend the period the Secretary of Interior may authorize the incidental taking of marine mammals by the Department of Defense from 5 years to 10 years if the Secretary finds that such takings will have a negligible impact on any marine mammal species. Section 314--State Management and Conservation of Species This section would prohibit listing of the Greater Sage- Grouse and the Lesser Prairie-Chicken under the Endangered Species Act for a 10-year period. This section would also provide that the previous such listing of the American Burying Beetle may not be enforced or reinstated. Subtitle C--Logistics and Sustainment Section 321--Examination of Naval Vessels This section would amend section 7304 of title 10, United States Code, to provide that examinations of naval vessels performed under the authority of that section after October 1, 2019, shall be conducted on a no notice basis. This section would also provide that reports detailing the results of such inspections be unclassified and available to the public. Section 322--Overhaul and Repair of Naval Vessels in Foreign Shipyards This section would amend section 7310 of title 10, United States Code, to require naval vessels that do not have a homeport be treated as being homeported in the United States or Guam with regard to repair and maintenance of those vessels. Additionally, this section would define the term voyage repair. Section 323--Limitation on Length of Overseas Forward Deployment of Naval Vessels This section would add a new section to chapter 633 of title 10, United States Code, that would require the Secretary of the Navy to limit the time a naval vessel is forward deployed overseas to 10 years. This section would permit the Secretary to waive the 10-year requirement for individual naval vessels with notification to the congressional defense committees. This section would further provide that all currently forward deployed naval ships which have exceeded 10 years of service overseas shall have 3 years to return to a U.S. homeport. Finally, this section would require the Secretary to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on his rotation plan for forward deployed naval ships. Section 324--Temporary Modification of Workload Carryover Formula This section would require the Secretary of Defense to modify the workload carryover calculation formula for each military department depot or arsenal through September 30, 2021. These modifications would reflect the timing of enacted appropriations and the varying repair cycle times of the workload supported, and apply in addition to current Department of Defense carryover exemptions. Section 325--Limitation on Use of Funds for Implementation of Elements of Master Plan for Redevelopment of Former Ship Repair Facility in Guam This section would provide that none of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act, or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2019 for the Navy, may be obligated or expended for any construction, alteration, repair, or development of the real property consisting of the Former Ship Repair Facility in Guam unless such project directly supports depot-level ship maintenance capabilities, to include the mooring of a floating dry dock. Section 326--Business Case Analysis for Proposed Relocation of J85 Engine Regional Repair Center This section would require the Secretary of the Air Force to prepare a business case analysis for the proposed relocation of the J85 Engine Regional Repair Center. This section would also withhold funding for the proposed relocation until 150 days after the Secretary of the Air Force has provided the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the business case analysis. Section 327--Army Advanced and Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence This section would require the Secretary of the Army to establish a Center of Excellence on Advanced and Additive Manufacturing at an arsenal and authorize use of public-private partnerships and other transactional activity to facilitate the development of advanced and additive manufacturing techniques in support of Army industrial facilities. Subtitle D--Reports Section 331--Matters for Inclusion in Quarterly Reports on Personnel and Unit Readiness This section would amend section 482 of title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Defense and each military service to report appropriate readiness metrics for cyber and space operations in the existing periodic reporting requirement. This section would further amend section 482 to require combatant commanders to assess their readiness to conduct operations in a multidomain battle, integrating ground, air, sea, space, and cyber forces. Section 332--Annual Comptroller General Reviews of Readiness of Armed Forces to Conduct Full Spectrum Operations This section would require the Comptroller General of the United States to assess the readiness of the Armed Forces in the warfighting domains of ground, sea, air, space, and cyber annually through 2022. The assessment would be based on metrics established by the Secretary of Defense and validated by the Comptroller General, to allow the committee to assess readiness status over time. While the Comptroller General may submit classified reports, unclassified versions of the reports should also be provided. The committee understands that military readiness is a result of a commander's skillful integration of available military personnel, equipment, supplies, and individual and collective training opportunities. The committee recognizes that readiness has suffered in all military services in recent years, driven by the erosive effects of the Budget Control Act and the unceasing demand for forces in various theaters of operation. The committee believes that the military services should demonstrate measurable readiness recovery with the additional appropriations made in fiscal year 2017, the additional appropriations made available in fiscal year 2018, as well as funding authorized for fiscal year 2019 in this Act. Section 333--Surface Warfare Training Improvement This section would express the sense of Congress that the Secretary of the Navy should establish an assessment process for surface warfare officers prior to operational tour assignments and that the Secretary should expand the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) qualification process for surface warfare officers and enlisted navigation watch team personnel to improve seamanship and navigation aboard Navy vessels. Further, this section would require the Secretary of the Navy to provide a report on surface warfare officer credentialing, training, and assessment to the congressional defense committees not later than March 1, 2019. Section 334--Report on Optimizing Surface Navy Vessel Inspections and Crew Certifications This section would require the Secretary of the Navy to provide a report on optimizing surface navy vessel inspections and crew certifications to reduce redundancies and the burden of inspection type visits that ships undergo. Further, this section would require the Secretary of the Navy to provide an interim briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives not later than January 31, 2019, on matters to be included in the required report. The committee notes that following the collisions involving U.S. Navy ships in the western Pacific, the Navy conducted a comprehensive review of recent surface force incidents. The committee also notes that the Navy's ``Comprehensive Review of Recent Surface Force Incidents'' identified an overabundance of inspections, certifications, and that ``ships can be subjected to as many as 238 separate inspection, certification, and assist visits in a 36 month period.'' The Navy's ``Strategic Readiness Review'' of these incidents further identified that there ``has been a dramatic increase in the operating tempo of individual ships, and accompanying reductions in the time available to perform maintenance, training, and readiness certification.'' The ``Strategic Readiness Review'' went on to note that ``sufficient time for training crews and maintaining ships is critical for restoring and monitoring readiness.'' Given the continued operational demand on the fleet, the committee believes that the Navy should reduce the burden of inspection type visits that ships undergo. Subtitle E--Other Matters Section 341--Coast Guard Representation on Explosive Safety Board This section would amend section 172 of title 10, United States Code, to provide that an officer of the Coast Guard serve as a voting member of the explosive safety board. Section 342--Shiloh National Military Park Boundary Adjustment and Parker's Crossroads Battlefield Designation This section would modify the boundary of the Shiloh National Military Park located in Tennessee and Mississippi, to establish Parker's Crossroads Battlefield as an affiliated area of the National Park System. Section 343--Sense of Congress Regarding Critical Minerals This section would express the sense of Congress that aggregates, copper, molybendum, gold, zinc, nickel, lead, silver, and certain fertilizer compounds should be added to the ``critical minerals list'' ordered by Executive Order 13817. TITLE IV--MILITARY PERSONNEL AUTHORIZATIONS LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--Active Forces Section 401--End Strengths for Active Forces This section would authorize the following end strengths for Active Duty personnel of the Armed Forces as of September 30, 2019: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FY 2019 Change from FY 2018 ------------------------------------------------------ Service Authorized Committee FY 2019 FY 2018 Request Recommendation Request Authorized ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Army........................................ 483,500 487,500 487,500 0 4,000 Navy........................................ 327,900 335,400 335,400 0 7,500 USMC........................................ 186,000 186,100 186,100 0 100 Air Force................................... 325,100 329,100 329,100 0 4,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------- DOD Total................................. 1,322,500 1,338,100 1,338,100 0 15,600 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section 402--Revisions in Permanent Active Duty End Strength Minimum Levels This section would establish new minimum Active Duty end strengths for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force as of September 30, 2019. The committee recommends 487,500 as the minimum Active Duty end strength for the Army, 335,400 as the minimum Active Duty end strength for the Navy, 186,100 as the minimum Active Duty end strength for the Marine Corps, and 329,100 as the minimum Active Duty end strength for the Air Force. Subtitle B--Reserve Forces Section 411--End Strengths for Selected Reserve This section would authorize the following end strengths for Selected Reserve personnel, including the end strength for Reserves on Active Duty in support of the Reserves, as of September 30, 2019: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FY 2019 Change from --------------------------------------------------- Service FY 2018 Committee Authorized Request Recom FY 2019 FY 2018 mendation Request Authorized ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Army National Guard............................ 343,500 343,500 343,500 0 0 Army Reserve................................... 199,500 199,500 199,500 0 0 Navy Reserve................................... 59,000 59,100 59,100 0 100 Marine Corps Reserve........................... 38,500 38,500 38,500 0 0 Air National Guard............................. 106,600 107,100 107,100 0 500 Air Force Reserve.............................. 69,800 70,000 70,000 0 200 ---------------------------------------------------------------- DOD Total.................................... 816,900 817,700 817,700 0 800 Coast Guard Reserve............................ 7,000 7,000 7,000 0 0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section 412--End Strengths for Reserves on Active Duty in Support of the Reserves This section would authorize the following end strengths for Reserves on Active Duty in support of the Reserves as of September 30, 2019: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FY 2019 Change from --------------------------------------------------- Service FY 2018 Committee Authorized Request Recom FY 2019 FY 2018 mendation Request Authorized ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Army National Guard............................ 30,155 30,595 30,595 0 440 Army Reserve................................... 16,261 16,386 16,386 0 125 Navy Reserve................................... 10,101 10,110 10,110 0 9 Marine Corps Reserve........................... 2,261 2,261 2,261 0 0 Air National Guard............................. 16,260 19,861 19,861 0 3,601 Air Force Reserve.............................. 3,588 3,849 3,849 0 261 ---------------------------------------------------------------- DOD Total.................................... 78,626 83,062 83,062 0 4,436 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section 413--End Strengths for Military Technicians (Dual Status) This section would authorize the following end strengths for military technicians (dual status) as of September 30, 2019: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FY 2019 Change from --------------------------------------------------- Service FY 2018 Committee Authorized Request Recom FY 2019 FY 2018 mendation Request Authorized ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Army National Guard............................ 22,294 22,294 22,294 0 0 Army Reserve................................... 6,492 7,495 6,492 -1,003 0 Air National Guard............................. 19,135 18,969 18,969 0 -166 Air Force Reserve.............................. 8,880 9,908 8,880 -1,028 0 ---------------------------------------------------------------- DOD Total.................................... 56,801 58,666 56,635 -2,031 -166 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section 414--Maximum Number of Reserve Personnel Authorized To Be on Active Duty for Operational Support This section would authorize, as required by section 115(b) of title 10, United States Code, the maximum number of Reserve Component personnel who may be on Active Duty or full-time National Guard duty during fiscal year 2019 to provide operational support. The personnel authorized here do not count against the end strengths authorized by section 401 or section 412 of this Act unless the duration on Active Duty exceeds the limitations in section 115(b)(2) of title 10, United States Code. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FY 2019 Change from --------------------------------------------------- Service FY 2018 Committee Authorized Request Recom- FY 2019 FY 2018 mendation Request Authorized ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Army National Guard............................ 17,000 17,000 17,000 0 0 Army Reserve................................... 13,000 13,000 13,000 0 0 Navy Reserve................................... 6,200 6,200 6,200 0 0 Marine Corps Reserve........................... 3,000 3,000 3,000 0 0 Air National Guard............................. 16,000 16,000 16,000 0 0 Air Force Reserve.............................. 14,000 14,000 14,000 0 0 ---------------------------------------------------------------- DOD Total.................................... 69,200 69,200 69,200 0 0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle C--Authorization of Appropriations Section 421--Military Personnel This section would authorize appropriations for military personnel at the levels identified in the funding table in section 4401 of division D of this Act. TITLE V--MILITARY PERSONNEL POLICY ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Active Military Service of the Korean Constabulary The Committee acknowledges the service and sacrifice of the officers and men of the Korean Constabulary formed under the operational command of the United States Military Government in Korea following the end of the Second World War. Organized, trained, equipped, and led by the United States Army, the Korean Constabulary performed vital security missions on behalf of the United States in the interwar period and played a crucial role in the formation and defense of the Republic of Korea. Repeatedly called to defend their homeland against attacks and insurrection by Communist forces allied with the Korean People's Army and supported by the Soviet Union, the men of the Korean Constabulary fought with distinction in some of the earliest battles of the Cold War. The Committee therefore requests the Secretary of Defense to review the eligibility of the officers and men of the Korean Constabulary for active military service from November 1945 to January 1949 under the provisions of Section 401 of Public Law 95-202, and report his findings to the House Armed Services Committee by March 1, 2019. Best Practices for Prevention and Response to Sexual Assault The committee commends the Department for its efforts to continuously improve methods to prevent and respond to sexual assault. The committee further commends the Air Force's efforts to utilize evidenced based bystander intervention training previously shown to prevent and reduce power-based personal violence based on the premise that sexual violence can be measurably and systematically reduced within a community. The Air Force was additionally able to consolidate some of the required and annual briefings and shorten the amount of time they spent on training by focusing on quality over quantity. The committee directs the Department to report to the House Armed Services Committee no later than December 1, 2018 on current use of best practices for prevention and response to sexual assault; update on current research informed evaluation outcome criteria, and the feasibility of developing, and offering high quality, standardized, research informed best practices for training and response that are shown to prevent sexual assaults across the services. Briefing on Commissioning Production of Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps The committee is concerned about the number of Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) units that are not meeting established commissioning production requirements for each of the services. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military services, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than April 1, 2019, on the performance of the Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps. Such briefing shall describe each of the following: (1) annual production requirement and production attainment for each ROTC host unit, to include a breakdown of demographics; (2) listing of units that have not met the standards set forth in Department of Defense Instruction 1215.08, for the past 5 years; (3) listing of the units that did not meet the standard in the past 5 years that are now compliant; and (4) list of units each service intends to disestablish or reduce in scope, but is not authorized to do so. Briefing on Credentialing Programs The Committee is supportive of policies which allow servicemembers to attain civilian credentials while on active duty. These programs ensure that servicemembers possess the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform their duties, and offer servicemembers the chance of better civilian employment upon separation from the military. However, not all credentialing programs are created equal, and the Department has acknowledged that few oversight mechanisms exist to protect servicemembers from aggressive marketing of credentialing programs of dubious rigor. The committee encourages the Department to work with partners in academia and industry to develop a tool that servicemembers could use to evaluate the quality of a credential based on its desirability in the civilian workforce. In addition, the Committee is also aware that the Department does not have conclusive evidence that possessing civilian credentials help servicemembers find post-separation employment. Therefore, the Committee directs the Department to brief the House Committee on Armed Services no later than February 1, 2019 on collaborative efforts to develop quality standards for credentialing and licensure programs and a review of academic literature on the impact on employability of attaining a credential. Briefing on Department of Defense Inspector General Processing Times The committee is concerned about the steady increase in processing times for Department of Defense Inspector General investigations into whistleblower reprisal and senior leader misconduct complaints. While the Department has conducted past studies into how best to reduce these processing times, and implemented efficiency measures, the problem persists. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than July 1, 2019, regarding steps the Department will take to reduce whistleblower reprisal and senior leader misconduct investigation processing times. The briefing shall include: (1) a general timeline for a typical whistleblower reprisal and senior leader misconduct investigation, including identification of phases of the investigation that often require substantial time; (2) whether changes to law or policy would improve the efficiency of these investigations; and (3) whether additional funding, manning, or other resources would improve processing times. Comptroller General Report on Active Duty Female Retention The committee commends the Secretary of Defense for the briefing on Female Propensity to serve in the Armed Forces as requested in the House Report 115-200. Inclusive and growth- oriented recruiting must also ensure that the best and brightest females are not only recruited but that they are retained in the Armed Forces once presented with career options. Building on Female Propensity to serve in the Armed Forces, the committee recommends the Department expand their examination of female recruitment to include retention. An analysis conducted for the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services finds that more women than men leave the military at various career points. Concerns persist that this attrition will result in a disproportionate impact to mission readiness if left unresolved. From an economic standpoint, when female employees leave, organizations must deal with higher recruiting costs, longer training times, and lower productivity. Therefore, not later December 1, 2018 the committee directs Comptroller General to submit a report containing the following components: (1) updated rates of promotion and attrition rates for women compared to other groups; (2) the reason for any differences in promotion and attrition; (3) recommendations to improve promotion and retention; (4) data and analysis to assist the committee in determining whether there are disparities in promotion and attrition rates; and (5) any other matters the commission believes are relevant to this issue. Deconflicting Reserve Component and Expeditionary Civilian Deployments to Provide Adequate Dwell Time The committee notes that according to DoDI 1235.12, Accessing the Reserve Components, issued June 7, 2016, ``The RC provides an operational capability and strategic depth in support of the national defense strategy,'' and further that if the mobilization-to-dwell ratio for a unit or a member of the RC is less than 1 to 4, Secretary of Defense approval is required. In addition, the Department of Defense has an expeditionary workforce that includes defense civilian personnel who also deploy in support of contingency operations and may also be members of the Reserve Components. The committee is concerned that if the Reserve Components order a member to active duty who is employed as a defense civilian, the defense agency or military department may not count the member's previous recent deployment as an RC member when calculating the mobilization-to-dwell ratio. This lack of awareness by the Reserve Components of a civilian employee's deployment, or alternatively by the military departments or defense agencies about a Reserve Component member's expeditionary civilian deployment may lead to a lack of sufficient dwell time, with an impact on civilian personnel or RC retention. Therefore, in order to determine the scope of the problem of deconflicting Reserve Component and expeditionary civilian deployments for the purpose of providing adequate dwell time, the Secretary of Defense is directed to provide a report to the congressional defense committees by Feb. 15, 2019, as to whether the Reserve Components or the defense agencies and military departments have mechanisms in place to track and account for deployments of defense civilians who are also Reservists; to establish to scale of this problem; and to make recommendations to the committee for procedures to make it possible for the Reserve Components, and the defense agencies and military departments, to fully account for the service of civilian employees in contingency operations, whether in the RC or as expeditionary civilians. Federal Wildland Firefighting Education in the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) The Committee continues to look for ways to strengthen the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) program to match opportunities in the federal workforce with the unique skillset of transitioning service members. The Committee acknowledges that skills honed during military service including logistics, risk mitigation, emergency medicine and response, team communications, equipment maintenance, resource accountability, and leadership in support of mission are directly transferrable to wildland firefighting. While the committee is aware that the Department of Defense, DHS, and DOL collaborate with other agencies to include information and education about civil service opportunities in the federal workforce, the committee believes transitioning service members would benefit from bolstered TAP program education on wildland firefighting careers at agencies including the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. In addition, the Committee encourages DOD to pursue strategic partnerships and collaborations with non-profit organizations that connect veterans with volunteer disaster relief opportunities as part of TAP. The Committee notes precedent for collaboration with agencies including USDA that provide education on career pathways in agriculture and seeks to build on similar successful models of interagency partnerships to meet the nation's workforce needs. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to brief the House Committee on Armed Services no later than December 31, 2018 on current and potential interagency efforts in the TAP program related to wildland firefighting career pathways and opportunities in the federal government. Foreign Area Officer Personnel Training and Career Management The committee notes that the Department of Defense and the military services have developed a corps of foreign area officers and regional affairs strategists and implemented personnel policies to improve their education and training requirements. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328) required the Secretary to oversee the development and management of a professional workforce supporting security cooperation programs and activities of the Department. The committee is concerned with the implementation of this requirement as well as the services' career management of these officers. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 15, 2018, on the implementation of the Security Cooperation Workforce Development Program (SCWDP) required by section 384 of title 10, United States Code, and the service career management plan for foreign area officers. Elements of the briefing shall include: (1) how the Department of Defense SCWDP relates to the foreign area officer programs of the services; (2) how the foreign area officer programs of the services will benefit from the Department of Defense SCWDP; (3) how the Secretary of each military department is adapting their foreign area officer program to the National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy; (4) what developmental opportunities the Secretary concerned provides for foreign area officers at each grade to prepare them for positions of greater responsibility; (5) how the Secretary concerned provides promotion opportunities for foreign area officers to serve through General/Flag Officer ranks, and how these compare to other promotion opportunities and rates across the services; (6) ways that the Secretary has coordinated efforts throughout the joint force to achieve the synergies of best practices across the security cooperation enterprise; (7) the steps each service is taking to incorporate the elements required under the scope of the final guidance of the SCWDP, as required under section 384(e)(3) of title 10, United States Code, into the career management of foreign area officers, and the relevant challenges; and (8) the steps the Department is taking to evaluate disparate training provided by services and Defense Intelligence Agency, and whether elements of such training should be provided to all Department of Defense personnel posted to embassies overseas. Foster and Adoptive Military Families The committee is aware that military families face unique challenges as adoptive and foster families, including, but not limited to, varying jurisdictional standards and support services between states and countries. The committee also notes that it is critical to the well-being of the child that all adoptions are permanent, and that additional information is needed to promote successful adoptions for military families. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a report to the House Armed Services Committee not later than 1 March 2019, describing the barriers and challenges faced by military families to fostering or adopting. The report should include, if applicable, jurisdictional differences between states and between countries; access to information; pre-placement training; and post-placement support services; and causes and/or risks for disruptions or dissolutions of military family adoptions. The report should also include what pre- and post-placement support services are currently available for military families fostering and adopting; the feasibility of establishing additional necessary support services; and recommendations for implementing additional pre- and post-placement services. The report should also include any recommendations from the Secretary to address any barriers and challenges faced by military families to fostering and adopting. Implicit Bias Training The Committee commends the Marine Corps for recognizing the importance of implicit bias and incorporating unconscious bias training when preparing for women joining combat units. Unconscious biases, sometimes called implicit biases, are a set of automatic preferences so ingrained in people's brains that they often do not realize they have them. Implicit or unconscious bias disproportionately impacts racial/ethnic minorities and women. Comprehensive bias training is research informed and addresses implicit/unconscious biases. The Marine Corps, civilian educational institutions, and the technology and business private sectors have addressed this by including both implicit and explicit bias training. Therefore, the committee encourages the Secretary of Defense to study the feasibility of expanding its current training to include research-informed training addressing implicit bias. Incorporating Consideration of Advanced Technologies into Professional Military Education The Committee understands that a return to great power competition represents a key security challenge for the United States in the evolving global threat environment. The rapid development of new technologies in fields including anti-access and area denial weapons, cyber-warfare and electronic warfare, information systems, and other asymmetric fields threatens the U.S. military's historical overwhelming advantage in conventional warfare. Furthermore, the Committee is aware that these technologies are increasingly commercial and therefore available to both state and non-state actors. The Committee notes that, with this threat in mind, the Department of Defense is investing heavily in technology to enable continued American military supremacy in an environment characterized by ``rapid technological advancements and the changing character of war,'' per the National Defense Strategy (NDS). The Committee is also aware that these areas for investment include advanced computing, ``big data'' analytics, artificial intelligence, autonomy, robotics, directed energy, hypersonics, and biotechnology. The Committee notes that effective implementation of the NDS require not just research, development and fielding of these advanced technologies, but also the integration of these technologies into tactical, operational and strategic thought, planning, and training. The Committee is also aware that experimentation and exploration of these technologies is currently occurring in proof of concept programs, exercises, and in operational deployments. The Committee believes, however, that fully integrating advanced technologies into military strategy, operations, and tactics requires a comprehensive approach to considering the impact of these technologies at all levels of decision-making. The Committee is aware of the key role professional military education (PME) programs play in educating military leadership and providing them the conceptual framework for decision- making. The Committee commends the efforts of the Department of Defense to align functions to support the goals of the NDS and look for ways to improve lethality. However, it is unclear how decision making under this new strategy is being included in PME education materials. The Committee therefore directs the Secretary of Defense to brief the House Committee on Armed Services on potential ways in which the Department of Defense can appropriately integrate consideration of next generation technologies into professional military education programs for military officers and enlisted personnel. This brief should include consideration of the appropriate PME schools, institutions or levels; address the feasibility of expanding civilian enrollment at PME institutions in order to expose military leaders to relevant commercial technology leaders; determine the extent to which these technological developments may require changes to existing warfighting doctrine or operational plans; and identify any relevant opportunities for improvement to the service-level or joint PME programs, as well as any other topics the Secretary deems appropriate, and should be delivered to the Committee by December 1, 2018. Interagency Recruitment Cooperation Efforts The committee notes that the current and future recruiting environment for military service is and will continue to be difficult with a population that has a lower propensity to serve, a recruit pool that is less qualified, and an economy that is robust. In this environment, the competition for this small pool of recruits will be fierce within the Department of Defense between the services, as well as with other Government agencies. Cooperation between Government agencies with regard to recruits will be critical going forward, especially those recruits with a propensity to serve but who might not be physically qualified for one service or the other. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by February 1, 2019, on interagency cooperation with regard to recruiting for military and other Government agency service. Elements of the briefing shall include the following: (1) an assessment by the Secretary of the value of cross- Government agency recruitment and how that would affect Department of Defense recruitment efforts; (2) what policies the Secretary could put in place in cooperation with other agencies to assist with future recruitment needs; (3) what current coordination is being conducted with other agencies to assist when recruiting for the Department of Defense or other agencies; and (4) what recommendations the Secretary would make on interagency recruiting cooperation. Joint Professional Military Education and Professional Military Education Curricula The committee believes that quality Professional Military Education (PME) and Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) are integral to developing tomorrow's strategic leaders. The military services provide PME at their respective staff and war colleges in order to educate service members in their core competencies according to service needs. The JPME program places emphasis on preparing leaders to conduct operations as a joint force in complex operating environments. Currently, JPME is provided at multiple sites across the country, including the services' staff and war colleges and the National Defense University. The committee remains concerned that the quality and effectiveness of the faculty and curricula at JPME and PME institutions, particularly senior-service colleges, can vary based on service tradition, school location, and faculty. In addition, the committee is concerned that certain important subject areas may be excluded from the curricula because of time constraints. The committee supports the ongoing efforts of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretaries of the Military Departments to evaluate and improve the quality of the education provided at JPME and PME institutions. As a part of this evaluation, the committee encourages the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretaries of the Military Departments to consider whether JPME and PME curricula include exposure to whole-of-government education, including enrolling students from other Federal departments and agencies, hiring faculty from other Federal departments and agencies, and providing courses and programs designed to reinforce the importance of whole of government. Military Academy Preparatory School Class Enrollment The committee notes that the mission of the military academies' preparatory schools is to motivate, prepare, and evaluate selected candidates in an academic, military, moral, and physical environment in order to perform successfully at the military academy. The preparatory school achieves this mission by qualifying cadet candidates for academy appointments, and developing in those students a sense of accomplishment and self-confidence that enables them to succeed in a military academy's demanding environment. Admission to a preparatory school is competitive, with selections made by selection boards. The boards select both enlisted Active Duty and civilian applicants who have applied for admission to an academy, but were not selected for direct entry. The committee is concerned that the average military academy preparatory school class consists of only approximately 25 percent prior-enlisted service members. The committee believes that this percentage is extremely low, and that the services should focus their outreach efforts for attendance to the preparatory schools on the qualified enlisted force who has already exhibited propensity to serve. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretaries of the Air Force, the Army and the Navy to develop individual service plans with the goal of increasing the enrollment of enlisted service members at each of the Service Academy Preparatory Schools. The Secretaries concerned shall also provide briefings to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives by February 1, 2019, on the new outreach plan and their recommendations for increased enlisted member enrollment. Report on Certain Victims' Rights in Connection with Prosecution of Sex-Related Offenses The committee is concerned about the implementation of section 534 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291), which enhances victims' rights in connection with the prosecution of certain sex-related offenses. Specifically, the committee is interested in how the Department of Defense has implemented the requirement that victims be consulted in order to solicit their preference whether the covered offenses should be prosecuted by court-martial or in a civilian court with jurisdiction over the offense. The committee notes that the annual Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office report contains statistics on the number of cases prosecuted in civilian courts, but it is not evident from this data whether these civilian prosecutions were in accordance with the wishes of the victim or simply the only option for prosecution of the offenses. Therefore, the committee directs the Department of Defense Inspector General to submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives not later than April 1, 2019, on the results of a review of the Department of Defense and military departments' processes for consulting victims in cases in which section 534 applies. The report shall include a description of who is responsible for consulting with the victim to determine the preference for prosecution; an analysis of whether the military services are complying with the notification requirement; the method used to record the victim's preference and convey the information to the relevant authorities; and an analysis of whether the policy is applied consistently across the military services. Report on Legal Training for Commanders The committee understands that U.S. military commanders are entrusted with a wide range of responsibilities that are necessary to carry out their designated missions. Many of these responsibilities involve interpretation of and compliance with legal requirements. While the committee understands that judge advocates and other legal professionals advise the commanders on many of these subjects, the committee is interested in the full extent and substance of the legal training that commanders receive on the legal authorities with which they have been entrusted. Therefore, the committee directs the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives not later than September 1, 2019, on the following questions: (1) What legal training do officers receive throughout their careers? Who is responsible for this training, and who certifies satisfactory completion? (2) What legal and ethics training do commanders receive prior to taking command? At what level of command are officers required to attend this training? What issues are covered during this training, and is the training tailored to the type of command the officer is assigned to? (3) To what extent and what type of training do commanders receive regarding the following topics: military justice; contract and fiscal law; administrative law; and international and operational law? (4) To what extent are the military services complying with their legal training requirements for new commanders? (5) What resources are available to commanders to assist them in carrying out their legal responsibilities? (6) What procedures are in place to receive feedback on the quality and relevance of the legal training provided to commanders? Is that feedback incorporated into periodic curriculum reviews? Report on Processes for Federal Recognition of Promotion of Commissioned National Guard Officers The committee is concerned that delays in federal recognition of National Guard promotions may be increasing and that these lengthy delays result in National Guard officers being deployed and doing the work of the rank to which they are being promoted while receiving the pay of their current rank. The committee notes that such delays deprive National Guard members of the pay to which they are entitled, reduce their time in rank, and may pose retention problems by giving National Guard members an incentive to leave military service. Therefore the committee directs the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Air Force to each undertake a comprehensive review of the policies and procedures of the Department of the Army and the Department Air Force, as applicable, for the Federal recognition of promotions of commissioned officers of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, as the case may be, and to report the results of this review to the congressional defense committees by December 1, 2018. The report shall: (1) describe the average time between receipt by the military department concerned of scrolls (as defined in Department of Defense Instruction 1310.02) indicating the promotion of commissioned officers in the National Guard and their publication during the five-year period ending on the date of the House passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019; (2) describe and assess various approaches for streamlining the process by which the military department concerned approves Federal recognition scrolls, including through-- (A) additional automation; (B) reduction in required steps; or (C) delegation of authority to conduct required reviews; and (3) make recommendations for legislative or administration action to implement an approach under paragraph (2) if the Secretary concerned considers such approach feasible, advisable, and appropriate. U.S. Air Force Pilot Staff Requirements Validation The committee remains concerned that the Air Force is having difficulty addressing a persistent pilot shortage. Pilots are vital to the readiness of the Air Force and these shortages may hamper its ability to carry out the 2018 National Defense Strategy, especially as it relates to retention and recruitment within the fighter pilot community. The committee notes that the Air Force provided written testimony to the committee on March 21, 2018, stating that the Air Force has a shortage of 1,812 pilots across all mission areas, with the most acute shortage being fighter pilots. The Air Force admits it is taking risk by under-filling its required pilot and rated staff officer billets. However, the committee is concerned about the current requirement for pilots in staff billets and the fact that the requirements for pilot skills in these positions have not been validated, nor the requirements reviewed, in many years. An assessment of this sort could result in a change in the overall number of required pilots on the staff. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to evaluate and validate every pilot or rated officer required staff billet across the Air Force and joint community enterprise, and to address the recommendations of the Comptroller General ``Report on Military Personnel: DOD Needs to Reevaluate Fighter Pilot Workforce Requirements,'' (GAO-18- 113), and to provide a report to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives not later than December 7, 2018, on the methodology and the results of the evaluation and validation as well as the implementation of the recommendations of the GAO Report. U.S. Special Operations Command Preservation of the Force and Families Program Contract Support The committee recognizes that U.S. special operations forces (SOF) and their families are under unique and continued stresses, including psychological, social, spiritual, and human performance strains. The committee commends the success of the Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) program. It has helped to alleviate the magnitude of these stresses and break the stigma of seeking necessary help. It has also decreased rehabilitation time following physical injuries. The committee understands U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and component commands have engaged in dialogue with the military services on scaling portions of the program to the broader force. The committee supports this dialogue and encourages the transition by SOCOM of resources and management for aspects of POTFF that are scaled to the military services, as well as a continual assessment of what remain as SOF- specific needs. However, with POTFF's contract due to expire this fiscal year, the committee is concerned by the request for proposal submitted by SOCOM. It once again indicates a domineering focus on human performance, to the detriment of a distinct emphasis on mental, emotional, and behavioral health. The committee notes that of the $88.0 million for POTFF in the budget request for fiscal year 2019, only $13.0 million was to support the Psychological Performance Program to promote, maintain, and restore the psychological and behavioral health of SOF. With these concerns in mind, the committee directs the Commander of Special Operations Command, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 14, 2018, on the future of POTFF. The briefing shall include: (1) how the command plans to balance the emphasis put on the four pillars of the program; (2) an analysis of mental and behavioral health program gaps, to include an in-depth look into POTFF's suicide- prevention programming; and (3) how SOCOM will work with services to identify successful elements that can be transitioned to assist conventional forces and families. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--Regular Component Management Section 501--Expansion of Authority to Award Constructive Service Credit for Advanced Education, Experience, or Training, upon Original Appointment as a Commissioned Officer This section would amend sections 533 and 12207 of title 10, United States Code, to permit the Secretaries of the military departments additional discretion to determine the grade of certain individuals receiving an original appointment as a regular or reserve commissioned officer. Section 502--Surface Warfare Officers Career Paths This section would amend chapter 602 of title 10, United States Code, by adding a new section that would require the Secretary of the Navy to establish two career paths for surface warfare officers. The Secretary would be required to establish one career path in ship engineering systems and another in ship operations and combat systems, not later than January 1, 2021. Section 503--Authority of Selection Boards To Recommend Officers of Particular Merit Be Placed at the Top of the Promotion List This section would amend sections 616, 618, and 624 of title 10, United States Code, to allow officer promotion boards to recommend officers of particular merit be placed at the top of the promotion list, and to allow the Secretary of the military department concerned to re-order the promotion list accordingly. Section 504--Deferred Deployment for Members Who Give Birth This section would standardize new mother deployment deferral policy across the military services, to include the Coast Guard. Section 505--Codification of Lowered Grade for Retired Officers or Persons Who Committed Misconduct in a Lower Grade This section would amend section 1370 of title 10, United States Code, to clarify that the Secretary concerned has the authority to find that an officer who committed misconduct in a lower grade has not served satisfactorily in any grade equal to or higher than that lower grade. Section 506--Retention of Military Technicians Who Lose Dual Status under Certain Circumstances This section would amend section 10216 of title 10, United States Code, to prevent dual-status military technicians who reach their time-in-service end date from losing their jobs due to separation from military service. Subtitle B--Reserve Component Management Section 511--Placement of National Guard Military Technicians (Dual Status) in the Competitive Service This section would amend section 10508 of title 10, United States Code, to designate dual-status military technician positions that were converted to title 5 civilian employees in the fiscal year 2017 and 2018 National Defense Authorization Acts as competitive, not excepted, service positions. Section 512--Authorized Strength and Distribution in Grade This section would amend section 12011(a) and section 12012(a) of title 10, United States Code, to increase the total number of available control grade positions, which includes O- 4, O-5, O-6, E-8, and E-9, authorized for the Air National Guard. Section 513--National Guard Promotion Accountability This section would amend section 14308(f) of title 10, United States Code, to allow a National Guard officer's date of rank to be backdated, after Federal recognition is granted, and would require the Secretaries concerned to report to the Congress when a promotion scroll exceeds 200 days between date received and its date of publication. Section 514--Extension of Authority for Pilot Program on Use of Retired Senior Enlisted Members of the Army National Guard as Army National Guard Recruiters This section would extend the authority of the pilot program on use of retired senior enlisted members of the Army National Guard as Army National Guard recruiters until 2021. Subtitle C--General Service Authorities and Correction of Military Records Section 521--Enlistments Vital to the National Interest This section would modify section 504(b) of title 10, United States Code, to establish additional requirements for enlistments vital to the national interest. Section 522--Statement of Benefits This section would require the Secretary of Defense to provide Active Duty and Reserve service members an authoritative assessment of their earned GI Bill benefits prior to separation, retirement, or release from Active Duty or demobilization. Section 523--Modification to Forms of Support That May Be Accepted in Support of the Mission of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency This section would modify the forms of support that may be accepted by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) to include public-private partnerships and the acceptance of gifts that facilitate the accounting of missing persons within the purview of the DPAA mission. Section 524--Correction of Military Records Website This section would amend section 1552(a)(5) of title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretary concerned to publish summaries, indexed by subject matter, of all decisions published on the board for correction of military records website of each military department. Section 525--Modification of DD Form 214 to Include Email Addresses This section would require the Secretary of Defense to modify the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) to include a specific block explicitly identified as the location in which a member of the Armed Forces may provide one or more email addresses by which the member may be contacted. Section 526--Public Availability of Reports Related to Senior Leader Misconduct This section would require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments to publish, on a public website, redacted reports of substantiated investigations of misconduct in which the subject of the investigation was an officer in the grade of O-7 and above, including officers who have been selected for promotion to O-7, or a civilian member of the Senior Executive Service. Section 527--Appointment and Training of Personnel to Staff the Board of Corrections for Military and Naval Records This section would require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the service secretaries and the joint chiefs, to provide for the appointment and training of qualified personnel to join the staff of the Boards of Correction for Military and Naval Records, and would authorize $3.0 million to carry out the training, to be taken from the Military Personnel Appropriations line. Subtitle D--Military Justice Section 531--Minimum Confinement Period Required for Conviction of Certain Sex-Related Offenses Committed by Members of the Armed Forces This section would amend section 856(b)(1) of title 10, United States Code (article 56(b)(1) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), to require a minimum confinement period of 2 years for individuals convicted of certain sex-related offenses. Section 532--Punitive Article in the Uniform Code of Military Justice on Domestic Violence This section would amend subchapter X of chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (the Uniform Code of Military Justice), to add a new section 928a regarding domestic violence. Section 533--Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces This section would amend section 546 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291) to require the Department of Defense to provide information to the Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces that the panel (by majority vote) deems necessary to carry out its duties. Section 534--Modification of Military Rules of Evidence To Exclude Admissibility of General Military Character Toward Probability of Innocence in Any Offense Not Strictly Related to Performance of Military Duties This section would amend Rule 404(a) of the Military Rules of Evidence contained in the Manual for Courts-Martial to provide that the general military character of an accused is not admissible for the purpose of showing the probability of innocence of the accused unless the offense the individual is charged with is strictly and solely related to the performance of military duties. Section 535--Improved Crime Reporting This section would require the Secretary of Defense to establish a consolidated tracking process that provides the Department of Defense increased visibility on the military departments' required crime report submissions to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Section 536--Oversight of Registered Sex Offender Management Program This section would require the Secretary of Defense to designate a single official or entity within the Office of the Secretary of Defense to serve as the official or entity with principal responsibility for providing oversight of the registered sex offender management program of the Department. Subtitle E--Other Legal Matters Section 541--Security Clearance Reinvestigation of Certain Personnel Who Commit Certain Offenses This section would amend section 1564 of title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Defense to conduct a security clearance background reinvestigation under expedited procedures for flag officers and Senior Executive Service personnel employed by the Department of Defense convicted of sexual assault, sexual harassment, fraud against the United States, or other serious crimes. Section 542--Consideration of Application for Transfer for a Student of a Military Service Academy Who Is the Victim of a Sexual Assault or Related Offense This section would require the Secretary concerned to expedite the consideration and approval of an application for an inter-academy transfer submitted by a cadet of a military academy who has been the victim of sexual assault. Section 543--Standardization of Policies Related to Expedited Transfer in Cases of Sexual Assault This section would require the Secretary of Defense to standardize the expedited transfer procedures for service members who are the victim of sexual assault, regardless of whether their cases are handled by the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program or the Family Advocacy Program, and would require the Secretary to establish a transfer policy for service members whose dependent is the victim of sexual assault perpetrated by an unrelated service member. Section 544--Development of Oversight Plan for Implementation of Department of Defense Harassment Prevention and Response Policy This section would require the Department of Defense to develop an oversight plan and provide a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives for implementation of the Department of Defense Harassment Prevention and Response policy. Section 545--Development of Resource Guides Regarding Sexual Assault for the Military Service Academies This section would require each Superintendent of a military service academy to develop and maintain a resource guide on sexual assault, and distribute the guide to all cadets and midshipmen at the academies. Section 546--Report on Victims in MCIO Reports This section would require the Secretary of Defense, through the Defense Advisory Committee on Investigations, Prosecutions, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces, to provide a report every 2 years on the frequency with which victims of sexual offenses identified in military criminal investigative organization cases are accused of or punished for misconduct considered collateral to the investigation of sexual assault. Subtitle F--Member Education, Training, Resilience, and Transition Section 551--Permanent Career Intermission Program This section would amend chapter 40 of title 10, United States Code, by adding section 710 and removing all references to the program as a pilot program, making the Career Intermission Program a permanent authority. Section 552--Improvements to Transition Assistance Program This section would amend section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, to establish counseling pathways, require transmission of the Joint Service transcript, and allow transitioning service members to select a portion of the content covered during the transition assistance period of instruction. Section 553--Employment and Compensation of Civilian Faculty Members at the Joint Special Operations University This section would amend section 1595(c) of title 10, United States Code, to add the Joint Special Operations University to the list of covered institutions with authority to hire civilian faculty under title 10. Section 554--Program To Assist Members of the Armed Forces in Obtaining Professional Credentials This section would amend section 2015 of title 10, United States Code, to further assist members of the Armed Forces in obtaining professional credentials. Section 555--Extension of Pilot Program To Assist Members in Obtaining Post-Service Employment This section would amend section 555 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291) to extend the authority for the pilot program under this section to September 30, 2023. Section 556--Direct Employment Pilot Program for Members of the Reserve Components and Veterans This section would allow the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program that provides enhanced job placement and employment assistance for members of the National Guard and Reserve. Section 557--Extended Duration of Availability of Military OneSource Program Services for Members of the Armed Forces Upon Their Separation or Retirement This section would extend the duration of availability of Military OneSource program services for members of the military departments and their immediate family members from 180 days following their separation or retirement to at least 1 year after their separation or retirement. Section 558--Comptroller General Briefing and Report on Permanent Employment Assistance Centers This section would require the Comptroller General of the United States to provide a briefing to the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, with a report to follow, on employment assistance required under law and related information regarding civilian employment certification. Section 559--Activities To Increase Awareness of Apprenticeship Programs This section would require the Secretary of Defense to include, as part of service members' transition counseling, information on apprenticeship programs and the use of veterans' benefits to pay for these programs. Subtitle G--Defense Dependents' Education and Military Family Readiness Matters Section 561--Enhancement and Clarification of Family Support Services for Family Members of Members of Special Operations Forces This section would amend section 1788a of title 10, United States Code, to provide greater flexibility to support the family requirements to tactical units by increasing funds available for Major Force Program 11 from $5.0 million to $10.0 million. This section would also define the term ``family support services''' to provide clarity and authorize proper expenditures of appropriated funds. Section 562--Additional Matters for Assessment and Report on Childcare Services of the Department of Defense This section would add additional issues for assessment related to military family childcare under section 575 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91). Section 563--Continued Assistance to Schools With Significant Numbers of Military Dependent Students This section would authorize $40.0 million for the purpose of providing assistance to local educational agencies with military dependent students and $10.0 million for local educational agencies eligible to receive a payment for children with severe disabilities. Section 564--Department of Defense Education Activity Misconduct Database This section would require the Secretary of Defense to establish a comprehensive policy and database regarding juvenile misconduct occurring in Department of Defense Education Activity schools. Section 565--Report on Assessment of Frequency of Permanent Changes of Station of Members of the Armed Forces on Employment Among Military Spouses This section would require the Secretary of Defense to provide a report on the impact that frequent permanent changes of station of service members have on military spouses. Subtitle H--Decorations and Awards Section 571--Limitations on Authority To Revoke Certain Military Decorations Awarded to Members of the Armed Forces This section would amend title 10, United States Code, to add a new section that restricts the President and service secretaries from revoking a military decoration after the actual award of the military decoration to the service member except under limited circumstances. Section 572--Authorization for Award of Expeditionary Medal to Certain Marines for Actions on June 8, 1995 This section would authorize the Secretary of Defense to award the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal to a member or former member of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit for the mission to rescue Captain Scott O'Grady. Subtitle I--Miscellaneous Reports and Other Matters Section 581--Public Availability of Top-Line Numbers of Deployed Members of the Armed Forces This section would require the Secretary of Defense to publicly make available the top-line numbers of members of the Armed Forces deployed for each country. The Secretary would be able to waive the requirement in the case of a sensitive military operation if he determines the public disclosure of such numbers could reasonably be expected to provide an operational military advantage to an adversary, or the members of the Armed Forces are deployed for less than 30 days. Section 582--Criteria for Interment at Arlington National Cemetery This section would require the Secretary of the Army to establish revised interment criteria for Arlington National Cemetery that preserve Arlington National Cemetery as an active burial ground well into the future. Section 583--Report on General and Flag Officer Costs This section would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the congressional defense committees on the costs of supporting general and flag officers. Section 584--Report on Outside Employment of Senior Personnel This section would require the Secretary of Defense to report on senior leader outside employment requests and activities. Section 585--Limitation on Use of Funds Pending Submittal of Report on Army Marketing and Advertising Program This section would limit the use of funds to not more than 60 percent of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act for the Army Marketing and Research Group for fiscal year 2019, used for advertising and marketing activities to be obligated or expended until the Secretary of the Army submits a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on recommendations of the Army Audit Agency's audit of the Army's Marketing and Advertising Program concerning contract oversight and return on investment. TITLE VI--COMPENSATION AND OTHER PERSONNEL BENEFITS ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Availability of Alcohol at Military Commissary Stores The Committee notes the recent announcement made by the Department of Defense on the availability of beer and wine at military commissary stores in order to provide a similar shopping experience to commercial grocery stores. In light of these measures, the Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study on the feasibility of expanding commissary alcohol sales to include the sale of distilled spirits. The study shall include a comparison of state and local laws that could impact the expansion of the sale of distilled spirits. The study shall also include an estimate on revenue and sales that could result from such an expansion. The Secretary shall provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives on the detailed findings of the study no later than September 28, 2018. Examination of Flexible/Noncontinuous Maternity Leave The Committee commends the Department for granting up to 84 days for service members following child birth. Although current maternity and parental leave policies are a strong step in the right direction, more can be done to tailor leave to families' unique situations. Continuing its work from 2015 and 2016, Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) examined issues and concerns surrounding pregnancy, the postpartum period, and parenthood. There is evidence to suggest that Service members' ability to maintain work-life balance is one of the military's top retention challenges, with service members expressing concern that a military career is incompatible with having a family. In its most recent report, DACOWITS recommends the Secretary of Defense consider allowing the Military Services to permit flexible (noncontinuous) use of maternity and parental leave if requested by the military parent(s). Allowing flexible (noncontinuous) use of maternity and parental leave is a strategy mentioned by DACOWITS and modeled by leading companies in the private sector. This is one potential way to support a servicemember after a child joins the member's family. Noncontinuous leave, when requested, could help servicemembers better balance their unique family needs during critical junctures of their lives and, in turn, help support retention efforts. Therefore, not later than December 1, 2018 the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report assessing the feasibility of permitting flexible (noncontinuous) use of maternity leave. Imminent Danger Pay Adjudication Process The committee acknowledges that servicemembers continue to serve in locations at daily risk of harm from hostile fire, explosions, or other hostile actions, and are thus entitled to Imminent Danger Pay. The committee understands that, regarding the locations and time periods for Imminent Danger Pay eligibility, the final adjudicating authority for the Department of Defense is the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, who assesses requests submitted by geographic Combatant Commanders. The committee has received recent testimony that this request, adjudication, and approval process can span many months, during which servicemembers in harm's way are not receiving Imminent Danger Pay. So that Congress may improve its oversight of the timeliness of Imminent Danger Pay review and approval, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to submit a report to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, not later than August 31, 2018, listing, for the period 2008-2018: (1) each request for Imminent Danger Pay made by a geographic Combatant Commander, including details on the underlying justification for Imminent Danger Pay; (2) the date of submission for each request; (3) the adjudication status and/or ultimate determination for each request; and, (4) date of ultimate determination, where applicable. Small Business Purchasing Contracts for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for the Defense Commissary Agency (``DeCA'') The Committee commends DeCA for its efforts to achieve cost savings and provide patrons with an improved shopping experience. DeCA strives to maintain a good record of including small businesses in its acquisition practices including the acquisition of fresh fruits and vegetables through utilizing small businesses. These small businesses are best positioned to provide quality and fresh produce because of their proximity to commissaries and have traditionally provided these products at competitive prices. As the transformation proceeds the Committee encourages DeCA to continue to utilize small businesses for the acquisition of quality fresh fruits and vegetables. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 1, 2018 on the efforts to continue to utilize small businesses for fresh fruits and vegetables. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--Pay and Allowances Section 601--Prompt Review of Request for Imminent Danger Pay This section would amend section 310 of title 37, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Defense to issue a determination, within 90 days, when a geographic combatant commander submits a request to add a location to the Imminent Danger Pay eligibility list. Section 602--Application of Basic Allowance for Housing to Members of the Uniformed Services in the Virgin Islands This section would amend section 403 of title 37, United States Code, to apply Basic Allowance for Housing to service members in the Virgin Islands. Section 603--Mandatory Increase in Insurance Coverage Under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance for Members Deployed to Combat Theaters of Operation This section would amend section 1967(a)(3) of title 38, United States Code, to mandate, in the case of a member who elects to not be insured under a Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance plan at the full $400,000 available, the member's insurance will automatically increase to $400,000 if they are deployed to a combat zone. Section 604--Military Housing Privatization Initiative This section would assure that the Basic Allowance for Housing reduction directed by section 403 of title 10, United States Code, would not take effect in fiscal year 2019, ensuring that the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) housing recapitalization efforts are not reduced. The committee remains concerned about the reduction in BAH and its effect on the recapitalization of these housing units. The committee believes that military families must be provided with on-base housing that is safe and periodically modernized. Additionally, this section would require the Secretary of Defense to present a plan to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by December 1, 2018, to provide for a permanent financial solution to the long term MHPI recapitalization problem. Section 605--Per Diem Allowance Policies This section would halt implementation of the 2014 Department of Defense per diem policy, direct the Secretary of Defense to issue a report on options to reduce travel costs, and require notification of any subsequent changes to the per diem policies following the report. Subtitle B--Bonuses and Special Incentive Pays Section 611--One-Year Extension of Certain Expiring Bonus and Special Pay Authorities This section would extend, through December 31, 2019, income replacement payments for Reserve Component members experiencing extended and frequent mobilization for Active Duty service; would extend two critical recruitment and retention incentive programs for Reserve Component health care professionals; would extend accession and retention incentives for nuclear-qualified officers; and would extend the consolidated special and incentive pay authorities added to subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 37, United States Code, by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181). Additionally, this section would extend the authority of the Secretary of Defense to prescribe a temporary increase in the rates of basic allowance for housing otherwise prescribed for a military housing area or a portion of a military housing area if the military housing area or portion thereof is located in an area covered by a declaration by the President that a major disaster exists. Subtitle C--Other Matters Section 621--Expansions of Installation Benefits to Surviving Spouses, Dependent Children, and Other Next of Kin This section would amend section 1126 of title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Defense to provide lifetime installation access to Gold Star spouses and their dependent children for the purposes of attending memorial services, visiting gravesites, and accessing survivor services to which they are already entitled. Additionally, this section would provide the Secretary discretion to provide similar access to other surviving family members and require access reciprocity between the military services, and would extend access to base commissaries, exchanges, and other recreation facilities for all remarried surviving military spouses for as long as they have surviving dependent children under their guardianship. Section 622--Transportation on Military Aircraft on a Space-Available Basis for Disabled Veterans With a Service-Connected, Permanent Disability Rated as Total This section would amend section 2641b of title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel for disabled veterans with a service-connected, permanent disability rated as total. Section 623--Extension of Parking Expenses Allowance to Civilian Employees at Recruiting Facilities This section would amend section 481i of title 37, United States Code, to allow the Secretary of Defense to reimburse military and civilian employees of the Department of Defense for parking expenses at recruiting facilities. Section 624--Advisory Boards Regarding Military Commissaries and Exchanges This section would require the Secretary of Defense to direct installation commanders to establish an advisory board to advise commanders regarding the interests of patrons and beneficiaries of military commissaries and exchanges. Section 625--Study and Report on Development of a Single Defense Resale System This section would direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of consolidating the military resale entities into a single defense resale system and would prohibit the use of funds in fiscal year 2019 for any action on consolidation by the Secretary of Defense. TITLE VII--HEALTH CARE PROVISIONS ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Advanced Pain Management Fellows Program The committee is aware of the importance of pain management health care providers across the Military Health System. More specifically, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are qualified pain practitioners who work in various practice settings to treat patients suffering from a wide range of acute and chronic pain conditions. CRNA chronic pain management practitioners are able to minimize the use of opioids to address chronic pain through the use of a multimodal approach that includes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic pain mitigation strategies. Furthermore, the holistic approach that CRNA pain management practitioners employ when treating their chronic pain patients may reduce the reliance on opioids as a primary pain management modality, thus aiding in the reduction of potential adverse drug events related to opioids. The committee believes advanced pain management fellowship programs for CRNAs may enhance comprehensive pain management. The committee encourages the Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments to consider advanced pain management fellowship programs for CRNAs as part of their respective long-term health education and training programs. Athletic Trainers The Committee understands that athletic trainers provide invaluable services to many people and organizations. However, the Committee notes that athletic trainers are not included on the TRICARE authorized provider list. Therefore the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by 1 February 2019, that examines the potential uses of civilian athletic trainers within the TRICARE program, the reimbursement structure for athletic trainers for Medicare or other commensurate federal health programs, and an assessment of credentialing organizations that may help facilitate a standardized accreditation process for athletic trainers. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) The Committee commends the Department of Defense for focusing a significant amount of research on studying military relevant injuries related to traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Committee acknowledges the importance of this research but would also like to better understand the potential link between TBI and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a neurodegenerative disorder that involves the progressive accumulation of the protein tau in nerve cells within certain regions of the brain. As the tau protein accumulates, it disturbs function and appears to lead to symptoms seen in affected patients with multiple head trauma. In 2013, a senior Department of Defense official stated, ``we are learning through the process of discovery the effects of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury and also how to prevent this issue of chronic traumatic encephalopathy''. Research on CTE has made significant advancements, but there are still gaps in research between TBI and CTE and understanding the status and progress of CTE efforts within the military is of critical importance. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with Secretaries of the military departments, to provide a report on CTE research in the military to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate not later than 1 April 2019. This report shall include an assessment of the gaps between CTE and TBI research, current funding levels, ongoing research studies, CTE related initiatives to track and monitor service-members, and ongoing research efforts with the National Institutes of Health, executive agencies and civilian academic and research organizations. Comprehensive Women's Health for Active Duty The committee recognizes that as the population of women in the military increases and more women seek additional opportunities in direct combat units and throughout the joint force, it is critical that women's health is addressed comprehensively to optimize health and readiness. The committee notes the efforts of Navy Medicine with the establishment of the Women's Health Clinical Community and the piloting of a comprehensive clinic at Naval Medical Center, San Diego, to address the complex needs of the Active Duty female population. Guided by feedback from clinical and non-clinical stakeholders and evidence-based research, the comprehensive women's health clinic addresses women's health in a patient-centered manner integrating perinatal, women's health, mental health, and force readiness. As the Military Health System transitions military treatment facilities from the services to the Defense Health Agency, the committee encourages the inclusion of similar health clinics where appropriate to improve the readiness of women in the force. Department of Defense Action Plan for Countering Infectious Diseases The committee acknowledges the important work across the Department of Defense in the areas of preventive medicine and infectious disease. The 2014 Ebola outbreak demonstrated the need for a prompt and efficient response to a highly infectious disease outbreak. It also demonstrated that in the future, the U.S. military may be expected to assume a primary role in responding to such crises. The likelihood of a future regional and global infectious disease crisis is high, and the lessons learned from the 2014 Ebola crisis are directly applicable to the next potential infectious disease outbreak. It is therefore critical that the Department of Defense consider lessons learned from previous outbreaks. In addition, the Department must take action to promote force health protection from emerging infectious diseases while preparing to support missions in areas of increased risk or military operations supporting international response within a future public health emergency. The committee therefore directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human Services, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than June 1, 2019, on the development of an action plan focused on efforts to counter emerging infectious disease threats. This briefing should identify capability gaps; actions taken to improve point-of-care diagnostics linked to disease surveillance and information-sharing networks; examine infectious disease emergency response teams; capabilities for medical evacuation of patients with high consequence infections; gaps in infection prevention and control standards; and research efforts focused on medical countermeasures. Diabetes Prevention Program The committee notes there are an estimated 30 million Americans with diabetes but only approximately 50,000 military members or their family members have the disease. However, the committee understands that the number of military beneficiaries with diabetes increases to more than 200,000 for retirees and their family members who are under the age of 65 and doubles to over 400,000 for those beneficiaries in the TRICARE for Life, Medicare-eligible population. If not treated, those with diabetes face higher risks of heart disease, kidney failure, limb amputations, and blindness. The committee is aware that Medicare expanded its diabetes prevention pilot program to provide coverage for all eligible at-risk beneficiaries with prediabetes who are aged 65 years or older, which has led to substantial health care savings as well as reducing the risk of patients developing type 2 diabetes. Given the detrimental health impact of diabetes as well as the increased costs incurred for direct treatment and comorbid medical complications of this disease, prevention programs addressing the vulnerability of at-risk TRICARE beneficiaries should be closely examined. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives not later than March 1, 2019, that examines the feasibility of using a similar program for TRICARE beneficiaries to prevent diabetes, improve health, and reduce health care costs. Direct Report Language on National Guard Mental Health The Committee remains concerned about the high rate of suicides in the reserve component and specifically, within the Army National Guard. The Committee is aware of numerous efforts by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to increase access and resources for Guardsmen to receive behavioral health treatment and support. The Committee also supports the establishment of a more integrated and holistic approach to resilience and fitness across the National Guard to better assess and improve the operational readiness of Guardsmen by carrying out pilot programs as required. Therefore, the Committee directs the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to provide a report to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than 1 March 2019, on the effectiveness of National Guard Bureau behavioral health programs like resiliency, suicide prevention, and other mental health outreach efforts. Exceptional Family Member Program The committee notes the purpose of the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is to provide comprehensive and coordinated community support, housing, educational, medical, and personnel services worldwide to military families with children with special needs. The committee is concerned that with over 100,000 families participating in the EFMP and inconsistent application of the Department of Defense policy across the services, there are families who are inadvertently disadvantaged by not having an individualized service plan. The committee is also concerned that the Department of Defense and military services lack the common performance measures and outcome metrics to assess assignment coordination and family support. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan consisting of common performance metrics for assignment coordination and family support, including best practices for performance measurement; a systematic process for evaluating the results of monitoring activities conducted by each of the military services program; and a review to determine the feasibility of creating interstate compacts as a requirement for schools supporting EFMP students. The committee further directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives not later than March 1, 2019, on this plan. GAO Audit of TRICARE The committee notes that during the 2018 transition of TRICARE managed care support contractors, many issues related to network adequacy arose, which affected beneficiary access to care, specifically access to mental health services. There is evidence that mental health providers from the East and West regions received new contracts that include a proposed 30% discount off Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) rates. With the limited options and resources that TRICARE beneficiaries currently have, these discounts will further jeopardize the mental health of military members, veterans, and their families who rely on TRICARE for their basic needs. Therefore, the committee directs the Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study of the Defense Health Agency's (DHA) oversight of the transition of TRICARE managed care support contractors for its TRICARE regions. The Comptroller General shall provide a report to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives by September 30, 2019 detailing the extent to which (i) DHA provided guidance and oversight to the outgoing and incoming managed care support contractors; (ii) there were any issues with health care delivery, and if so, the effect, if at all, DHA's guidance and oversight during the transition period had on these issues as well as DHA's resolutions for remediating any managed care support contractors' deficiencies; and (iii) DHA has reviewed any lessons learned from prior transitions and incorporated them into the current transition. Global Health Engagement Organization Consolidation The committee recognizes the Department of Defense's efforts to develop global health engagement (GHE) capabilities that have become an integral part of combatant command security cooperation initiatives. These activities are used to improve military health professional readiness and interoperability by providing important training opportunities and experiences in operational settings with partner nations. However, the committee is concerned that there is duplication of effort with the Defense Institute for Medical Operations. The Defense Institute for Medical Operations supports overseas train-the- trainer programs on topics such as disaster management, force health protection, health surveillance, and other areas of health practice. As part of the Uniformed Services University of Health Science (USUHS) mission to support military readiness, the Center for Global Health Engagement was established by the Department of Defense to provide an enterprise-wide hub for GHE to support the combatant commands with leadership and scholarship; strategic and operational support to the joint force; training and professional development; management of GHE-related research; and assessment, monitoring, and evaluation activities. The committee believes USUHS provides a vital nexus of education and training for the Military Health System and may serve as an important support platform that provides economies of scale related to training, education, campus locations, and infrastructure support. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than April 1, 2019, on the feasibility of consolidating and integrating the capabilities of the Center for Global Health Engagement and the Defense Institute of Medical Operations into one organization. Improving Delivery of Mental Health Services The committee acknowledges the efforts of the Department of Defense and the military services to diagnose and treat military members suffering from mental health disorders. The committee commends the Department for systems it has in place to ensure service members receive standard of care for disorders where clinical evidence has informed best practices for treatment. However, there is room for improvement: the MHS lacks an enterprise wide system to accurately and consistently track care, cost, and implementation of evidence based quality medical and behavioral health therapeutic services for mental health disorders. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives not later than December 1, 2018 on the following: (1) feasibility study for creating a formalized methodology for tracking, measuring, and reporting across the MHS to ensure delivery of cost effective, evidence based quality treatments; (2) data and analysis to assist the committee in determining whether there are challenges to implementing evidence based mental health treatments for military personnel; (3) recommendations for addressing the current translation of innovative biomarker and neuroimaging diagnostics and research findings into practice; (4) any other matters the Secretary of Defense believes are relevant to this issue. Improving Health Care Choices for Severely Injured Service Members The committee seeks to better serve severely disabled veterans who are entitled to hospital insurance benefits under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Human Health Services and the Commissioner of Social Security, to report on the total number of individuals who are retired from the Armed Services under chapter 61 of title 10, United States Code; entitled to hospital insurance benefits under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act pursuant to receiving benefits for 24 months as described in subparagraph (A) or (C) of section 226(b)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 426(b)(2)); and because of such entitlement, are no longer enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select (as those terms are defined in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code) under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code. The committee further directs the Secretary to submit the results of the report to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 1, 2018. Joint Advanced Orthopedic Surgical Training The committee is aware of the importance of limiting musculoskeletal injuries (MSKI), which on average result in 21,000 shoulder and knee arthroscopies affecting service members per year. The committee also recognizes that military orthopedic surgeons may be challenged to participate in civilian training partnerships to maintain or learn specialized techniques needed to care for military beneficiaries due to operational missions. These training challenges may have a significant impact on both the readiness of military personnel and the costs associated with MSKI for the Department of Defense. The committee encourages the Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments to consider joint advanced orthopedic surgical training partnerships as an integral component of their respective long-term health education and training programs. Mental Health Care in the Military Health System The committee commends the Department of Defense and military services' significant efforts over the past decade to aggressively improve treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and other mental health issues. The committee also recognizes the importance of research and innovation being made in the treatment of brain disease and the need to improve collaboration between the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and medical research translation offices at major universities. As the Military Health System transitions the operations of the military treatment facilities (MTF) from the military services to the Defense Health Agency, the committee notes this area of research and treatment needs aggressive oversight. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, to submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives not later than April 1, 2019, on the plan for the Military Health System to provide mental health care services as part of the transition of the MTFs. This report shall include an assessment of how mental health care providers will be arranged within the command structure of the Defense Health Agency, how mental health care policy and processes will be managed within the Defense Health Agency to deliver mental health care services to members of the Armed Forces and covered beneficiaries; the ability of each service Surgeon General to maintain the readiness of the military health workforce to deliver mental health care services operationally in support of deployed forces. In addition, this report shall include a plan to accelerate innovation and delivery of treatments for TBI, CTE and PTSD to members of the Armed Forces and covered beneficiaries through improved coordination of behavioral health research and development efforts across the federal government, academic institutions, and industry; inclusion of evidence-based suicide prevention programs; promotion of acquisition strategies that utilize other transaction authorities to accelerate development and delivery of promising breakthrough therapies for TBI, CTE and PTSD; facilitation of public-private investment partnerships to pursue psychiatric and brain disease treatments; and plans to expeditiously field Food and Drug Administration--cleared pharmaceuticals and medical devices that provide clinicians with therapeutics and tools for rapid, accurate assessments of traumatic brain injury and PTSD. Military Entrance Processing Command Physical Examination Model The committee acknowledges the critical mission U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command (MEPCOM) performs throughout the United States. An important component of the MEPCOM mission is ensuring prospective service members are provided a physical examination as part of the military accession process. However, the committee is concerned that MEPCOM is unable to ensure these physical examinations are provided in a timely manner. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than January 15, 2019, that evaluates the commercially distributed physical examination model being used by the Department of Defense Medical Examination Board and explores the feasibility of the MEPCOM contracting for physical examination services. Military Nurse Work Experience The committee is aware that military nurses provide critical support across the Military Health System. However, national nursing shortages and vigorous salary and bonus competition for journey-level nurses has impacted the ability of the military to attract more experienced nurses to civil service. The inability to compete for nurses, coupled with restrictive Federal guidelines that dictate the hiring of new graduate nurses at considerably lower salaries than civilian counterparts, has in some instances created significant compensation disparity between military treatment facilities and hospitals in the local community. Additionally, a recent change to the Office of Personnel Management policy may limit applicant pools and adversely impact the ability of military treatment facilities to foster growth and development of current employees who have completed additional education and obtained further licensure. The committee encourages the Secretary of Defense to work with the Office of Personnel Management to consider new qualification and classification standards for military nurses. Military Nutrition and Diet Planning The committee understands that a significant number of Active Duty military can currently be considered obese. This likely leads to additional health care costs and loss of military readiness, with too many Active Duty soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen unable to deploy due to illness or injury. To ensure that our military is ready to fight today and in the future, on February 14, 2018, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness issued policy guidance to the military services that states: ``Service members who have been non-deployable for more than 12 consecutive months, for any reason, will be processed for administrative separation . . . .'' With this renewed emphasis on military personnel policies necessary to provide a more ready and lethal force, the committee is concerned that the Department of Defense lacks a cohesive, science-based approach to diet and nutrition that supports that goal. It is incumbent upon the Department to ensure our service members are trained and resourced in ways that will allow them to perform duties necessary to remain in a full-duty and deployable status. Healthy food options are a key component of this effort. The committee is aware that the Department has funded research on optimal nutritional approaches that promote performance and reduce illness, injury, and other health problems in order to ensure that deployable personnel are prepared for worldwide assignments. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by January 15, 2019, detailing this research and its conclusions. The briefing should include, among other aspects, an overview of studies that focused on the usage of low carbohydrate diets, which show promising outcomes for physiological and performance factors key to warfighter readiness and effectiveness. Additionally, the briefing should discuss the use of standard dietary guidelines as defined by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, as well as any other available comparisons. The briefing should also include systemic factors that inhibit the delivery of food options other than those defined by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans to service members at Department of Defense dining facilities and other venues. Finally, this briefing should include the plan for a Department-wide approach to diet and nutrition that incorporates performance-based outcomes in support of warfighter readiness. Mitigating Work Place Violence in Military Treatment Facilities The committee notes that the Department of Defense incorporated many of the recommendations into policy to address workplace violence following the 2009 Ft. Hood shooting review. The committee is concerned that there are still gaps in the implementation of the policies with respect to establishing Threat Assessment Teams in Military Treatment Facilities. This is evident by the 2016 incident at Ft. Leavenworth hospital when an employee set his supervisor on fire. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Armed Service Committee no later than 1 March 2019 on the establishment of the Threat Assessment Teams at Military Treatment Facilities and the training provided to the members of the team. Orthotics for New Recruits Custom orthotics are offered to servicemembers in some circumstances with a referral from their primary care provider, however it is the understanding of the committee that there is currently not a uniform method for providing orthotics to servicemembers across the joint force. With over 70% of muscular-skeletal injuries affecting the lower extremities, higher priority must be placed on injury prevention, which will likely reduce the cost of treatment and increase force readiness. The committee therefore directs the Secretaries of each service to seek advice from the orthopedic and podiatric consultants residing within each branch of the Armed Forces regarding the benefits of prescribing and dispensing custom orthotics to each new recruit upon entering the military, and follow up with a briefing to Congress no later than April 1, 2019. Periodic Health Assessment Analysis The committee notes the continued progress in reforming the Department of Defense Periodic Health Assessment (PHA). The Department implemented the new electronic PHA in February 2018. The new PHA is designed to accomplish multiple requirements and provide standardized health assessment data that can be analyzed and compared across all military services, as well as to national standards. The PHA includes a comprehensive health risk assessment using evidence-based diagnostic tools validated and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and clinical specialty leaders. This is a systematic collection and analysis of health-related information for use by service members, health care providers, and health care teams to identify and support beneficial health behaviors and mutually work to direct changes in potentially harmful health behaviors. The committee encourages the Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments to continue to reform the PHA and use predictive analytics to examine population health factors and trend analysis to better understand comprehensive health risk assessment and improve the readiness of the force. Podiatric Surgeons in the Military The committee is concerned that surgically advanced military podiatrists are not presented with the same administrative opportunities as surgeons and doctors of other medical disciplines, and have historically had few opportunities for positions of leadership across the military medical enterprise. Podiatric surgery, as a medical discipline in the Armed Forces, has evolved over the last several decades, including an additional 3-year surgical residency requirement for all military podiatric surgeons. Podiatrists have increasingly deployed to combat zones overseas, serving in a variety of ways to meet the surgical needs of our warfighters. Moreover, podiatric surgeons remain in the Medical Service Corps in the Army and Navy, and the Biomedical Science Corps in the Air Force. This alignment does not administratively suit the profession, and podiatric surgeons may serve more effectively when aligned with surgeons of other medical disciplines. Lastly, while Army Reserve surgeons receive a 90- day rotation exemption limiting their tour of duty in combat, Reserve podiatric surgeons are not eligible for this exemption. This creates challenges to recruiting the best podiatrists for military service, and is especially difficult for podiatrists serving in the Reserve component who are faced with the possibility of a long deployment with potentially adverse effects on their civilian practice. The committee therefore directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, to submit a report to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than April 1, 2019, on improvements that can be made to podiatry as a medical discipline within the Armed Services; how podiatry is aligned within each military branch; and what efforts are being made to provide additional clinical, command, training, and leadership opportunities to podiatrists across the joint force. Podiatry in the Military The committee is concerned that surgically advanced military podiatrists are not presented with the same advancement opportunities as surgeons and doctors of other medical disciplines, and have historically had few opportunities for positions of command across the military medical enterprise. Podiatry, as a medical discipline in the Armed Forces, has evolved over the last several decades, including an additional 3-year surgical residency requirement for all military podiatrists. Podiatrists have increasingly deployed to combat zones overseas, serving in a variety of ways to meet the surgical needs of our warfighters. Moreover, podiatrists remain in the Medical Service Corps in the Army and Navy, and the Biomedical Science Corps in the Air Force. This alignment often limits advancement and leadership opportunities in the civilian sector, and may put them at a disadvantage when compared to officers in the Medical Corps. Lastly, while surgeons of other disciplines receive a 90-day rotation exemption limiting their tour of duty in combat, podiatrists are not eligible for this exemption. This creates challenges to recruiting the best podiatrists for military service, and is especially difficult for podiatrists serving in the Reserve component who are faced with the possibility of a long deployment with potentially adverse effects on their civilian practice. The committee therefore directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, to submit a report to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than April 1, 2019, on improvements that can be made to podiatry as a medical discipline within the Armed Services; how podiatry is aligned within each military branch; and what efforts are being made to provide additional clinical, command, training, and advancement opportunities to podiatrists across the joint force. Study on CT Angiography and Fractional Flow Reserve Computed Tomography in the Military Health System The Committee is aware of the significant health and cost savings advantages of new technology for non-invasive diagnosis of cardiac artery disease through cardiac CT angiography (CTA) and fractional flow reserve computed tomography (FFRct). This FDA approved diagnostic device coupled with use of CTA as an initial testing strategy is recognized as part of a preferred pathway of care by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and the National Health Service in the United Kingdom. The committee directs the Director of the Defense Health Agency to provide a report to the House Committee on Armed Services no later than March 1, 2019, that reviews and assesses the clinical efficacy of this technology and how it may be incorporated throughout the Military Health System. Support for Global Health Security Agenda and Briefing on Joint Staff Recommendations The Committee is supportive of the Department of Defense contributions to biosecurity and the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA). The DoD possesses unique capabilities that contribute to interagency efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks of infectious disease worldwide, as demonstrated by the response to Ebola in West Africa. As the Ebola response required in excess of $600 million in DoD funding, the Committee is supportive of ensuring that the DoD learns lessons that can be applied to future pandemic prevention and response efforts. Therefore, the committee directs the Director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than October 31, 2018 on implementation of recommendations made by the Joint Staff in its 2016 analysis of Operation United Assistance. The briefing shall include, but not be limited to, the status of implementation of the following recommendations: (A) Participate in or facilitate interagency meetings to synchronize the GHSA plans and activities. Support GHSA initiatives in partner countries. (B) Conduct a capability based assessment to identify gaps in DoD's ability to respond to infectious disease outbreaks, both domestically and internationally. (C) Sustain, and expand if possible public health-related capacity building for the full range of infectious diseases with partner countries as conditions allow. (D) Work with CDC and other stakeholders to develop a strategic plan for a global laboratory network and improved information sharing. (E) Identify and leverage opportunities to expand sampling programs to enhance OCONUS disease surveillance and gain an improved understanding of disease prevalence in different geographic areas. (F) Support the continued development of USG strategic plans that increase the public health and bio-surveillance capacities of partner nations. Therapeutic Service Dog Training Program for Service Members The committee is aware that service dog training therapy can provide important therapeutic benefits to service members recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other post-deployment mental health conditions. The committee notes the important role played by non-governmental organizations that have established robust programs in the training and handling of therapeutic service dogs, and further notes that the right mix of personnel with the appropriate backgrounds and certifications facilitates positive therapeutic experiences. The committee believes these programs, whenever possible, should use data and research to continue to improve their effectiveness in assisting service members. The committee encourages the Secretary of Defense to continue administering a therapeutic service dog-training program that delivers effective and positive therapeutic and emotional benefits to service members recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other post-deployment mental health conditions. TRICARE Managed Care Support Contractor Reporting The committee notes the TRICARE benefit underwent considerable reform beginning January 1, 2018. The Department of Defense consolidated the TRICARE regions from three to two as part of the updated TRICARE management contract, and Congress directed that the TRICARE benefit be consolidated into two plans: a Healthcare Maintenance Plan and a Preferred Provider Plan. Both reforms took effect on January 1, 2018. The committee is aware of challenges for beneficiaries regarding timely appointments, referrals, provider network development, and other administrative processing functions. The committee is concerned these challenges may be impacting beneficiary access to health care services. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives not later than March 1, 2019, on managed care support contractor compliance with performance metrics and standards relating to appointments, referral processing, network development (to include the requirement to cover 85 percent of the beneficiaries with standard select coverage in Prime Service Areas with special emphasis on remote locations), and other administrative processing functions. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--Tricare and Other Health Care Benefits Section 701--TRICARE Medicare Advantage Demonstration Program This section would authorize the Department of Defense to develop a Medicare Advantage demonstration program for TRICARE- eligible beneficiaries. Section 702--Pilot Program on Treatment of Members of the Armed Forces for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Related to Military Sexual Trauma This section would authorize the Secretary of Defense to assess the feasibility of a pilot program that uses intensive outpatient programs to treat members of the Armed Forces suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from military sexual trauma. Section 703--Pilot Program on Cryopreservation and Storage This section would require the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program for not more than 1,000 Active Duty service members that provides the opportunity to cryopreserve and store their gametes prior to deployment to a combat zone. Subtitle B--Health Care Administration Section 711--Transition of Administration by Defense Health Agency of Military Medical Treatment Facilities This section would amend section 1073 of title 10, United States Code, by requiring the Department of Defense to transition the administration of military treatment facilities from the respective Secretary of the military departments to the Director of the Defense Health Agency not later than September 30, 2020. This section would also prohibit the Secretary of Defense from closing or limiting services in any military medical treatment facility until a transition certification process is completed. Section 712--Sharing Information with State Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs This section would amend section 1074g of title 10, United States Code, by requiring the Department of Defense to establish a prescription drug monitoring program and share information with State prescription drug monitoring programs. Section 713--Improvement to Notification to Congress of Hospitalization of Combat-Wounded Members of the Armed Forces This section would amend section 1074l(a) of title 10, United States Code, by including notification to Congress of hospitalization of combat-wounded members of the Armed Forces to every military medical treatment facility. Section 714--Improvements to Trauma Center Partnerships This section would amend section 708 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114- 328), by authorizing the use of civilian trauma centers in the training of military health professionals in trauma-related specialties. Section 715--Wounded Warrior Policy Review This section would require the Secretary of Defense to update and review policy and procedures related to wounded warrior care and include a report on the review not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. Section 716--Joint Force Medical Capabilities Development and Standardization This section would require the Secretary of Defense to develop a process to establish joint medical capabilities that meet operational planning requirements and provide a report on this process to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives not later than March 1, 2019. Subtitle C--Reports and Other Matters Section 721--Establishment of Triservice Dental Research Program This section would authorize the Secretary of Defense to establish the Triservice Dental Research Program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Section 722--Increasing the Number of Appointed Directors of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine This section would increase the number of appointed directors of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine. Section 723--Extension of Authority for Joint Department of Defense- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund This section would authorize the extension of the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund established by section 1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84) and most recently amended by section 719 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91). Section 724--Inclusion of Gambling Disorder in Health Assessments and Related Research Efforts of the Department of Defense This section would require the Department of Defense to include questions concerning gambling disorders in annual periodic health assessments and the Health-Related Behaviors Survey of Active Duty Military Personnel. Section 725--Medical Simulation Technology and Live Tissue Training within the Department of Defense This section would require the Department of Defense to use medical simulation technology before the use of live tissue training to train medical professionals and combat medics except for when the use of live tissue training is determined necessary by the medical chain of command. This section would also require a briefing on the use and benefit of medical simulation technology and live tissue training within the Department of Defense. Section 726--Limitation on Changes to Federal Emergency Services Certification Levels of the Air Force This section limits any changes to Federal Emergency Services certification levels in the Air Force. Section 727--Strategic Medical Research Plan This section would require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments, to submit to the congressional defense committees a comprehensive strategic medical research plan that is inclusive of the Congressional Directed Medical Research Plan and the Defense Health Program. Section 728--Independent Evaluation of Mental Health Care This section would require an independent assessment of mental health care services in the Military Health System by an independent federally funded research and development center. Section 729--Study on Reimbursement Rates for Mental Health Care Providers under TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select in the East and West Regions of the TRICARE Program This section would direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study assessing the impacts of using established reimbursement rates to reimburse covered mental health care providers on the availability of such providers. TITLE VIII--ACQUISITION POLICY, ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT, AND RELATED MATTERS ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Assessment of Acquisition Workforce The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide the House Armed Services Committees no later than December 1, 2018 a report to assess the current effectiveness of Defense Acquisition University's mission to adequately train the Department of Defenses' acquisition workforce and other personnel involved in the acquisition process. This report shall include an assessment of Defense Acquisition University's ability to adequately train students to write acquisition requirements (including scope of work) so that requirements are developed in such a way as to meet the needs of the Department, as well as its ability to adequately train students on the appropriate use of transactions other than contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants, also known as other transaction authority, and additional items at the Secretary's discretion. Briefing on Athletic Footwear for New Recruits The committee notes the health and safety of newly recruited servicemembers is of utmost importance. The committee notes athletic footwear furnished to new recruits upon entering the military should be consistently issued in a manner that accounts for each recruit's individual physiological requirement in order to prevent lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries. The committee directs the Department of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than November 1, 2018, on the Department's effort to examine, measure, and fit new recruits with athletic shoes in an effort to reduce and prevent injury. The briefing will present the information separately by individual service as well as in aggregate. Comptroller General Report on the Issuance of Regulations in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement The committee notes that despite recent legislative reform to the acquisition system there has been a significant delay between statutory enactment and issuance of regulations in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). For example, a final rule on procurement of commercial items (issued in January 2018) amended the DFARS based upon requirements from as long ago as the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112-239). As a result, the acquisition and contracting communities within and outside the Federal Government are unable to take full advantage of recent reforms and improvements to acquisition and contracting procedures. The committee is concerned that the momentum generated by congressional acquisition reform initiatives has been lost as a result of delayed, and potentially incomplete, revision of regulations, and seeks to identify and remedy the causes of such delays. According to the Department of Defense's operating guidance for the DFARS, the standard timeline for issuance of a final rule is one year, including multiple layers of review within and outside the Department as well as time for public comment. The committee seeks recommendations on how to reduce that timeline and ensure that previously enacted statutory provisions are not disregarded in regulation. The committee also encourages exploration of other ways to quickly implement enacted reforms such as through interim policy memoranda or other guidance, without the need for formal regulatory action. Therefore, the committee directs the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by March 1, 2019, on the issuance of regulations in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement as required under statutory provisions enacted in past National Defense Authorization Acts. The report should describe the existing revision process and assess the status of statutory provisions enacted since fiscal year 2010. The report should assess the factors delaying revision to the DFARS and provide recommendations for any changes that might accelerate such revisions. The committee intends for the Comptroller General to focus on acquisition policy-related statutory provisions enacted in past National Defense Authorization Acts. The committee further directs the Comptroller General to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 1, 2018, on preliminary findings. Contract Incentives for Superior Supplier Performance The committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than December 1, 2018, on the Department of Defense's Superior Supplier Incentive Program. This program is designed to recognize and reward contractors who demonstrate superior performance by focusing on cost, schedule, performance, quality, and responsiveness. The briefing should include discussion of the feasibility of providing contract incentives, such as more favorable contract terms and conditions, which had been considered in relation to the Department of the Navy's Superior Supplier Incentive Program that preceded the Department of Defense's program. Core Logistics Capability The committee notes that section 2464 of title 10, United States Code, requires the Department of Defense to maintain a core logistics capability that is Government-owned and Government-operated (including Government personnel and Government-owned and Government-operated equipment and facilities) to ensure a ready and controlled source of technical competence and resources necessary to ensure effective and timely response to a mobilization, national defense contingency situations, and other emergency requirements. The committee further notes that recent National Defense Authorization Acts have made important changes to commercial item statutes, and that elsewhere in this Act the committee recommends further changes to the statutes governing commercial items. In all cases, the committee expects the Department to implement any statutory changes in a manner consistent with the mandate in section 2464 of title 10, United States Code, to maintain core logistics capabilities. The committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to provide a report to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than February 1, 2019, on the Department's implementation of changes to commercial item statutes enacted in National Defense Authorization Acts for fiscal years 2016 through 2019, and how such changes may affect core logistics capability in the future. Data Rights Impact to Sustainment The committee is concerned about access to appropriate data rights with regard to long-term sustainment of weapon systems, especially for weapon systems transitioning to organic depot sustainment. The committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 30, 2018, on the process and status of obtaining appropriate data rights for long-term sustainment of weapon systems transitioning to organic depots. Domestic Samarium Cobalt Magnet Manufacturing The committee is aware of the Department of Defense's continued need for a reliable rare earth magnet manufacturing industrial base to provide key components in many weapon systems. The committee is concerned that a recent memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Japan may result in the outsourcing of all remaining rare earth magnet manufacturing capability in the United States to foreign manufacturers. There is currently one U.S.-owned and -operated rare earth magnet manufacturing facility in the United States, which produces samarium cobalt magnets. The committee urges the Secretary of Defense to take the appropriate steps to ensure that the United States is not completely without a commercial-scale rare earth magnet manufacturing facility. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 30, 2018, on the risks to the current domestic rare earth supply chain, including domestic samarium cobalt magnet makers, as a result of the MOU with Japan. The briefing should also describe the Department's strategy for preserving the long-term viability of the U.S. rare earth magnet industrial base. Ensuring Availability of Beryllium The committee notes that beryllium is the only material designated by the Department of Defense's Strategic Materials Protection Board as a critical material. The committee notes there is a complete, vertically integrated supply chain in the United States for beryllium metal and other beryllium products that are used in major defense systems including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and nuclear weapon systems. This supply chain has historically been supported by the Department of Defense through the Defense Production Act and other authorities as required in order to maintain access to this critical, strategic material. The committee is interested in the Department's efforts to help the U.S. defense industrial base sustain a secure, viable, and affordable domestic supply of beryllium. The committee therefore directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than September 30, 2018, on the Department's efforts to maintain the availability of beryllium for defense needs. The briefing should address the following: (1) what steps the Department is taking to ensure a stable and affordable domestic supply chain for beryllium; (2) whether the Department intends to provide any guidance regarding individual programs using beryllium feedstock from the Russian Federation and metal production from the Republic of Kazakhstan; (3) the Department's coordination with the National Nuclear Security Administration to maintain the availability of beryllium for nuclear modernization requirements; (4) the Department's efforts to work with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to ensure that regulatory burdens do not jeopardize the domestic beryllium supply chain; and (5) the potential opportunities for the Department's guidance to its component agencies and military services to ensure a whole-of-Department approach to beryllium supply. Final Activities of and Archiving of Records for Advisory Panel on Streamlining and Codifying Acquisition Regulations The committee notes that the Advisory Panel on Streamlining and Codifying Acquisition Regulations has continued to provide analysis to the relevant congressional committees and the Department of Defense to support statutory and regulatory implementation of recommendations contained in volume 1 of its final report. The committee expects the Advisory Panel to provide additional recommendations to Congress and the Executive Branch in volumes 2 and 3 of the final report. The Advisory Panel, pursuant to section 883 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91), which amended section 809 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114-92), will remain in existence for 180 days following delivery of volume 3 of the final report in January 2019. During this final 6-month period, the Advisory Panel should continue to provide any necessary analysis and clarification of recommendations contained in the final report to Congress and the Executive Branch to support and facilitate statutory and regulatory implementation of such recommendations. The committee expects that the Department of Defense's acquisition reform efforts will not cease upon the termination of the Advisory Panel on Streamlining and Codifying Acquisition Regulations. In addition, the Department of Defense's implementation of recent legislative reforms as well as the Advisory Panel's recommendations on regulations will require continued research and analysis by the Department. The committee notes that section 809 of Public Law 114-92 established the National Defense University as one of the sponsors of the Advisory Panel. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense that upon termination of the Advisory Panel, the Advisory Panel's records shall be maintained by the Eisenhower School at the National Defense University by no later than August 1, 2019. Installation of Command, Control, Communication and Computer Systems The committee remains concerned that the Navy is using lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) contracting procedures inappropriately, particularly when acquiring complex systems, including command and control systems or services for the installation of command and control systems on ships. The committee notes that the Navy faces a significant backlog of maintenance and repair on ships and this backlog includes upgrades of command and control systems. The capacity of the Navy to reduce the backlog of needed repairs remains of concern to the committee. Consequently, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Armed Services Committee not later than March 1, 2019, on the Navy's acquisition plan for command and control systems and the installation of these systems aboard Navy vessels. The briefing shall include an overview on how the Navy plans to reduce the backlog of needed command and control system upgrades, as well as the physical installation of these systems on Navy vessels. The briefing shall include the Navy's plan for acquiring adequate contracting capacity for the performance of the required work, the plan to incentivize contractors to perform the work quickly, and the total amount of work programmed for the next five years by class of ship. Mandatory Arbitration Briefing The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than March 1, 2019, on steps the Department has taken to ensure compliance with the provisions of Subpart 222.74 of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement concerning restrictions on the use of mandatory arbitration agreements. The briefing shall include steps taken to ensure that the Department does not fund contracts in excess of $1 million with contractors that require as a condition of employment that employees enter an agreement to resolve certain claims and torts through arbitration. The briefing shall also include steps taken to ensure that contractors have certified that covered subcontractors, as defined in the clause at 252.222- 7006 of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, have been required to agree not to enter into such agreements. The briefing shall also include the extent to which the Secretary of Defense has waived the requirements of this subpart. The briefing shall also include potential ways for Department of Defense to determine the prevalence of mandatory arbitration by Department of Defense contractors compared to contractors that do not do business with Department of Defense. Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program The committee supports and recognizes the importance of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. The committee understands that the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program provides assistance to small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies to reduce costs, increase productivity, improve management, enhance supply chains, and adapt to new market and supply chain opportunities. In addition, the committee believes that additional resourcing and support for the program would likely provide these services to a larger number of manufacturers involved in Department of Defense programs. Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than March 1, 2019, on the Department of Defense plans for future cooperation with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, including collaborative efforts between the Department and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. The briefing should also include a review of potential opportunities for expanding Department support for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program in an effort to provide assistance to manufacturing elements of the defense industrial base. National Defense Stockpile The committee notes the importance of the National Defense Stockpile and of the preservation of strategic and critical materials for national defense. The committee is concerned about the current risks and long-term sustainability of the National Defense Stockpile. According to the Department of Defense, there are significant unsatisfied stockpile requirements, and, under the current program-financing model, the Transaction Fund will be unsustainable by 2024. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 30, 2018, on the National Defense Stockpile. The briefing should address the following: (1) the Department's plan to address the current unmitigated risks; (2) how the Department will make the Transaction Fund sustainable; (3) an overview of the Department's stockpile management to include acquisition of materials, storage, security, and maintenance; (4) the Department's ability to upgrade, refine, and process the material for storage, disposition, or use; and (5) any vulnerabilities to the National Defense Stockpile supply chain and the Department's risk mitigation efforts. Navy Build-to-Print Cost Savings The committee supports expanding competition in Navy acquisition, including appropriate use of ``build-to-print'' competitions where the Navy holds sufficient rights to the design of military equipment components to compete the production of them with multiple sources. The committee is aware of Navy efforts to use such competitions to dramatically reduce the time and cost of contracting for selected items. The committee encourages the Navy to expand these efforts if they can be pursued in a way that works collaboratively with industry on obtaining the necessary technical data rights and intellectual property through early negotiations. One Hundred Percent Employee-Owned Contractors The committee is interested in understanding the merits of 100 percent employee-owned contractors and the potential benefits they bring to strengthening the defense industrial base. The committee seeks to further understand the benefits and cost implications of awarding contracts to employee-owned contractors for the Department of Defense; the retention rates of employee-owned contractors; and any other benefits of this type of contractor. The committee will work with the Comptroller General of the United States to further study these types of contractors. Report on REE-Bearing Waste Recycling The committee continues to be concerned with our dependence on foreign sources for materials critical to our national defense. To help mitigate this supply chain risk, the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act strongly encouraged the Department to recycle discarded items, such as spent fluorescent lamps, in order to extract, reclaim and reuse critical materials and rare earth elements contained in such waste. This section also provided the Department broad authority to recover, acquire, recycle and manage the disposal and recyclable strategic and critical materials containing REE from other federal agencies. The committee is aware of recent advances in domestic recycling technology, providing clean and efficient means for reclaiming rare earth elements from a variety of domestic waste streams. At current recycling levels of fluorescent lamps alone, recoverable quantities of target rare earth elements such as Yttrium, deemed by the Department to be critical to the national defense, can wholly offset the total amount of imported Yttrium originating in China on an annual basis, and sold at or below current market price. Where feasible, such waste streams should not be destroyed or landfilled, but managed in accordance with our national defense needs. The committee therefore directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the House Committee on Armed Services by February 1, 2019, on the Department's past and planned future use of new authorities granted to them to both recycle the Department's applicable REE-bearing waste, and recover and exploit the REE-bearing waste of other federal agencies. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--Streamlining of Defense Acquisition Statutes and Regulations Section 800--Effective Dates; Coordination of Amendments This section would set the effective dates for the establishment of a new part V of subtitle A of title 10, United States Code, and the redesignation of the chapter and section numbers for title 10 subtitles B, C, and D in order to create numerical space for a new part V at the end of subtitle A. This restructuring would also enable additional growth and potential future reorganization of title 10 statutes in other subject areas outside of the acquisition code. The committee expects that this restructuring effort would be sustained. The second phase of reorganization would be enacted by follow-on legislation that would direct the more detailed chapter by chapter transfer into the final revised, rationalized structure of title 10 not later than February 1, 2020. Part I--Consolidation of Defense Acquisition Statutes in New Part V of Subtitle A of Title 10, United States Code Section 801--Framework for New Part V of Subtitle A This section would establish the initial step in the first phase of a comprehensive reorganization and optimization of acquisition-related statutes in title 10, United States Code. The committee recognizes that the structure for acquisition- related statutes in title 10 has become unwieldy and inadequate. This section would create a new part V at the end of subtitle A of title 10, thus logically organizing all acquisition-related statutes in one part in the Code. The committee expects that the actual shift of statutory language for the new part V would be established in a subsequent second phase of legislation, but not later than February 1, 2020. The committee notes that reorganizing defense acquisition statutes into a restructured, rationalized form would reflect more clearly the underlying organization of these statutes and provide a structure that is more intuitive and easier to navigate, as well as facilitate future growth within the Code's structure. In addition, the proposed reorganization would provide an opportunity to restore parallelism between the acquisition-related provisions of title 10 and the corresponding provisions of title 41, United States Code, that are applicable to procurement by non-defense agencies, which would benefit the entirety of the Federal contracting community. The committee expects that this restructuring effort will be sustained, and the second phase of reorganization will be enacted by follow-on legislation that will direct the more detailed chapter by chapter transfer into the final revised, rationalized structure of title 10 (to include the new part V of subtitle A) not later than February 1, 2020. Part II--Redesignation of Sections and Chapters of Subtitles B, C, and D To Provide Room for New Part V of Subtitle A Section 806--Redesignation of Sections and Chapters of Subtitle D of Title 10, United States Code--Air Force This section would redesignate the chapter and section numbers for subtitle D of title 10, United States Code, in order to create numerical space for a new part V at the end of subtitle A. This restructuring would also enable additional growth and potential future reorganization of title 10 statutes in other subject areas outside of the acquisition code. The committee expects that this restructuring effort would be sustained. The second phase of reorganization would be enacted by follow-on legislation that would direct a more detailed chapter by chapter transfer into a final revised, rationalized structure of title 10 not later than February 1, 2020. Section 807--Redesignation of Sections and Chapters of Subtitle C of Title 10, United States Code--Navy and Marine Corps This section would redesignate the chapter and section numbers for subtitle C of title 10, United States Code, in order to create numerical space for a new part V at the end of subtitle A. This restructuring would also enable additional growth and potential future reorganization of title 10 statutes in other subject areas outside of the acquisition code. The committee expects that this restructuring effort would be sustained. The second phase of reorganization would be enacted by follow-on legislation that would direct a more detailed chapter by chapter transfer into a final revised, rationalized structure of title 10 not later than February 1, 2020. Section 808--Redesignation of Sections and Chapters of Subtitle B of Title 10, United States Code--Army This section would redesignate the chapter and section numbers for subtitle B of title 10, United States Code, in order to create numerical space for a new part V at the end of subtitle A. This restructuring would also enable additional growth and potential future reorganization of title 10 statutes in other subject areas outside of the acquisition code. The committee expects that this restructuring effort would be sustained. The second phase of reorganization would be enacted by follow-on legislation that would direct a more detailed chapter by chapter transfer into a final revised, rationalized structure of title 10 not later than February 1, 2020. Section 809--Cross References to Redesignated Sections and Chapters This section would establish the cross-references guidance for new redesignated sections and chapters of title 10, United States Code. The committee expects that this restructuring effort would be sustained. The second phase of reorganization would be enacted by follow-on legislation that would direct a more detailed chapter by chapter transfer into a final revised, rationalized structure of title 10 not later than February 1, 2020. Part III--Repeals of Certain Provisions of Defense Acquisition Law Section 811--Amendment to and Repeal of Statutory Requirements for Certain Positions or Offices in the Department of Defense This section would amend or repeal a number of statutory requirements for certain Department of Defense positions or offices established or required by law, and would establish a sunset for one statutory designation. The committee notes that these repeals do not constitute an assessment of the offices' or positions' respective missions or roles in the acquisition process, but rather are an effort to remove needlessly prescriptive and obsolete requirements from the United States Code. Codifying the existence and structure of certain offices may unnecessarily restrict the Secretary of Defense's ability to modify the Department's organizational structure to improve efficiency and effectiveness in a way that is consistent with the reforms to the organization of the Office of the Secretary of Defense as required by section 901 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328). Repeal of these statutory requirements would not directly abolish the affected positions, but would allow the Secretary to restructure those positions should such action be warranted. Removing statutory mandates would enhance the Secretary's authority and ability to craft an agile acquisition organization. Section 812--Repeal of Certain Defense Acquisition Laws This section would repeal a number of outdated provisions of law related to defense acquisition, including sections of title 10, United States Code, and provisions that appear in the United States Code as legislative ``note'' sections under various provisions of title 10. These out-of-date provisions either required the Department of Defense to issue regulations, have now expired by their own terms, or are otherwise obsolete. The committee notes that, with respect to repeal of a statutory requirement for issuance of a regulation, it is not expressing a view on the merits of the policies covered by the regulation. Rather, in repealing the statutory requirement for a regulation, this section would allow the Secretary of Defense to revise the regulation as circumstances warrant. Repealing the statutory requirement would allow the Secretary to revise or rescind the regulation, but would not prescribe it. The decision to retain, or not retain, the regulation would remain with the Secretary. Section 813--Repeal of Certain Department of Defense Reporting Requirements This section would repeal certain Department of Defense recurring reporting requirements. The committee notes that excessive reporting requirements can impose costs on the Department of Defense that outweigh the intended benefits of each individual report, and can potentially impede the Department's ability to effectively direct resources to core objectives. In the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328), Congress initially directed a large group of recurring reporting requirements to sunset on December 31, 2021. This section continues to advance this streamlining effort. Subtitle B--Amendments to General Contracting Authorities, Procedures, and Limitations Section 821--Contract Goal for the AbilityOne Program This section would amend section 2323a of title 10, United States Code, to create a contract goal for the AbilityOne program of 1.5 percent. This section would also require the Secretary of Defense to submit an annual report to the U.S. AbilityOne Commission on progress made toward achieving said contract goal. The committee intends to establish greater transparency for this program's execution. Section 822--Increased Micro-Purchase Threshold Applicable to Department of Defense Procurements This section would amend section 2338 of title 10, United States Code, by raising the micro-purchase threshold for the Department of Defense from $5,000 to $10,000. Section 823--Preference for Offerors Employing Veterans This section would amend chapter 137 of title 10, United States Code, by adding a new section that would authorize the head of an agency, in awarding a contract for the procurement of goods and services for the Department of Defense, to establish a preference for offerors that employ veterans on a full-time basis, with criteria for use of such preference determined by the Secretary of Defense. Prior to establishing such preference, the Secretary of Defense would be required to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services on the process for assessing and verifying offeror compliance with regulations relating to equal opportunity for veteran's requirements, and an implementation plan that includes penalties for an offeror that willfully and intentionally misrepresents the veteran status of employees. The committee notes the importance of ensuring and expanding economic opportunity for veterans, and the role of the Department in this endeavor. The committee further notes that the Department uses existing programs that maximize contracting opportunities for veteran-owned businesses and believes procurement policy should also encourage the employment of veterans through development of a preference that rewards the employment of veterans by companies. The committee also notes the importance of establishing effective compliance mechanisms as part of any such preference to ensure that the service of veterans is not abused as a result of willful misrepresentation of their status by offerors. Section 824--Revision of Requirement to Submit Information on Services Contracts to Congress This section would amend section 2329(b) of title 10, United States Code, to change from October 1, 2022, to October 1, 2020, the effective date for the Secretary of Defense's submission to Congress of information on services contracts that clearly and separately identifies the amount requested for each category of services to be procured for each Defense Agency, Department of Defense Field Activity, command, or military installation. This section would also add the requirement that such information should be included in the Future Years Defense Program submitted to Congress under section 221 of this title. The committee notes the Department of Defense's recent decision to proceed with an initiative to budget services acquisitions over the course of the full Future Years Defense Program and to develop an implementation plan that leverages existing tools that can be employed to improve planning for acquisition of services. The committee notes that the Department's approach harmonizes well with the committee's reform efforts enacted in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) concerning enterprise data standardization and transparency. The committee further notes that the Department's decision obviates the need for, and expenditure on, the independent analysis on this matter performed by a federally funded research and development center or other organization that was included in the conference report (H. Rept. 115-404) accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 1, 2018, on the development of this implementation plan and milestones leading to implementation of this initiative not later than October 1, 2020. Section 825--Data Collection and Inventory for Services Contracts This section would amend section 2330a of title 10, United States Code, by changing the dollar threshold for data to be collected on each purchase of services by a military department or Defense Agency from $3.0 million to the simplified acquisition threshold. This section would also remove the specification of the four service acquisition portfolio groups to be included in such data collection. This section would also change the activities contained in an annual inventory prepared by the Secretary of Defense from those pursuant to staff augmentation contracts, to those pursuant to services contracts, and replace references to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. Section 826--Competition Requirements for Purchases from Federal Prison Industries This section would amend section 2410n of title 10, United States Code, by removing ``for which Federal Prison Industries does not have a significant market share''. This section would create a requirement for conducting market research before purchasing a product listed in the Federal Prison Industries (FPI) catalog. This section would require the Department of Defense to: (1) conduct market research to determine if the product is comparable to products in the private sector and meets the Department's needs (price, quality, or time of delivery) prior to purchasing a product from FPI. (2) use competitive procedures or purchase under a multiple award contract if the product is not comparable and does not meet the Department's needs. Section 827--Requirement for a Fair and Reasonable Price for Technical Data Before Development or Production of Major Weapon Systems This section would provide the Department of Defense with additional flexibility on negotiations for appropriate technical data. Section 828--Revisions in Authority Relating to Program Cost Targets and Fielding Targets for Major Defense Acquisition Programs This section would amend sections 2448a, 2366a, and 2366b of title 10, United States Code, to allow the Secretaries of the military departments, or, in instances where an alternate milestone decision authority for a program has been designated under section 2430(d)(2) of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of Defense, to establish program cost, fielding, and performance goals in planning major defense acquisition programs. This section would also allow for the delegation of these responsibilities beyond the Deputy Secretary of Defense. The committee notes that while section 825 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114- 92) amended section 2430 of title 10, United States Code, by changing the designation of the milestone decision authority for major defense acquisition programs to be, with some exceptions, the service acquisition executive of the military department that is managing the program, this change has not been reflected elsewhere in this title. As a result, certain statutory responsibilities remain with the Secretary of Defense when they should more appropriately be performed by the Secretaries of the military departments. This section addresses this discrepancy as it pertains to establishing program cost, fielding, and performance goals in planning major defense acquisition programs, as well as associated reporting to Congress that coincides with the granting of Milestone A and Milestone B approval. Section 829--Revision of Timeline for Use of the Rapid Fielding Pathway for Acquisition Programs This section would amend section 804(b)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114- 92) to change part of the objective of an acquisition program under the rapid fielding pathway from completing fielding within 5 years, to completing low-rate initial production within 5 years. The committee notes that requiring completion of fielding within 5 years may unnecessarily limit the applicability of this pathway for incremental upgrade programs. Section 830--Clarification of Services Contracting Definitions This section would direct the Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, to revise the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement to clarify the definitions of and relationships between terms related to services contracts, including the appropriate use of personal and nonpersonal services contracts, and the responsibilities of individuals in the acquisition workforce with respect to such contracts. The committee notes that definitions for terms related to contracted services are found in statute, regulation, and elsewhere in the Department of Defense's contracted services lexicon. The committee expects the Department to clearly delineate in one place the definitions of and relationships between terms related to contracted services, including associated supervisory responsibilities. Subtitle C--Provisions Relating to Commercial Items Section 831--Revision of Definition of Commercial Item for Purposes of Federal Acquisition Statutes This section would clarify the definition of commercial items. Specifically, it would clarify commercial items as commercial products or commercial services. The committee notes the current definition of commercial items throughout the United States Code is inconsistent, with 40 disparate definitions of commercial items. Additionally, commercial item definitions do not appropriately take into account the differences between products and services. The separation of the definition of commercial items into commercial products and commercial services would simplify and streamline procurement. Consistency in application of definitions would assist the acquisition workforce as well as businesses seeking to participate in the defense sector. Section 832--Definition of Subcontract This section would create a precise definition for ``subcontract'' in title 41, United States Code, and incorporates this revised definition in title 10, United States Code. The committee notes there are multiple definitions of subcontract and establishing a single definition for a subcontract would provide clarification, simplicity, and consistency for defense procurement actions. Section 833--Limitation on Applicability to Department of Defense Commercial Contracts of Certain Provisions of Law and Certain Executive Orders and Regulations This section would update section 2375, section 2533a, and section 2533b of title 10, United States Code, with the clarified definition of commercial products and commercial services. This section would also establish a new section 2375a to limit applicability of certain Executive orders and regulations. The committee expects that these revisions would remove current obstacles from commercial transactions between the Department of Defense and commercial suppliers, and improve access to the best commercial goods and services. Section 834--Modifications to Procurement Through Commercial E-Commerce Portals This section would amend section 846 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115- 91) to allow the Administrator of the General Services Administration to develop procedures for procurement through a commercial e-commerce portal. The procedures must satisfy the requirements for competitive procedures outlined in title 41, United States Code. Additionally, this section would require these procedures to be submitted to the congressional defense committees 30 days prior to implementation. This section would also amend titles 10 and 41, United States Code, by increasing the micro-purchase threshold for procurement through a commercial e-commerce portal from $10,000 to $25,000. The committee notes that Public Law 115-91 authorized the Office of Management and Budget to develop a program managed by the General Services Administration to procure commercial products through e-commerce portals. The committee expects the commercial e-commerce portals would simplify and streamline the defense acquisition process as well as provide better transparency. Subtitle D--Industrial Base Matters Section 841--Requirement That Certain Ship Components Be Manufactured in the National Technology and Industrial Base This section would amend section 2534 of title 10, United States Code, and would require certain auxiliary ship components to be procured from a manufacturer in the national technology and industrial base. Section 842--Report on Domestic Sourcing of Specific Components for All Naval Vessels This section would require the Secretary of the Navy to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by March 1, 2019, that provides a market survey and cost assessment associated with limiting competition to domestic sources for certain naval components. Section 843--Removal of National Interest Determination Requirements for Certain Entities This section would streamline the National Industrial Security Program by removing the regulatory requirements relating to National Interest Determinations (NIDs). It would build on section 1712 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91), which required a review of whether certain companies ``should be exempted from one or more of the foreign ownership, control, or influence [FOCI] requirements of the National Industrial Security Program.'' This section would address NIDs as a particularly urgent problem within that set of FOCI requirements authorized for exemption. It would also authorize the Secretary of Defense to accelerate implementation of this policy for contracting entities that have already demonstrated a longstanding commitment to industrial security and have previously been approved for access to proscribed information. The committee is concerned that, especially with regard to entities from allied countries (United States, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Commonwealth of Australia, and Canada) that comprise the national technology and industrial base (NTIB), the NID process creates substantial burdens without meaningfully enhancing the government's national security interests. It also causes the misallocation of scarce industrial security oversight resources. Under current practice, but not pursuant to any statutory mandate, NIDs are required for entities operating under a ``special security agreement'' (SSA) to access proscribed categories of classified information. The committee is aware that certain agencies can take between 6 and 10 months to process NID requests, even for SSA-mitigated companies from NTIB countries that have a longstanding history of industrial security performance in the United States and are critical players in our nation's defense industrial base. These delays and associated burdens have restricted competition and innovation by excluding qualified and responsible U.S.-based companies that operate under SSAs. Section 844--Pilot Program To Test Machine-Vision Technologies To Determine the Authenticity and Security of Microelectronic Parts in Weapon Systems This section would require the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, in coordination with the Defense Microelectronics Activity, to establish a pilot program to test the feasibility and reliability of using machine-vision technologies to determine the authenticity and security of microelectronics parts in weapon systems. The committee supports the Department of Defense's comprehensive counterfeit material prevention strategy, which is a risk-based approach that includes collaboration with industry to reduce counterfeit parts in the supply chain. The committee notes that since it first highlighted this issue in 2012, the Department has made significant improvements and standardized the processes for assuring acquisition of authentic and conforming material. However, remaining ahead of emerging security threats in this area remains a challenge. The committee believes that utilization of innovative software applications may provide opportunities to cost- effectively add capabilities and improve operations by addressing gaps from third-party providers, including receiving and inspection requirements for non-franchised parts. Specifically, the committee is aware of new technologies based on personalization and anti-counterfeiting software that, combined with optical and digital authentication methods, are effectively being used to meet high-security inventory demands in commercial industry. Such technologies include machine- vision technologies that have the ability to identify and authenticate objects without adding additional hardware to the object such as radio frequency identification chips, bar codes, quick response codes, or serial numbers. These technologies provide identification of counterfeit goods by using authentication methods that are strongly resistant to replication and tampering; can be applied to a variety of substrates such as plastic and metal; can be encoded and/or embedded onto substrates; and can be easily authenticated optically and digitally using decoder devices and applications on mobile devices. The committee understands that such technologies may provide data analytics capability as well. As a result, the committee believes a pilot program of the appropriate scope is the best way for the Department to evaluate and understand the potential of this new technology. Subtitle E--Small Business Matters Section 851--Department of Defense Small Business Strategy This section would require the Department of Defense to develop and implement a small business strategy to better leverage small businesses as a means to enhance or support mission execution. This section specifies that such a strategy should include plans to integrate small businesses into a holistic view of industry; to realign the Department's small business programs with agency mission under a unified management structure; and to clarify points of entry into the defense market. The committee expects that this unified strategy would create expanded small business engagement in the defense sector by increasing entry points for non-traditional and innovative companies. Section 852--Prompt Payments of Small Business Contractors This section would direct Federal agencies to establish a prompt payment goal of 15 days for small business prime contractors. It would also extend the accelerated payment objective to other-than small prime contractors that subcontract with small businesses, and encourage these prime contractors to also accelerate payments to their small business subcontractors. Section 853--Increased Participation in the Small Business Administration Microloan Program This section would amend section 636(m)(3)(C) of title 15, United States Code, by increasing the total limit on outstanding loans from $5.0 million to $6.0 million. This section would also amend section 636(m)(4)(E), which establishes the ``25/75 Rule.'' Currently, the 25/75 Rule prohibits a microloan intermediary from using more than 25 percent of the technical assistance grants they receive from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide pre-loan assistance to small business borrowers and third-party contracts. This section would amend the ratio from 25/75 to 50/ 50. This section would also require the Administrator of SBA to submit a report to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, on why the program often has low participation rates among microlenders. The report shall gather a representative sample of eligible entities that participate in the program and those that do not, along with the reasons why entities do not partake, and offer recommendations on modifications that would increase participation. Finally, this section would require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, evaluating SBA oversight of the microloan program and the specific processes SBA uses to ensure compliance and track performance. Section 854--Amendments to Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program This section would authorize the use of Small Business Innovation Research or Small Business Technology Transfer program funding for administrative costs and expand phase flexibility during fiscal years 2018 through 2022. Section 855--Construction Contract Administration This section would amend section 644 of title 15, United States Code, to require Federal agencies to provide prospective construction contractors with information about an agency's policies and performance on the administration of change orders. Section 856--Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Coordinator This section would direct the Associate Administrator for the Office of Investment and Innovation of the Small Business Administration to designate a senior employee as the ``Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Coordinator.'' The Coordinator would be responsible for connecting small businesses with financing programs, and advising these businesses on how to acquire broadband and new information technology. This section would also direct a biennial report on activities beginning 2 years after the first designation of a Coordinator to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives. Section 857--Amendments to the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 This section would amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 682(b)) by increasing the Individual Leverage Limit from $150.0 million to $175.0 million and by increasing the total amount of capital and surplus that a financial institution and Federal savings association can invest in a small business investment company from 5 percent to 15 percent. Section 858--Consolidated Budget Justification for the Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program This section would direct the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a budget justification for all activities conducted under the Small Business Innovation Research Program or Small Business Technology Transfer Program during the previous fiscal year. Section 859--Funding for Procurement Technical Assistance Program This section would amend section 2413(b) of title 10, United States Code, to provide Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) the resources necessary to conduct greater outreach and provide expanded support to small businesses. Division D of this Act would increase the topline budget for the Procurement Technical Assistance Program to $50.0 million. This section would increase the funding caps for PTACs operating on statewide, less than statewide, and eligible tribal locations. This section would also adjust the percentage of Federal funding for PTACs to 75 percent from 65 percent, and would adjust the community contribution to 25 percent from 35 percent. Section 860--Exemption of Certain Contracts From the Periodic Inflation Adjustments to the Acquisition-Related Dollar Threshold This section would amend subparagraph (B) of section 1908(b)(2) of title 41, United States Code, to exempt certain contracts from the periodic inflation adjustments to the acquisition-related dollar threshold. Subtitle F--Other Matters Section 871--Additional Requirements for Negotiations for Noncommercial Computer Software This section would amend section 2322a of title 10, United States Code, and codify existing Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations on noncommercial software rights as well as mandate, to the maximum extent practicable, that specially negotiated licenses be used for weapon systems noncommercial software. Section 872--Removal of Requirement for Risk and Sensitivity Analysis of Baseline Estimates in Selected Acquisition Reports This section would amend section 2432(c)(1)(B) of title 10, United States Code, by removing the requirement for risk and sensitivity analysis to be included with baseline estimates in selected acquisition reports. The committee notes that risk and sensitivity analyses help in understanding the effects of changing variables on cost estimates. However, this language has been interpreted as requiring analysis of the sensitivity of the information in selected acquisition reports, resulting in unwarranted barriers to dissemination. Section 873--Prohibition on Acquisition of Sensitive Materials From Non-Allied Foreign Nations This section would amend section 2533b of title 10, United States Code, by prohibiting acquisition of certain sensitive materials from non-allied foreign nations. Section 874--Transfer or Possession of Defense Items for National Defense Purposes This section would amend sections 922 and 925 of title 18, United States Code, to allow joint production, integration, and calibration of military-grade hardware by licensed contractors, transfers of defense items to government customers, and export of authorized weapons to foreign governments. Section 875--Expedited Hiring Authority for Shortage Category Positions in the Acquisition Workforce This section would expand and extend direct-hire authority for acquisition professionals, which permits an agency to appoint candidates to positions for which there is either a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need. Section 1413 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136) authorized agency heads to determine, under regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), that certain Federal acquisition positions are shortage category positions in order to use direct-hire authorities. This section would extend the expiration date on those direct-hire authorities from September 30, 2017, to September 30, 2021. Additionally, this section would add the General Schedule Realty series (GS-1170) to the description of acquisition workforce found in section 1703 of title 41, United States Code, thereby including GS-1170 positions under the direct-hire authority extension established in this section. The committee notes that the government depends on skilled acquisition and program personnel to understand complex market dynamics, develop clear requirements, negotiate in the best interest of the taxpayer, and hold contractors to high performance standards. The expediency that direct-hire authority allows can be helpful to an agency both in meeting critical initiatives that may require particular expertise, such as to support information technology modernization, cybersecurity efforts, and real property acquisition and disposal, as well as supporting the Federal Government as it plans and executes on its agency and regulatory reform activities. Section 876--Extension of Prohibition on Providing Funds to the Enemy This section would amend section 841(n) of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291) to change from December 31, 2019, to December 31, 2021, the sunset date for the provisions of the prohibition on providing funds to the enemy. Section 877--Repeal of Certain Determinations Required for Grants of Exceptions to Cost or Pricing Data Certification Requirements and Waivers of Cost Accounting Standards This section would repeal section 817(b)(1) of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-314) regarding certain determinations required for grants of exceptions to cost or pricing data certification requirements and waivers of cost accounting standards. The committee notes that section 817(b) of Public Law 107- 314 provides that a grant of an exception or waiver is appropriate only upon a determination that the property or services cannot reasonably be obtained under the contract, subcontract, or modification, as the case may be, without the grant of the exception or waiver, in addition to two other determinations. The committee believes that this requirement could unnecessarily limit the granting of exceptions or waivers in those instances in which, while cost and pricing data could be obtained, it would add little value and delay contract negotiations. For example, on a long-running production program, determination of a fair and reasonable price may be both possible and more efficiently performed without submission of certified cost and pricing data, and therefore meet two of the three conditions for grant of an exception or waiver. However, because the contractor is willing and able to provide such data, the condition at section 817(b)(1) would not be met and the exception or waiver could not be granted. The committee believes that increasing the flexibility with which exceptions or waivers can be granted will help streamline the acquisition process. The committee expects the Secretary of Defense to promptly revise the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement to reflect this repeal. Section 878--Reporting on Projects Performed through Transactions Other Than Contracts, Cooperative Agreements, and Grants This section would direct the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than December 31 of each year through 2021, a report on the Department of Defense's use of transactions other than contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants, known as other transaction authority, to perform projects. The report would include, for transactions that provide for payments in a total amount in excess of $5.0 million, information including the entities entering into the transaction, the amount of payment provided for, project goals and status, and key dates. The report would also address mechanisms established to regulate use of this authority, including policies, guidance, and reporting requirements. The committee remains committed to providing the Department of Defense the needed flexibility to acquire advanced capabilities through streamlined and expedited processes. The committee recognizes that other transaction authority has been an effective tool for research and development, particularly for execution of science, technology, and prototyping programs. It provides needed flexibility in terms of adherence to select Federal acquisition regulations. While the benefits of this flexibility are clear, the committee believes that it is still necessary to exercise effective oversight both to understand the ways in which the Department is properly leveraging the use of this authority and to prevent its abuse or misuse. The committee does not intend for this reporting requirement to cause the Department to seek additional approval for use of other transaction authority, beyond the congressional notification requirement already established in statute. Rather, it is designed to facilitate regular and consistent updates on use of this authority across the Department in order to facilitate proper assessment of effectiveness and success. The $5.0 million threshold for reporting is consistent with the amount established in statute for inclusion of a clause that provides for the Comptroller General of the United States to examine the records of any party to an agreement entered into using other transaction authority. Section 879--Standardization of Formatting and Public Accessibility of Department of Defense Reports to Congress This section would direct the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing not later than March 1, 2019, to the House Committee on Armed Services on a plan for implementing, not later than March 1, 2020, standardization of the formatting and public accessibility of unclassified Department of Defense reports required by Congress. The briefing shall address how the Department plans to ensure that reports are created in an open format that can be retrieved, downloaded, indexed, and searched by commonly used web search applications. An open format is one that is platform independent, machine readable, and made available to the public without restrictions that would impede reuse of that information. The briefing shall also address how the Department plans to provide a publicly accessible online repository of its unclassified reports to Congress required by provisions of law, including protocols for inclusion of reports which, although unclassified, may not be appropriate for public release in their entirety. The briefing shall address how the Department plans to include in the repository unclassified reports to Congress required by provisions of law issued since January 1, 2010. Section 880--Defending United States Government Communications This section would provide that, not later than January 1, 2021, no government agency may procure or obtain, nor extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain, nor enter into a contract with an entity that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services with any covered entity. This section would define covered telecommunications equipment or services as that: (1) produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of either company); (2) telecommunications services provided by an entity using such equipment; or (3) telecommunications equipment or services produced or provided by an entity that the head of an agency believes to be owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the Government of the People's Republic of China. This section would require the head of an agency to submit to the specified committees a plan to phase in the prohibition in this section, including with respect to the ``white label'' problem. This section would also permit the head of an agency to provide an additional 2-year waiver if he determines it is appropriate to allow an entity to terminate its use of covered telecommunications equipment and he can demonstrate certain other conditions have been met. Additionally, the head of an agency would be permitted, subject to the receipt of a written assurance concerning any future use of Huawei or ZTE Corporation components, to permit an entity to continue to use components through the end of their reasonable life-cycle, if the component cannot be used to route or direct data traffic or provide visibility into any data or packets transmitted or manipulated by such components. This section would further require the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), in coordination with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Secretaries of State, Homeland Security and Defense, to produce a report on the national security risks posed by use of technology produced by Huawei and ZTE technology, especially pertaining to evidence of malicious software or hardware that enables unauthorized network access. The DNI would further be required to develop a plan to share such report with U.S. allies, partners, and U.S. cleared defense contractors and telecommunications service providers. The Director would also be required to ensure an unclassified version of the report is available for U.S. allies and partners, and well as telecommunications companies, that do not have access to classified information. In an April 12, 2018, House Committee on Armed Services hearing, the Secretary of Defense stated with respect to information and communications technology produced by companies linked to the People's Republic of China, namely Huawei and ZTE, that he does ``not think that's wise'' for the Department to allow equipment manufactured and maintained by those companies to be a part of its supply chain. The committee is also aware that the Federal Communications Commission in an April 17, 2018, meeting voted unanimously to approve a proposed rule that would deny Universal Service Fund support to purchase equipment or services from companies posing a national security threat to the integrity of communications networks or the communications supply chain. The commission specifically cited the risks posed by Huawei and ZTE in the notice of proposed rulemaking. TITLE IX--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--Organization and Management of the Department of Defense Generally Section 901--Authority of Secretary of Defense to Determine Command and Control Relationships This section would amend section 113 of title 10, United States Code, to specify that the Secretary of Defense may define command and control relationships within the Department of Defense as necessary to support the Department's objectives and missions. Section 902--Civilian Personnel Management This section would amend section 129 of title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Defense to consider the cost of the Department of Defense military and contract workforces, along with the cost of the civilian workforce, when managing the civilian personnel workforce of the Department. Section 903--Performance of Civilian Functions by Military Personnel This section would amend section 129a of title 10, United States Code, to require that when the Secretaries of the military departments determine that the performance of civilian functions by military personnel is cost effective, that they further consider whether the functions performed are consistent with the military occupational specialty for which the military personnel have been trained. Section 904--Roles of Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence This section would amend section 134 of title 10, United States Code, with respect to the authorities of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. It would amend the Under Secretary's responsibility for supervising and directing the activities of the Department with respect to export controls, to focus on policy making within the Department as it pertains to export controls. This section would add a new authority to those of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, subject to the Secretary of Defense, with respect to the development, implementation, and integration across the Department of Defense of the National Defense Strategy and other strategic policy guidance for the activities of the Department across all geographic regions and military functions and domains. It would also provide the Under Secretary with the authority, subject to the Secretary of Defense, of integrating the activities of the Department of Defense within the interagency process with respect to the National Security Strategy of the United States. The committee notes that the Summary to the 2018 National Defense Strategy stated that ``the central challenge to U.S. prosperity and security is the reemergence of long-term strategic competition by what the National Security Strategy classifies as revisionist powers.'' The committee asserts that it is essential that a senior civilian official be responsible for, subject to the Secretary of Defense, the Department's efforts with respect to strategic competition. This section would also amend section 137 of title 10, United States Code, with respect to the authorities of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. The Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence would assume the authority for supervising and directing the activities of the Department of Defense with respect to technology protection in the export controls process, other than the policy making activities that are the responsibility of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Numerous senior Department of Defense civilian and military officials have testified to the risk to U.S. military technological superiority and the committee believes that the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, respectively, have specific roles in, and expertise with, protecting sensitive technologies. Section 905--Designation of Navy Commanders This section would amend section 5013 of title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretary of the Navy to designate a single commander within the Department of the Navy responsible for ensuring Navy forces are available for tasking and deployment, including those Navy forces that may be operating from a forward deployed location. This section would also require the Secretary to designate a single commander for all Navy shipyards, including any located overseas. The committee notes that the Secretary of the Navy's Strategic Readiness Review cited unclear command relationships as a contributing factor to the surface force accidents suffered by 7th Fleet ships in 2017. The committee encourages the Secretary to consider designating the Commander, Fleet Forces Command, as the responsible commander for tasking and deployment, as that official performs that function now for all naval forces excepting the Pacific Fleet. The committee notes that the Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, has the overall responsibility within the Department of the Navy for scheduling and maintaining Navy vessels in public and private shipyards, with the exception of the U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center. The committee encourages the Secretary to consider designating the Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, as the single commander of naval shipyards, including the facility located in Japan. Subtitle B--Comprehensive Pentagon Bureaucracy Reform and Reduction Section 911--Authorities and Responsibilities of the Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense This section would authorize the Chief Management Officer (CMO) of the Department of Defense to carry out the elimination of agencies and activities (other than those established by statute and other than the Department of Defense Education Activity), and to maximize efficiency across the Department with respect to civilian resource management, logistics, services contracting, and real estate management (other than with respect to the military departments). Section 132a of title 10, United States Code, would be further amended by requiring each Defense Agency and Department of Defense Field Activity to transmit their budgets to the CMO for review before submission to the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). The CMO would submit a report concerning all proposed budgets to the Secretary of Defense not later than January 31 of the year preceding the budgets' fiscal year. The Secretary would submit a report by March 31 with a plan of action and proposed legislation for each budget the CMO did not certify. No Defense Agency or Department of Defense Field Activity funds, with respect to civilian resource, logistics, services contracting, and real estate management shall be obligated or expended until the CMO approves the plan; such process shall be conducted without impact to the processes carried out by the Director of National Intelligence. The Department's Chief Management Officer would reduce or eliminate duplicative cross-enterprise functions across all Defense Agencies and Field Activities related to civilian resource, services contracting, logistics, or real estate management. Not later than March 1, 2020, the CMO would submit a plan to the congressional defense committees. The CMO would certify that the Department has achieved at least 25 percent savings of these functions within these Defense Agencies and Field Activities by January 1, 2021; the Government Accountability Office would verify and validate the CMO's certification. This would be a recurring requirement, each 5 years (beginning January 1, 2021), with the second iteration expanding the scope of the review to include the military departments. Section 912--Authorities and Responsibilities of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense This section would require the Department of Defense Inspector General (IG) to maximize efficiency among Department IGs with respect to any cross-enterprise IG activities. This section would require each organization or element IG to submit a budget to the Department of Defense IG for review before submission to the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). The Department IG would submit a report about the budgets to the Secretary not later than January 31 of the year preceding the budget's fiscal year. The Secretary would submit a report to Congress about budgets the Department IG did not certify by March 31 each year, including a plan of action and recommended legislation. No IG funds may be obligated or expended until the Department IG certifies the IG's budget. The Department IG would submit a plan for compliance with the above not later than March 1, 2020. The committee understands there are almost 30 different inspectors general (IGs) in the Department of Defense, including: the Department of Defense IG, the four military service IGs, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, the nine combatant commands, the Defense Media Activity, the Defense Contract Audit Agency, the Defense Contract Management Agency, Defense Information Systems Agency, Defense Logistics Agency, Defense Security Service, and Defense Threat Reduction Agency. The committee believes this proliferation of IG offices merits oversight from a lead IG to determine if there are opportunities for elimination of waste, redundancy, and duplication. Section 913--Transition of Certain Defense Agencies and Department of Defense Field Activities This section would require the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Chief Management Officer (CMO), to submit a plan to the congressional defense committees not later than March 1, 2020, concerning the transfer and migration of all Defense Information Systems Agency information technology contracting and acquisition services, and senior leader communications functions, to other Department elements. This section would require the CMO to eliminate the Washington Headquarters Service not later than January 1, 2021. The CMO would transfer any essential functions to other appropriate elements of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and eliminate the others. The CMO would be required to submit a plan to the congressional defense committees to accomplish the above by March 1, 2020. This section would also require the CMO to review the efficiency and effectiveness of each Defense Agency and Department of Defense Field Activity and to examine potential duplication among the agencies and activities. The CMO would be required to submit a report to the congressional defense committees on his findings not later than March 1, 2020, including any recommendations to eliminate an agency or activity or transfer some or all of its functions to another Department entity. This section would also clarify the Secretary's authority to establish or terminate any Defense Agency or Department of Defense Field Activity, other than entities that are specifically established or terminated by act of Congress. Section 914--Actions To Increase the Efficiency and Transparency of the Defense Logistics Agency This section would require that the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and the Chief Management Officer (CMO) jointly implement a comprehensive system not later than January 1, 2021, that enables customers to view items and materials available to customers, the delivery status of items and materials in transit, and predictive analytics designed to improve the system's efficiency. This section would also require the Director of DLA and the CMO to jointly reduce charged rates by at least 10 percent, eliminate duplication of services, and establish specific goals and metrics to ensure the agency is fulfilling its mission by January 1, 2021. This section would also require the Director of DLA and the CMO to jointly submit a plan to accomplish the above to the congressional defense committees by March 1, 2020. Section 915--Review of Functions of Defense Contract Audit Agency and Defense Contract Management Agency This section would direct the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) to conduct a joint review of the Defense Contract Auditing Agency and Defense Contract Management Agency to validate their missions and functions and determine if any of their functions could be more appropriately performed by the other Agency, any other organization within the Department of Defense, or commercial providers. This review would also validate the continued need for two separate Agencies with oversight for defense contracting. The Secretary of Defense shall submit, not later than March 1, 2020, a report to the congressional defense committees that includes the results of this review. Section 916--Streamlining of Defense Finance and Accounting Services This section would require that, not later than January 1, 2021, the Chief Management Officer (CMO) and the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) shall jointly carry out activities to make the Defense Finance and Accounting Services more efficient and effective. This section would further require that, not later than March 1, 2020, the CMO and Comptroller shall jointly submit a plan for carrying out such activities to the congressional defense committees. Section 917--Reduction in Number of Chief Information Officers in the Senior Executive Service This section would require that, starting in calendar year 2021, there may not be more than five ``Chief Information Officers''' in the Department of Defense. The committee understands that there are at least 60 Senior Executive Service grade positions in the Department of Defense with the position of ``Chief Information Officer''. The committee is concerned that this number of senior personnel with this same responsibility injects duplication, redundancy, and slows the Department's ability to swiftly react to the requirements of the Department in terms of information technology and responding to the cyber domain of warfare. Section 918--General Provisions This section would provide authority for the Secretary of Defense and the Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense to consolidate certain reporting requirements established in this Act. This section would also define certain terms used in this Act and make certain conforming changes in title 10, United States Code. Subtitle C--Other Matters Section 921--Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Policy and Oversight Council This section would direct the Under Secretary of Research and Engineering to establish an Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Policy and Oversight Council to continuously improve research, innovation, policy, joint processes, and procedures that facilitate the development, acquisition, integration, advancement, and sustainment of artificial intelligence and machine learning throughout the Department of Defense. Section 922--Limitation on Transfer of the Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Defense Division of the Navy This section would require the Secretary of the Navy to provide a report to the congressional defense committees on the timeline, costs, risks, and benefits of transferring the Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Defense Division, Dahlgren, Virginia, to another location. The report would be required not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. This section would further prohibit the Secretary of the Navy from transferring or preparing to transfer the Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Defense Division to another location until 45 days after submission of the report. TITLE X--GENERAL PROVISIONS ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Counter-Drug Activities Colombian Security and the U.S.-Colombian Partnership The peace accords between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in August 2016 was a landmark event that ended over 50 years of armed conflict in Colombia. As a result of the agreement, the Colombian legislature passed, and the Government of Colombia implemented, several portions of the peace accords, which included demobilization and reintegration processes for FARC members. The committee is encouraged by the progress of the Colombian people and its Government in implementing the peace accord legislation. Colombian leadership has made great strides in bringing stability to the country, developing integration pathways for the FARC political party, disarming over 11,000 FARC members, implementing rural development, establishing rule of law, and reintegrating FARC members into society. The committee notes that complete implementation of other pieces of the peace accords, including land reform and combating FARC dissidents who have chosen not to disarm, will likely take decades. The committee commends the Government of Colombia for its continued leadership in working to end decades of violence and instability with the FARC and other armed groups in Colombia. The committee is also aware that security issues remain a problem in Colombia, including transnational criminal organizations seizing territorial control post peace accords, FARC dissidents choosing not to disarm and continuing criminal behavior, and increasing coca production over the past 2 years. Further, the committee commends the Colombian military on its professionalization, successes in bringing security to Colombia and being the exporters of security to global organizations such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and regional neighbors including the Republic of Honduras, the Republic of Guatemala, and the United Mexican States. Over the past 17 years, the U.S. has assisted Colombia in the fight for its security and stability. The committee has supported these efforts and acknowledges the continuing vital importance of the U.S.-Colombian relationship for bringing strength and stability to the hemisphere. DOD Support to Combating the Opioid Epidemic The committee is deeply concerned about the rising numbers of opioid-related deaths in the United States. This nationwide health epidemic affects millions of people and their families. The abuse of opioids, both prescription and illicit opioids, is a public health emergency as categorized by the President in January 2018. This crisis highlights national security concerns including illicit trafficking of opioids, synthetic opioids, to include Fentanyl, and precursors for the production of opioids by transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and their networks which have supply chains that extend into south and east Asia. The committee believes that the Department of Defense can play a vital role in support of lead U.S. agencies to address this crisis. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, no later than September 30, 2018, to submit a report to the House Committee on Armed Services with an assessment of the assistance the Department is providing to lead U.S. government agencies to combat the opioid crisis. This report should include an assessment of resources available to assist other U.S. government partners in their strategy to combat the opioid epidemic to include the United States Postal Service, and an analysis of potential opportunities for the Department to provide assistance in the future. United States-Mexico Security Cooperation The committee recognizes the importance of the relationship between the United States and the United Mexican States. The United States continues to face a nationwide epidemic of opioid addiction. Mexico continues to face violence, corruption, and instability as a result of transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) producing opioids and other illicit substances for distribution in the United States. The unlawful activity of the TCOs creates instability, violence, and insecurity in both the United States and Mexico. The committee believes these shared security challenges can only be countered cooperatively as each nation addresses illicit trafficking, violence, and production and distribution of illicit narcotics. The strength of the military-to-military relationship between the United States and Mexico is vital in combating these challenges. The committee encourages efforts to continue the development of the strong relationship and partnership between the U.S. Armed Forces and the Mexican Armed Forces. Other Matters Assessment of Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Involuntary Mobilization Plans to Support Special Operations Activities During review of the fiscal year 2019 President's budget request and related activities in support of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), the committee determined that a small number of Air National Guard units and all Air Force Reserve Command units that support AFSOC missions and force presentation requirements do not possess a current, validated involuntary mobilization plan that complies with various Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force, and Special Operations Command instructions or policies. The committee is concerned that without sufficient and validated involuntary mobilization plans that detail how the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve Command intend to support AFSOC as operational reserve units, should the need arise for Special Operations Command to fully mobilize forces in support of global special operations activities, the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command may lack the capability and capacity to support the mission. Therefore, the committee directs the Comptroller General of the United States to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than March 1, 2019, that assesses involuntary mobilization plans for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command units that support Air Force Special Operations missions and activities. The Comptroller General should assess, at a minimum: (1) the existence and recency of an involuntary mobilization plan; (2) the sufficiency and validity of the plan as compared to a unit's Designed Operational Capability statement, authorized and assigned manpower levels, authorized and assigned equipment, facilities, and support functions necessary to execute the plan; (3) comparison with existing Department of Defense policy and regulations governing mobilization-to-dwell and deployment- to-dwell goals and objectives; (4) any discrepancies, shortfalls, or gaps associated with the aforementioned areas of assessment; and (5) any additional information the Comptroller General would find useful to support the briefing. Briefing on Ukrainian Special Operations Forces Training The committee recognizes the critical role played by U.S. and partner assistance in training, advising, and equipping Ukrainian military and security forces over the last several years, especially at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center in Yavoriv, Ukraine. This training facility has facilitated the successful completion of numerous joint, combined exercises up to the battalion level and has better enabled multi-domain readiness of Ukrainian forces. By employing the instrumented training capability at this center, United States Army Europe has led the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine in greatly enhancing the operational capability, performance, and professionalism of Ukrainian forces. The committee further understands that such joint, combined training is scheduled to conclude in 2020 and that the Ukrainian General Staff is aware of acute needs, identified in October 2016 and restated in December 2017, to modernize the International Peacekeeping and Security Center before such training ends. These requirements include refurbishing and adding multiple integrated laser engagement systems, enhancing range and battlefield effects, and developing an urban operations training system. Finally, the committee understands that since their establishment in 2016, Ukrainian special operations forces have grown in both numbers and capabilities with a focus on unconventional missions such as counterterrorism and drug interdiction operations. In addition, Ukrainian land forces have grown, requiring additional training to support skills development in support of combined exercises with NATO and U.S. forces. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide the congressional defense committees, not later than September 30, 2018, with a briefing on current and planned U.S. support to Ukrainian special operations and land forces training, including but not limited to: detailed assessments of both the training center at Berdychiv, Ukraine and a land forces training complex in the Mykolaiv District near Odessa, Ukraine; analysis of training requirements; and a plan for potential U.S. funding assistance to new or modernized training facilities. Civil Support Team Information Management System The committee is aware that the National Guard Bureau Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams (CST) currently field the CST Information Management System (CIMS). CIMS provides a common operation picture and promotes information sharing and real-time collaboration. CIMS also supports the CST mission of assisting and advising first responders and facilitating communications with other Federal resources in an emergency. The committee encourages the expansion of CIMS to establish an enterprise-wide capable tool, commonly referred to as the National Guard Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Response Enterprise Information Management System 2018+ (NG CIMS 2018+). The committee believes that expansion will increase the capabilities of the CIMS to support other National Guard Bureau forces, such as the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High-Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package and Homeland Defense Response Force units. The committee notes that the timeline the Department of Defense previously presented to the committee in their September 8, 2015, report ``Civil Support Team Information Management System'' has been delayed. The committee, therefore, directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by October 1, 2018, on the plan for the development of NG CIMS 2018+, including a description of timelines, milestones, fielding, and completion dates. Close Combat Lethality Task Force The Committee understands that military operations still require our units to close with and destroy the enemy. The Committee also notes that, despite comprising a tiny fraction of total Department of Defense personnel, the ground close combat formations primarily tasked to close with and destroy the enemy bear a unique burden, reflected in them historically accounting for almost 90% of casualties. The Committee is aware that the Secretary of Defense established the Close Combat Lethality Task Force (CCLTF) on February 8, 2018 in order to implement select initiatives identified by the 2017 Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation's Close Combat Strategic Portfolio Review. The Committee also notes that the CCLTF further aims to improve the personnel policies, training methods, and equipment to update the training of ground close combat formations to reflect available technology, human factors science, and talent management best practices. The Committee notes that, relative to the overall size of the Department budget, the cost of supporting modernization to equipment and training for ground close combat formations is relatively small. The Committee believes that increased investments in these units' personnel, equipment, readiness, and training offer outsize returns for our military's combat capabilities. The Committee notes that greater tactical integration of existing unmanned aircraft--specifically medium-altitude, long- endurance aircraft--offers a unique opportunity to address deficiencies in close combat units organic sensing, load- bearing, communications extension, and lethality capabilities. In addition, the Committee notes that, since 2001, special operations forces (SOF) have taken on an increasing share of global missions, driven by the responsiveness of their capabilities to combatant commander requirements. The Committee believes that the CCLTF's efforts to bring SOF capabilities and training methodologies to line close combat formations is an important element of the overall CCLTF effort. In order to allow the Committee to fully support the efforts of the CCLTF, the Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to brief the House Committee on Armed Services not later than December 1, 2018 on the CCLTF's findings, including key focus areas for improvements in ground close combat equipment, training and readiness; proposals for rationalizing personnel management for ground close combat formations; the feasibility of establishing a Joint Close Combat Leader Center as a center of excellence for small-unit infantry leadership; the feasibility of making existing unmanned aircraft organic to ground close combat units; and the impact of improving line close combat formation capabilities and interoperability with SOF, as well as any other topics the Secretary deems appropriate. Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Authority for United States Facilities and Assets The committee notes that the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) provided the Department of Defense a modest expansion of existing counter- unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) authority in section 130i of title 10, United States Code, to address additional mission areas that the Department determined are critical, high- priority U.S. facilities and assets essential to the Department carrying out its mission. The committee appreciates the Department's deliberate and thoughtful implementation of the C- UAS authority to ensure the safety and security of Department assets and facilities, in addition to ensuring the safety of operations within the U.S. National Airspace System. The committee also notes that the Department, in conjunction with the Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, is required to provide to relevant congressional committees a semiannual briefing on how the current C-UAS is being utilized and implemented, and various other items of information pertaining to the authority. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than September 1, 2018, the date of the next scheduled semiannual C-UAS briefing requirement to Congress. The briefing should include a list of capability gaps and shortfalls for C-UAS systems or mission areas of the Department that are not currently included in the existing C-UAS authority, but deemed to be high-priority or critical facilities or assets contributing to the success of the Department in executing its mission. The briefing should also include a list of existing Department research and development, or test and evaluation locations within the military services, that currently participate and specialize in C-UAS capabilities in the areas of detection and tracking, hard-kill defeat prediction, or improvised explosive/improvised explosive device performance assessment capability. The committee also encourages the Secretary of Defense to leverage existing deployment, operations, and test and evaluation activities and operational capabilities for C-UAS that are occurring at various U.S. overseas basing locations in order to determine what existing C-UAS technologies and capabilities could feasibly and viably be deployed to protect U.S. facility and asset locations requiring C-UAS capability. Counterterrorism Effectiveness Research The committee recognizes that basic research into the effectiveness of current counterterrorism policies and strategy is critical to informing and shaping future efforts. The committee understands that there is currently a wide range of social science research in these areas that should be leveraged, including better use of and integration with existing research by organizations maintaining databases of terrorism incidents globally. For example, the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) is a university- based research and education center. The center is comprised of an international network of scholars committed to the scientific study of the causes and human consequences of terrorism in the United States and around the world. START supports the research efforts of leading social scientists at more than 50 academic and research institutions across the country and the globe. The committee is aware the START program supports more than 14 terrorism and counterterrorism related datasets that are used across civilian and defense agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, in order to directly inform international, Federal, State, and local training and educational programs. However, the budget request for fiscal year 2019 did not include funding for this effort. The committee believes that it is within the purview of the Department of Defense, and specifically U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) as the Coordinating Authority for Countering Violent Extremist Organizations, to foster academically rigorous studies of terrorism, like the START initiative, to provide a foundational understanding for how to assess the effectiveness of specific counterterrorism activities and programs, and best practices to inform counterterrorism policies. Further, the committee believes that as the Coordinating Authority for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD), SOCOM may also derive similar benefits for the Department of Defense from research pertaining to CWMD strategies, policies, and programs, by leveraging and enhancing programs like START. Therefore, the committee directs the Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by October 30, 2018, on the feasibility and advisability of funding programs like START. Development and Procurement of Combat Equipment and Clothing for Female Servicemembers in Combat Occupations The Committee notes that in June 2015 the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology provided guidance to the services to take immediate steps to ensure that combat equipment is properly designed and fitted for female servicemembers. In 2016, the Committee recognized that the Services had been conducting anthropometric studies on male and female servicemembers in order to properly outfit and equip their respective servicemembers. However, although more than 600 women have competed for and joined newly opened ground combat units in the Army and Marine Corps, the Committee is concerned that properly designed and fitted combat equipment, gear, and clothing is not consistently available to women warfighters. That concern also encompasses other women from all the services who continue to deploy to areas where they too need properly fitting combat and organizational gear. The Committee believes that female servicemembers in physically demanding occupations like infantry and armor are not positioned for success and their lethality and safety is compromised if they are required to train and perform in equipment not designed for their body type. Properly designed and fitted equipment for women should be available beginning with initial entry training through any and all deployments. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the service chiefs, to submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services no later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act. The report shall include: (1) Information about the status of procuring and issuing the following to all females serving in or training for, infantry and armor occupations and to those from other units and occupations deploying to areas where they will require such equipment (from the beginning of training through any deployments): (1) personal protective equipment (2) organizational clothing and individual equipment (including for example tanker apparel, mechanics coveralls, tanker headsets, and ruck frames); and (3) the female urinary diverter; (2) Information about timing, including the date on which such equipment will be available; (3) What additional legislative and funding authorities are required to expedite procurement; (4) The results of any surveys and studies that have addressed the availability, serviceability, and effectiveness of personal protective equipment, organizational clothing and individual equipment, and the female urinary diverter device. Foreign Currency Fluctuation Account In the committee reports accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 through 2017 (H. Rept. 113-446, H. Rept. 114-102, H. Rept. 114-537), the committee encouraged the Department of Defense to take into consideration the current balance within the Foreign Currency Fluctuation, Defense (FCF,D) account when determining foreign currency rates in future budget submissions. When the FCF,D account has a balance close to or at the statutory cap of $970.0 million, the committee believes the budgeted rates should be adjusted to generate losses within the account, thereby drawing down the FCF,D account balance. This would reduce the operation and maintenance (O&M) budget requirement for foreign goods and services, allowing excess funds to be allocated to other readiness programs without changing the budget topline. However, as the FCF,D account realizes a net gain, these gains remain in O&M and are used for purposes not originally requested in the annual budget submission to Congress. Without visibility of these transactions through a reprogramming request, the committee cannot determine whether funds remaining in the FCF,D account are being used to reduce current readiness shortfalls. The committee observes that the Department continues to not take the current balance into account when determining foreign currency rates. Due to lack of the use of current balances to structure foreign currency rates, the committee recommends a reduction in the O&M budget for fiscal year 2019 as shown in section 4301 of this Act, a reduction in the Military Personnel budget for fiscal year 2019 as shown in section 4401 of this Act, and a reduction in the Defense Health Program budget for fiscal year 2019 as shown in section 4501 of this Act, and realigns those funds to support higher priority defense requirements throughout the Department. Friendly Force Identification in Close Air Support The committee is aware that tactical aircraft controllers use a multitude of commercial-off-the-shelf infrared (IR) strobes for friendly force identification in close combat operations, and that U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has validated and approved a Thermal-Identification, Friend or Foe (T-IFF) Capability Production Document (CPD) to improve existing capability. The committee notes the T-IFF program would provide for an ``out of band'' beacon which should align with current advanced targeting pods used on tactical aircraft. The committee also notes that SOCOM is planning two user evaluations in 2018 to assess potential commercial off-the- shelf solutions that could also potentially meet the requirements in the TIFF CPD. While the committee is supportive of these efforts and encourages their acceleration, it is concerned that current infrared marking strobes currently fielded to U.S. ground forces, to include U.S. Special Operation Forces, are not easily detectable to tactical aircraft performing close air support, and could result in fratricide. Additionally, the committee is aware of multiple programs in progress across the military services to address this requirement. These efforts and requirements must be coordinated and communicated across the military services and SOCOM to expeditiously provide upgraded IR strobes that can be detected by advanced targeting pods. The committee directs the Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, in coordination with the Chief of Staff of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 14, 2018, on their efforts to synchronize a friendly force identification mechanism, such as IR strobes, for use during combat close air support operations. The briefing should also include efforts to ensure that these mechanisms are detectable by advanced targeting pods used on current tactical aircraft. Genetic and Medical Information Security Recent advancements in information and computational capabilities, along with advancements in synthetic biology and genomics, have resulted in the convergence of data and life sciences. The committee is troubled by the potential risks posed by the proliferation of personal biological information, including DNA sequences, electronic medical records, medical claims processing data, pharmacy records, health information exchanges, and activity trackers. The committee recognizes this information is essential for the development of precision medicine, but is concerned about the potential lack of appropriate security control over the data of service members due to the growing efforts by adversaries to acquire this information. The committee believes acquisition of this information by adversaries may lead to the development of new biological threats. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by March 1, 2019, on the Department of Defense's effort to secure service members' genetic, medical, and lifestyle information. The briefing shall include information on the location, access control, and security protocols of all databases with this information; and offer policy recommendations for protecting this information. The committee further directs the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by March 1, 2019, on foreign intelligence services attempts to collect this information on Department of Defense personnel, including: (1) attempts by foreign intelligence services to collect genetic data, medical records, and any other personal health or biological information; (2) use of non-traditional intelligence collection techniques, to include foreign investment in commercial entities that offer genetic data analysis, medical record administration, and other health information services; and (3) use of this data lost through data breaches, unauthorized disclosures, or non-traditional collection techniques to enable targeting of U.S. persons. MQ-9 Enterprise Supporting Air Combat Command and Air Force Special Operations Command Activities After a detailed review, the committee has determined that a system to manage and develop MQ-9 specific remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) aircrews does not exist between Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), Air Combat Command (ACC), and the Air Force Personnel Center. The committee is concerned that ACC is the Air Force's primary entity responsible for managing, assigning, and transitioning MQ-9 aircrews for AFSOC and that AFSOC may not have the visibility it needs into ACC ``talent management'' processes to sufficiently support AFSOC future planning and normalization of operations tempo. Moreover, the role of the Air Force Personnel Center's in managing and career-shaping MQ-9 aircrews is unclear. Therefore, the committee directs the Commander of ACC, in coordination with the Commander of AFSOC and the Commander of the Air Force Personnel Center, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than October 19, 2018, on how MQ-9 aircrews are assigned, managed, and developed among ACC and AFSOC. The briefing should also include an update regarding the Air Force's MQ-9 Culture and Process Improvement Program activities for each command, and each command's progress for acquiring the necessary manpower authorizations, and actual assigned manpower, to achieve deployment to dwell operations tempo to comply with Department of Defense policies. National Guard Access to Department of Defense Owned Unmanned Aircraft Systems The committee notes that section 1084 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115- 91) required that not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of Public Law 115-91, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the Commander, U.S. Northern Command, and the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, complete an efficiency and effectiveness review of the governance structure, coordination processes, documentation, and timing requirements stipulated in Department of Defense policy memorandum 15-002, ``Guidance for the Domestic Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).'' In addition, not later than 30 days after the policy review is completed, the Secretary of Defense is required to submit the results of the review to the congressional defense committees. The committee expects that during the policy review, Department of Defense officials will implement a processing timeline for reviewing National Guard UAS utilization requests that appropriately balances reviewing the request for compliance with established policy and reviewing the request in a timely manner that coincides with the responsiveness, urgency, and operational planning factors dictated by the specific mission the UAS capability is being requested to support. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than 30 days after the policy review required by section 1084 of Public Law 115-91 is completed. The briefing should include information related to the processing timeline that the Secretary established during the policy review and how the timeline will be implemented. Preparedness of U.S. Forces To Counter North Korean Chemical and Biological Weapons The committee is aware of reports of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's pursuit of the essential laboratories, equipment, and skills for an advanced biological weapons program, in addition to reports of existing stockpiles of chemical weapons. The 2017 National Security Strategy states that North Korea is pursuing chemical and biological weapons, which could be delivered by missile. The strategy also states that the Department of Defense will ensure U.S. military forces can operate effectively in the face of biological weapons attacks, and that our troops and critical domestic and overseas installations are effectively protected against such threats. To assist the committee in conducting its oversight of the preparedness of U.S. forces to respond to these threats, the committee directs the Comptroller General of the United States to review the extent to which Department of Defense military units deployed to the Republic of Korea and the Department's chemical and biological defense support units on the Korean peninsula, in the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility, and in the United States, are prepared to counter chemical and biological weapons, including: (1) detection and identification; (2) individual and collective protection; (3) medical countermeasures; (4) decontamination; (5) training and exercises; and (6) any other matters the Comptroller General deems relevant. The committee also directs the Comptroller General to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by March 1, 2019, on the preliminary results of the review, and submit a subsequent report by a date agreed to at the time of the briefing. Report on NORTHCOM Response to Hurricane Maria In 2017, the United States witnessed Hurricane Maria, which had a devastating impact on Puerto Rico and required a Federal Government response. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator, to submit a report by December 1, 2018 on the ongoing U.S. Government recovery effort of Hurricane Maria. The report shall include the following elements: (a) statistics on ongoing power outages; (b) the number of deaths in each U.S. state or territory affected; (c) measures to improve hurricane emergency response plans for insular areas and/or territories of the United States. Review of National Guard Capabilities in Support of Incident Awareness and Assessment Mission Operations The committee notes there is inconsistency among National Guard and Department of the Air Force officials in expressing what type of capabilities and which platforms are required to support the Incident Awareness and Assessment (IAA) mission of the National Guard. The committee requires clarification regarding the National Guard's current and future capability and capacity requirements to execute the IAA mission in support of Domestic Operations (DOMOPS) when National Guard personnel are on duty or mobilized under title 32, United States Code, authority, and in support of Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) when National Guard personnel are on duty or mobilized under title 10, United States Code, authority. The committee believes it is critical for the Department of Defense to maintain a sufficient capability, capacity, and responsiveness among the Active and Reserve components of the Department when supporting missions related to homeland defense and responding to natural disasters or declared emergencies. Therefore, the committee directs the Chief, National Guard Bureau, in coordination with the Commander, U.S. Northern Command, the Director, Air National Guard, and the Director, Army National Guard, to provide a report to the congressional defense committees by October 1, 2018, that provides an Incident Awareness and Assessment capability and capacity roadmap for the National Guard covering the 2019 to 2023 Future Years Defense Program (FYDP). The report should describe, at a minimum: (1) the validated capability and capacity requirements defining the IAA mission in support of U.S. Northern Command, State Governors, and other Government agencies; (2) the specific platforms and quantities of platforms the National Guard will leverage, maintain, or procure to support IAA capability and capacity requirements; (3) a schedule depicting specific platforms that will be procured, maintained, or divested in support of IAA capabilities and capacity over the covered time period; (4) a schedule depicting specific platforms and associated modernization and upgrades that will be accomplished over the covered time period; (5) the required funding needed and currently programmed in the FYDP to support individual platforms within the IAA portfolio of capabilities; and (6) any capability or capacity gaps or shortfalls that are identified over the covered time period. Senior Civilian or Military Leaders in Charge of Audit and Financial Management The committee has long maintained that a central factor of the department's audit progress has been clear leadership and accountability across the department. The committee is concerned that there are mid-level departments within the services and agencies that lack designated audit and financial management accountability of senior leaders by requiring this in official position duties. Therefore, the committee directs the department to provide a report no later than September 30, 2018, to the congressional armed services committees on the senior civilian or military leadership responsible for audit and financial management compliance of each respective department. Soo Locks The committee understands that the Soo Locks on the St. Marys River at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, are the only waterway connection from Lake Superior to the rest of the Lower Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway. The committee is concerned that of the 2 current operational locks, only the Poe Lock is large enough to accommodate the 1,000-foot carriers necessary to transport a majority of the iron ore used in domestic steel production. The committee notes that this lock is near the end of its 50-year useful lifespan and that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reevaluating a past economic evaluation report to update the Soo Locks' benefit to cost ratio. The committee believes that a failure at the Soo Locks would have drastic impacts on national security, in that the U.S. iron mining-integrated steel production-manufacturing supply chain is dependent on the Soo Locks, and there is no redundancy. Indeed, such a failure would cripple steel production that is used for national defense priorities. Therefore, the committee urges the Chief of the Corps of Engineers and all involved executive branch agencies to expedite necessary reviews, analysis, and approvals in order to speed the required upgrades at the Soo Locks. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--Financial Matters Section 1001--General Transfer Authority This section would allow the Secretary of Defense, with certain limitations, to make transfers between amounts authorized for fiscal year 2019 in division A of this Act. This section would limit the total amount transferred under this authority to $5.0 billion. This section would also require prompt notification to Congress of each transfer made. Section 1002--Expertise in Audit Remediation This section would amend section 252(b)(2) of chapter 9A of title 10, United States Code, directing the Secretary of Defense to report the number of professionals performing auditing and audit remediation services who hold certain qualifications. Section 1003--Authority To Transfer Funds to Director of National Intelligence for CAPNET This section would authorize the Secretary of Defense, consistent with the authority provided in section 1001 of this Act, to transfer an amount that does not exceed $2.0 million to the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to provide support for the operation of the CAPNET network. The committee notes its belief that, per established procedures, the Department of Defense currently has the authority to provide support to the DNI for the operation of CAPNET. Section 1004--Independent Public Accountant Audit of Financial Systems of the Department of Defense This section would direct the Secretary of Defense to ensure new or altered financial systems meet applicable Federal requirements through a review performed by an independent public accountant. Subtitle B--Counterdrug Activities Section 1011--Department of Defense Support for Combating Opioid Trafficking and Abuse This section would express the sense of Congress regarding the nationwide opioid epidemic affecting millions of U.S. citizens. The section would also increase, by $20.0 million, Department of Defense National Guard counterdrug programs to support the Federal Government's efforts to combat the opioid crisis. Subtitle C--Naval Vessels and Shipyards Section 1021--Inclusion of Operation and Sustainment Costs in Annual Naval Vessel Construction Plans This section would incorporate operations and sustainment costs into the 30-year shipbuilding plan required by section 231 of title 10, United States Code. Section 1022--Purchase of Vessels Using Funds in National Defense Sealift Fund This section expands section 2218 of title 10, United States Code, and authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to procure up to 10 foreign-constructed ships if the Secretary certifies that the U.S. Navy has initiated an acquisition strategy for the construction of 10 new sealift vessels. Additionally, this section would limit 25 percent of the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command's fiscal year 2019 expenditures until the Secretary of the Navy enters into a contract for the procurement of two used National Defense Reserve Fleet vessels, and completes the capability development document for the common hull multi-mission platform. Section 1023--Purchase of Vessels Built in Foreign Shipyards With Funds in National Defense Sealift Fund This section would modify section 2218 of title 10, United States Code, and require a 30-day notice to the congressional defense committees before entering into a contract for a used vessel authorized for procurement by section 2218 of title 10, United States Code. Section 1024--Technical Corrections and Clarifications to Chapter 633 of Title 10, United States Code, and Other Provisions of Law Regarding Naval Vessels This section updates chapter 633 of title 10, United States Code. Section 1025--Retention of Navy Hospital Ship Capability This section would require the Secretary of the Navy to retain two Mercy-class hospital ships until the Secretary has certified to the congressional defense committees that a replacement capability has been fielded. Subtitle D--Counterterrorism Section 1031--Definition of Sensitive Military Operation This section would modify section 130f of title 10, United States Code, regarding notification requirements for sensitive military operations. Section 1032--Prohibition on Use of Funds for Transfer or Release of Individuals Detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the United States This section would prohibit the use of any amounts authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2019, to transfer or release detainees at U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to or within the United States, its territories, or possessions. Section 1033--Prohibition on Use of Funds to Construct or Modify Facilities in the United States to House Detainees Transferred from United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba This section would prohibit the use of any amounts authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2019, to construct or modify any facility in the United States, its territories, or possessions to house any detainee transferred from U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for the purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or under the effective control of the Department of Defense. Section 1034--Prohibition on Use of Funds for Transfer or Release of Individuals Detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Certain Countries This section would prohibit the use of any amounts authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2019, to transfer, release, or assist in the transfer or release of any individual detained at U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Libya, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Syrian Arab Republic, or the Republic of Yemen. Subtitle E--Miscellaneous Authorities and Limitations Section 1041--Notification on the Provision of Defense Sensitive Support This section would modify the current Defense Sensitive Support congressional notification procedures, to include a Secretary of Defense determination that the requesting Federal department has reasonably attempted to satisfy the requirement using internal resources, and that the Department of Defense is the most appropriate Federal agency or department to satisfy the request for support. This section would also add a congressional notification requirement for Department of Defense requests for Reverse Defense Sensitive Support from other Federal departments or agencies. Section 1042--Coordinating United States Response to Malign Foreign Influence Operations and Campaigns This section would amend section 101 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3021) to explicitly task the National Security Council (NSC) to coordinate the full U.S. Government response to malign foreign influence operations and campaigns, particularly those that are cyber-enabled. This section would define ``malign foreign influence operations and campaigns,'' and would request the President to task an NSC official with combating it, and further requires the President to submit a report to the designated congressional committees not later than 9 months after the date of the enactment of this Act on the whole-of-government strategy for combating malign foreign influence operations. Section 1043--Workforce Issues for Military Realignments in the Pacific This section would amend section 1806 of title 48, United States Code, to allow the continued employment of temporary workers on Guam engaged in the military realignment to Guam or to perform service as a health care worker. This section would also exempt returning workers from the cap on such workers in the event of a single departure and return to Guam. Section 1044--Mitigation of Operational Risks Posed to Certain Military Aircraft by Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Equipment This section would enable the Secretary of Defense to mitigate the operational risk posed to certain military aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) next- generation airspace control mandate that takes effect on January 1, 2020, by accommodating certain fighter, bomber, and other sensitive mission aircraft until the Department of Defense and FAA agree on one or more solutions to address Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out security risks or incorporate mitigation for security risks into a memorandum of agreement. The committee notes that the Department is working to meet the FAA mandate for its aircraft and supports its efforts to procure equipment and carry out modifications for its accommodated fighter, bomber, and special mission aircraft. Section 1045--Limitation on Availability of Funds for Unmanned Surface Vehicles This section would limit the availability of funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act, or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2019, until the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering certifies the Strategic Capabilities Office Ghost Fleet Overlord Unmanned Surface Vehicle program to the congressional defense committees. Section 1046--Program for Department of Defense Controlled Unclassified Information in the Hands of Industry This section would require the Secretary of Defense to establish and implement a foreign ownership, control, or influence program for Department of Defense controlled unclassified information in the hands of industry. The Secretary would be required to act to ensure that prior to any company receiving controlled unclassified information or classified information, or becoming a cleared defense contractor, the company would have to report to the Secretary any foreign direction or controlling interest in the company or any access to intellectual property relating to classified information or controlled unclassified information. The Secretary would be required to make a determination on the basis of such a company's report whether the company should receive such information due to a risk to national security and whether such risk can be mitigated. Section 1047--Protection of Emerging and Foundational Technologies This section would require the Secretary of Defense to establish and maintain a list of emerging and foundational technologies that are necessary for maintaining the national security technical advantage of the United States. This section would require the Secretary to use that list to inform the activities carried out by the Secretary relating to technology protection, including under interagency processes. Subtitle F--Studies and Reports Section 1051--Additional Matter for Inclusion in Annual Report on Civilian Casualties in Connection With United States Military Operations This section would amend section 1057(b)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115- 91) to include an annual reporting requirement on civilian casualties in connection with U.S. military operations. Section 1052--Department of Defense Review and Assessment on Advances in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning This section would direct the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Defense Innovation Board and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, to carry out a review and assessment of the advances in artificial intelligence, related machine learning developments, and associated technologies for military applications. This section would also require the Secretary of Defense to submit an initial report to the congressional defense committees not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and a comprehensive report not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. Section 1053--Report on Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure This section would prohibit certain funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act from being obligated or expended for the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure until the Secretary of Defense provides a report to the congressional defense committees on the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure. Section 1054--Report on Proposed Consolidation of Department of Defense Global Messaging and Counter Messaging Capabilities This section would limit the availability of funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act, or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2019, until the Secretary of Defense provides a report to the congressional defense committees on the Department of Defense Global Messaging and Counter Messaging program. Section 1055--Comprehensive Review of Professionalism and Ethics Programs for Special Operations Forces This section would direct the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, to conduct a comprehensive review of the ethics and professionalism programs of the U.S. Special Operations Command and the military departments for officers and other military personnel serving in special operations forces. This section would require the Secretary of Defense to submit the review to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by March 1, 2019. Section 1056--Munitions Assessments and Future-Years Defense Program Requirements This section would require the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to provide all relevant documents related to the Department of Defense's munitions requirements process, as well as provide the planned funding and munitions requirements required for fiscal year 2020 and across the Future Years Defense Program for munitions across all military services and the Missile Defense Agency. This section would also require the Under Secretary to evaluate and identify supply chain risks, including qualified supplier shortages or single source supplier vulnerabilities for munitions production. The committee notes that munitions are defined as a complete device charged with explosives; propellants; pyrotechnics; initiating composition; or chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear material for use in operations including demolitions, to include conventional ammunition. Section 1057--Report on Establishment of Army Futures Command This section would require the Secretary of the Army to provide a report to the congressional defense committees on the Army's plan for the establishment of Army Futures Command, to include a description of the authorities, mission, and organizational structure. This section does not prohibit the Secretary of the Army from proceeding forward with any current internal organizational changes in accordance with existing authorities related to the establishment of the Army Futures Command. Section 1058--Assessment of Department of Defense Electromagnetic Spectrum Warfare Enterprise This section would require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), to develop an implementation plan to conduct joint campaign modeling and wargaming for joint electromagnetic spectrum operations (JEMSO) of the Department of Defense, and to submit that plan in the form of a report by February 18, 2019, to the congressional defense committees. This section would also require the Secretary and CJCS to provide various briefing presentations to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than February 25, 2019, on essential topics and functions of the Department's JEMSO enterprise. The committee is concerned that since the electronic warfare (EW) strategy document was released by the Department's Electronic Warfare Executive Committee in June 2017, subsequent efforts to strengthen, modernize, and create synergy of effort across the Department related to the JEMSO enterprise may have stagnated within the military services, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The committee seeks to gain a greater understanding of current JEMSO efforts since release of the EW strategy document, and the committee encourages those officials overseeing the JEMSO enterprise to reinvigorate efforts towards achieving the goals and objectives described in the EW strategy. Section 1059--Report on Support for Non-Contiguous States and Territories in the Event of Threats and Incidents This section would direct the Department of Defense to provide a report on its preparedness to provide contiguous States with temporary relief and emergency work in the aftermath of an emergency incident. Section 1060--Report on Low-Boom Flight Demonstration This section would require the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to submit a report, not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives describing the progress in development of the Low-Boom Flight Demonstration. Section 1061--Report on Cyber-Enabled Information Operations This section would require the President to provide the Committees on Armed Services and Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Armed Services and Foreign Relations of the Senate a report not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act on the effects of cyber-enabled information operations on the national security of the United States. Subtitle G--Other Matters Section 1071--Technical, Conforming, and Clerical Amendments This section would make a number of technical, conforming, and clerical amendments of a non-substantive nature to existing law. Section 1072--Principal Advisor on Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction This section would direct the Secretary of Defense to designate, from among the personnel of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, a Principal Advisor on Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD). Such individual shall act as the Principal Advisor to the Secretary on the activities of the Department of Defense relating to countering weapons of mass destruction. Further, this section would require a plan for realigning, restructuring, or reducing the current CWMD oversight framework of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Section 1073--Receipt of Firearm or Ammunition This section would require for the purposes of Federal firearms laws that the residency of members of the Armed Forces and their spouses be determined in the same manner. Section 1074--Federal Charter for Spirit of America This section would designate Spirit of America, a nonprofit organization, as a federally chartered corporation. Section 1075--Transfer of Aircraft to Other Departments This section would amend section 1098 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113- 66) to relieve the United States Air Force (USAF) from the mandate to modify United States Coast Guard (USCG) HC-130H aircraft with designated capabilities for use by the United States Forest Service (USFS). The committee notes that officials from the USFS, USCG, and USAF notified the committee, and relevant other House of Representatives and Senate committees of jurisdiction, that a recently completed USFS cost-benefit analysis demonstrated it is more cost-effective, and provides greater firefighting capacity and responsiveness, to utilize contract service provided capability instead of owning and operating year-round a small, organic fleet of modified HC-130H aircraft. Section 1076--Reauthorization of National Aviation Heritage Area This section would amend title V of division J of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005 (Public Law 108-447) to establish Dayton History as the entity responsible for managing the National Aviation Heritage Area. Section 1077--Recognition of America's Veterans This section would honor America's veterans, including those who have not yet been appropriately recognized for their service to the Nation, by authorizing the Secretary of Defense to carry out a parade in their honor. The Secretary would be authorized to expend funds authorized to be appropriated under this Act for the display of small arms and munitions appropriate for customary ceremonial honors and for the participation of military units that perform customary ceremonial duties. The committee believes that, as America approaches the 100th anniversary of the 1918 Armistice ending World War I, it is appropriate to honor a century of military service by the men and women who have sacrificed to secure America's freedom. The committee further believes that the world they made through their sacrifices is increasingly under threat from competitors like the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China. The committee is concerned that far too many veterans, including veterans of the conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, have been denied the public display of gratitude their service deserves and therefore the committee believes now is the right time to celebrate a century of patriotic sacrifice and service. Section 1078--National Commission on Military Aviation Safety This section would establish a National Commission on Military Aviation Safety. The commission would undertake a comprehensive study and deliver a report not later than June 1, 2019, on military aviation mishaps occurring between fiscal years 2013-18. Section 1079--Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support This section would amend sections 669a, 669g, and 669h of title 16, United States Code, to expand opportunities for construction and sustainment of target practice and marksmanship training facilities at public target ranges on Federal and non-Federal land. Section 1080--Sense of Congress on Adversary Air Capabilities This section would express the sense of Congress that each Department of Defense facility housing an F-22 aircraft squadron should have adversary air capabilities to improve training of F-22 aircrews. Section 1081--Sense of Congress Regarding Organic Attack Aviator Training Capability This section would express the sense of Congress that the Army National Guard should retain rotary wing attack aviation units as well as organic training capacity such as the Western and Eastern Army Aviation Training Sites. Section 1082--Sense of Congress on the Legacy, Contributions, and Sacrifices of American Indian and Alaska Natives in the Armed Forces This section would express the sense of Congress on the legacy, contributions, and sacrifices of American Indian and Alaska Natives in the Armed Forces, and commits to ensuring progress for these groups with regard to representation in senior leadership positions, improved access to resources, and support for families and tribal communities. Section 1083--Amateur Radio Parity This section would require the Federal Communications Commission to amend section 97.15 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, to prohibit the application of any private land use restriction to amateur radio stations in a manner that would preclude communications in an amateur radio service. Section 1084--Sense of Congress Regarding the International Borders of the United States This section would express the sense of Congress that operational control of the international borders of the U.S. is critical to national security, the U.S. must devote adequate resources to securing the border, and the Department of Defense must have adequate resources to support the mission to secure the international borders of the U.S. while maintaining combat readiness. Section 1085--Program To Commemorate 75th Anniversary of World War II This section would require the Secretary of Defense to conduct a program to commemorate the 75th anniversary of World War II; such program would be authorized to include the provision of support to other Federal Government agencies, and to State and local governments. The Secretary would be authorized to spend not more than $2.0 million for fiscal year 2019 for the activities of the Department of Defense World War II Commemoration Fund. TITLE XI--CIVILIAN PERSONNEL MATTERS ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Civilian Talent Recruitment The committee recognizes that the Department of Defense and the military departments encounter difficulty recruiting highly specialized civilians in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields due to pay and other compensation limitations imposed by the Office of Personnel Management general schedule pay scales. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than January 31, 2019, on the challenges associated with the Department's efforts to hire organic civilians in the STEM fields. The briefing must include the following elements: (1) recommendations on how the Department can use professional pay incentives, such as special or incentive pay, like those provided to uniformed career fields such as pilots or medical professionals; (2) impacts any delays in hiring have on the Department and the services' medium- and long-term technical capabilities; and (3) an assessment of the average time it takes for the Department of Defense and the military services to hire STEM civilians and recommendations for how this process can be improved. Direct Hiring Authority The committee notes that section 1106 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114- 328) provides direct-hire authority to the Secretary of Defense for post-secondary students and recent graduates. Under this authority, the Secretary may recruit and appoint qualified recent graduates and current post-secondary students to competitive service positions in professional and administrative occupations within the Department of Defense. These appointments cannot exceed 15 percent of the number of hires made into professional and administrative occupations. Further, section 1110 of Public Law 114-328 allows for direct- hire authority for the Department for Financial Management Experts not exceeding 10 percent of the number of hires. The committee recognizes that additional hiring challenges exist throughout the Department and at many installations, and notes that additional direct-hiring authority may allow for more efficient and effective hiring of talented personnel in the fields of cybersecurity, engineering, science, and cost analysis positions. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the military departments, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than January 31, 2019, on the effectiveness of existing direct-hire authority and recommendations for any necessary expansion of or changes to the existing authority to improve the Department's ability to hire technically skilled personnel in a timely manner. Presidential Management Fellows Program The committee recognizes that the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program has been one of the most successful means of recruiting the nation's top graduate students into U.S. government service. Consistent with the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the committee recognizes the PMF program's role in recruiting highly-qualified, talented, and innovative graduate students in order to create the ``motivated, diverse, and highly skilled civilian workforce.'' In the committee's view, during the four decades since the program's founding, the Department of Defense has benefited greatly from the program. Despite this, the centrally managed process for hiring PMFs into the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) has been suspended since 2015. While Department of Defense components are permitted to hire PMFs, unfortunately, they are unable to replicate the well-rounded experience created by the rotating assignments of the OSD program that is so crucial to leadership at the highest levels. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report by January 31, 2019, on the PMF program. The report shall include the following elements: (a) a description of the PMF program historically and as it currently exists within the Department; (b) statistics on federal civilian employees who entered the Department from the PMF program since its inception, including the overall number, their average length of tenure, the component by which they were hired, their entering and departing career civilian ranks, and an accounting for any notable subsequent leadership positions in the national security field; (c) an explanation for why the centrally managed process for hiring PMFs into the Office of the Secretary of Defense has been suspended and recommendations for any changes to policy, authorities, and resources required to resume it; (d) an assessment of the benefits and costs of resuming the use of and expanding the size of the PMF program across the Department; (e) recommendations for any changes to policy, authorities, and resources required to improve the program and expedite the on-boarding process for PMFs. Recruitment and Hiring of Navy Astronomers The Committee recognizes the critical missions of the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) and the Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station (NOFS) to the Department. The Committee is aware of challenges in recent years to recruitment and timely hiring of astronomers at NOFS, which risks key astronomical observation shifts going missed. The Committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House no later than December 31, 2018, outlining: the hiring process and timeline for astronomy positions at USNO and NOFS; identifying reasons for delays in approving positions and hiring for such positions; what the Navy is doing to shorten timelines; barriers and challenges to recruitment of individuals with relevant expertise; identifying impediments to hiring such individuals in a timely basis; and identifying impediments to recruiting and relocating individuals to NOFS. Workplace Flexibility for Federal Civilians The committee recognizes efforts taken by the military services to increase workplace flexibility to attract and retain talented personnel. The committee remains concerned, however, that a lack of professional flexibility in the civilian work force limits the ability of the Department of Defense and the military services to attract and retain highly trained mid-level career professionals. Family planning and an individual's desire to further their education are two frequently cited reasons why professionals seek more flexible work schedules. The committee notes numerous private sector organizations started providing increased work flexibility to their employees, providing incentives that lure the skilled workforce away from the DoD and the services. Therefore, in order to preserve and enhance the DoD's civilian workforce the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, to provide a briefing by January 31st, 2019 that identifies current policies that allow work-share, job-share, part-time, tele-work, and other flexibilities currently offered by the Department for civilian employees. The briefing should identify the frequency with which these policies are used by each pay-band and career- field, whether certain career-fields have been exempted from certain flexibility programs and the justification for exemption, the number of employees who have been denied opportunities to do work-share, job-share, part-time work, or tele-work, and how many of these employees, as a result, have left the federal government. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Section 1101--Direct Hire Authority for the Department of Defense for Certain Competitive Service Positions This section would amend chapter 99 of title 5, United States Code, by adding a new section that would provide the Secretary of Defense authority to expedite hiring of civilian personnel into positions involving maintenance, depot maintenance, cybersecurity, acquisition, and science, technology, and engineering. This authority would expire on September 30, 2025. Section 1102--Modification of Direct Hire Authority for the Department of Defense for Post-Secondary Students and Recent Graduates This section would amend chapter 99 of title 5, United States Code, by adding a new section that would authorize the Secretary of Defense to recruit and hire recent graduates into competitive positions in the Department of Defense through September 30, 2025. This section would also repeal the more limited authority provided by section 1106 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114- 328). Section 1103--Extension of Overtime Rate Authority for Department of the Navy Employees Performing Work Aboard or Dockside in Support of the Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier Forward Deployed in Japan This section would amend section 5542 of title 5, United States Code, to extend until September 30, 2021, the authority of the Secretary of the Navy to pay overtime rates to civilian employees performing temporary duty in Japan in support of the forward deployed nuclear aircraft carrier. Section 1104--One-Year Extension and Expansion of Authority to Waive Annual Limitation on Premium Pay and Aggregate Limitation on Pay for Federal Civilian Employees Working Overseas This section would amend section 1101 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417) to extend the authority to waive the annual limitation on premium pay and aggregate limitation on pay for Federal civilian employees working overseas until September 30, 2019. This section would also restrict the waiver limitation to the pay periods applicable, rather than the entire calendar year. Section 1105--Appointment of Retired Members of the Armed Forces to Positions in or Under the Department of Defense This section would provide the Secretary of Defense temporary authority to appoint retired members of the Armed Forces to Federal civilian positions within the Department of Defense immediately upon retirement for certain categories of positions. This section would provide this authority to the Secretary for 5 years. Section 1106--Extension of Authority to Conduct Telework Travel Expenses Test Programs This section would amend section 5711 of title 5, United States Code, to extend the authority of the Administrator of the General Services Administration to conduct a test telework program until December 31, 2020. Section 1107--Personnel Demonstration Projects This section would amend section 4703 of title 5, United States Code, to deem that demonstration projects conducted under this authority lasting more than 10 years shall not count against the limit of 10 such projects ongoing at any time. Section 1108--Expanded Flexibility in Selecting Candidates From Referral Lists This section would amend subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, to provide Federal agencies flexibility in setting the minimum number of candidates who must be considered on a referral list for each vacancy by amending sections 3317, 3318, and 3319 of such title. Section 1109--Temporary and Term Appointments in the Competitive Service This section would amend subchapter I of chapter 31 of title 5, United States Code, by adding a new section that would authorize the heads of Federal agencies to hire civilian personnel through temporary and term appointments. This section would also permit an agency head to make noncompetitive hires for up to 18 months to meet a critical need. TITLE XII--MATTERS RELATING TO FOREIGN NATIONS ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Carrier Presence in the Middle East The committee recognizes the importance of maintaining an aircraft carrier strike group in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations to deter the Islamic Republic of Iran, support ongoing missions in the Republic of Iraq, the Syrian Arab Republic, and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, provide assurance to regional partners, and maintain the capacity to flexibly respond to a variety of crises across the volatile region. The Navy currently struggles to meet combatant commander presence requirements in CENTCOM and a recent gap in carrier presence there temporarily limited CENTCOM's capacity to address these security challenges. In an effort to more quickly reach the requirement for 12 aircraft carriers identified in the most recent Force Structure Assessment and to achieve greater cost savings, the committee authorized an acceleration of the next Ford-class aircraft carrier designated CVN-81 in fiscal year 2019. The committee also recommends that the Navy assess options to extend the service life of USS Nimitz (CVN 68) to mitigate potential gaps, which could affect CENTCOM's regional force presence. Casualty Evacuation in U.S. Africa Command Area of Operations Given the vast distances and austere conditions affecting mobility on the African continent, the committee recognizes that personnel recovery and casualty evacuation are critical enablers to U.S. Africa Command's (AFRICOM's) conduct of operations. The committee is concerned, however, that current funding for contractor-owned, contractor-operated casualty evacuation capabilities is currently insufficient to support requirements. Therefore, the funding table in division D would authorize an additional $15.0 million for contractor-owned, contractor-operated casualty evacuation capability in AFRICOM's area of operations. Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa The committee has long been concerned about U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa's (CJTF-HOA) ability to execute assigned missions and taskings, as evidenced by section 1241 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (Public Law 111-383), which required the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to monitor and evaluate the impact of CJTF-HOA's activities to counter violent extremism in Africa and provide a report to Congress. The committee continues to be concerned that CJTF-HOA's organizational structure, resourcing, command relationships, and lack of clearly defined role, responsibility, and authority have led to suboptimal performance in executing its assigned missions as an operational headquarters and ensuring unified action in the region. The committee acknowledges that as the only major element of AFRICOM located on the continent, there may be value in maintaining and better enabling CJTF-HOA to synchronize, facilitate, and oversee its assigned missions. The committee notes, however, that options other than a joint task force may be more effective in accomplishing these missions. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to evaluate the missions of CJTF-HOA and the operational environment to determine whether a joint task force provides the most effective headquarters option for command and control of operations. Further, the committee directs the Secretary to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than October 31, 2018, on the results of the evaluation. The briefing shall include: (1) an evaluation of the costs and benefits of maintaining a permanent U.S. military presence in East Africa, and the potential locations for such presence; (2) an evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining a combined joint task force structure to fulfill assigned missions and taskings; (3) the range of headquarters options available for command and control of operations in East Africa and the advantages and disadvantages of each option; (4) recommendations for the most effective headquarters structure, command relationships, and assignment of missions to improve the command and control of operations and to ensure unified action in East Africa; and (5) any other matter the Secretary determines to be appropriate. Coordinating Efforts To Counter the Malign Activities of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation Across Combatant Commands The committee is concerned about the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation's malign influence and activities that extend across all geographical regions and supports the Department's efforts to increase coordination across combatant commands in countering those activities. The committee believes that China and Russia's influence campaigns, economic investment and infrastructure, and security presence throughout the Indo-Pacific, Central Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America, have national security implications for the United States and its allies and partners. Therefore, the committee encourages all combatant commands to coordinate their respective efforts and use all appropriate authorities to include security cooperation activities, foreign military sales, and other equipment transfers to counter China and Russia's activities and to develop the capabilities of United States allies and partners. The committee notes that the combatant commands should align their efforts in accordance with section 1637 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91), as appropriate. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 3, 2018, on the actions the combatant commands are taking to increase coordination and counter the activities posed by China and Russia. Department of Defense Inspector General Audit of Foreign Military Sales An efficient, thorough, and effective Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process is vital to U.S. foreign policy and national security, and contributes to the health of the U.S. defense industrial base. The committee is aware, however, of concerns raised by U.S. military leaders, the defense industry, and foreign partners that the FMS process is slow, cumbersome, and overly complicated. Therefore, the committee directs the Inspector General of the Department of Defense to conduct an audit regarding Department of Defense implementation of FMS programs and, upon completion of the audit, to submit a final report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. The committee further directs the Inspector General to meet with the House Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs not later than June 30, 2018, to scope the audit fully. Additionally, the committee directs the Inspector General to provide an interim briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs not later than November 30, 2018, on the manner that it intends to conduct such audit. Foreign Military Sales A key element of the 2018 National Defense Strategy is to ``strengthen alliances and attract new partners.'' The committee is aware that the Department of Defense is making progress instituting the security cooperation reforms contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328). The committee remains concerned, however, that the execution of foreign military sales (FMS) is not coordinated holistically across the Department to prioritize resources and effort in support of U.S. national security objectives and the defense industrial base. Consequently, acquisition decisions continue to be made in a stovepiped manner and without sufficient regard for the role of FMS. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs by October 31, 2018, on the procedures instituted by the Department to integrate FMS and other security cooperation activities into the planning process for defense acquisition. Additionally, the committee notes that there are separate and disparate efforts across the Department that develop, negotiate, and implement foreign military sales for missile defense capability. This often leads to foreign partners not being provided price and availability for all potential systems that could meet their requirements, and the best solution to benefit both the partner nation and overall Department interests. Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, in coordination with the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, Secretary of the Navy, and Secretary of the Army, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by November 30, 2018, on options to improve, consolidate, and streamline missile defense foreign military sales across the Department. Further, the committee believes that production of additional foreign military sales variants may help mitigate risk to the supplier base and overall production capacity for precision guided munitions. Elsewhere in this report the committee encourages the Secretary of Defense to ensure that the AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles production line is kept at or near full capacity whenever possible, either by increasing production to fill U.S. military requirements or by supplementing production for the U.S. military with higher FMS production. Improved Coordination of Activities in Africa With International Partners The committee is aware that international partners such as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the French Republic, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates, plus multinational organizations such as the European Union and African Union, and many others, conduct programs to build partner capacity in Africa. The committee is concerned that U.S. programs may be duplicative or in conflict with international partners' activities, or that gaps in capabilities are unaddressed. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs by October 31, 2018, on the steps being taken to coordinate security cooperation activities in Africa with international partners. International Armaments Cooperation The committee appreciates that international armaments cooperation (IAC) involves cooperative research, development, test, and evaluation of defense technologies, systems, or equipment; joint production and follow-on support of defense articles or equipment; and procurement of foreign technology, equipment, systems or logistics support. The committee further appreciates that the Office of the Director of International Cooperation and the IAC Directorate are charged with performing managerial roles with respect to these important functions. However, the committee questions whether IAC is sufficiently utilized for strategic purposes and questions whether the Office of the Director of International Cooperation and the IAC Directorate are optimally situated to contribute to long-term policy making and strategic oversight regarding Department of Defense security cooperation programs. Therefore, the committee encourages the Secretary of Defense to evaluate the status of IAC within the Department of Defense and to consider the merits of realigning the Office of the Director of International Cooperation and the IAC Directorate from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. The committee also directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by October 31, 2018, on IAC, the Office of the Director of International Cooperation, and the IAC Directorate. At a minimum, the briefing shall include the following: (1) a description of the dispositions, missions, roles, and responsibilities of all departmental offices with a role in IAC (to include the Office of the Director of International Cooperation, the IAC Directorate, and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency); (2) an assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of the current organizational and operational structures related to IAC (to include the placement of the Office of the Director of International Cooperation and the IAC Directorate); (3) an assessment of the merits of realigning the Office of the Director of International Cooperation or the IAC Directorate to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; and (4) a discussion of the steps that have been, or may be, taken by the Department of Defense to improve IAC to achieve strategic objectives. Multilateral Cooperation on the Korean Peninsula The committee supports efforts between United States Forces Korea and the United Nations Command Sending States and certain countries to augment U.S. forces and forces of the Republic of Korea on the Korean peninsula. The committee is pleased to see cooperation and participation among the United States, South Korea, United Nations Command Sending States, and certain countries in combined defense exercises. The committee further believes that these allies and partners can continue to play a vital role in contributing military assets for contingencies and capabilities in the naval and maritime domain as well as participating in training and exercises. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the component commands, to provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives not later than December 1, 2018, on recommendations to strengthen coordination with liaison components and to broaden such cooperation, including information sharing, training and exercise opportunities, and integration and planning of multi-national forces into existing arrangements between the United States and South Korea. Naval Mine Countermeasure Capability in the U.S. Central Command's Area of Operations The committee recognizes the importance of the U.S. Navy's mine countermeasures (MCM) capability in protecting the free flow of commerce through the Suez Canal, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Bab al Mandeb Strait. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than September 30, 2018, on the MCM platforms that are capable of being readily deployed to U.S. Central Command's area of operations. This briefing should describe available MCM platforms, the time that would be required to clear relevant sea lanes of the mine threats posed by regional state and non- state actors including the Islamic Republic of Iran, the extent to which MCM training and exercises focus on potential mining contingencies in Middle Eastern waterways, and, if applicable, the extent to which U.S. MCM shortfalls could be covered by partner-country capabilities. Non-Standard Acquisition in Foreign Military Sales The committee is aware that foreign partners are increasingly considering U.S.-made capabilities through Foreign Military Sales (FMS) that are not currently a Department of Defense program of record. For FMS purposes, a non-standard article is one that the Department of Defense does not manage, either because an applicable end item has been retired or because it was never purchased for Department components; a non-standard service is one that the Department of Defense does not routinely provide for itself or for purchase. Likewise, the Department's building partner capacity (BPC) programs include acquisition of non-standard articles and services under defense security cooperation train and equip authorities. Consequently, there is an increasing need for the Department of Defense to provide adequate program-level support so that these systems can be sold to international partners and supported over the life-cycle of the program. The committee is also aware that the military departments have, on a case-by-case basis, established program offices to support the foreign sale of certain non-standard articles. The committee is concerned, however, that these ad hoc efforts do not provide the support necessary to manage foreign partners' acquisition of non-standard articles and services across the Department of Defense in a holistic manner. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a review of the acquisition of non-standard articles and services for FMS and BPC programs, and to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs by October 31, 2018, on the results of the review. The briefing shall include the following with respect to foreign partners' acquisition of non-standard articles and services through FMS or BPC programs: (1) a description of current processes and procedures; (2) an overview of previous programs, and an assessment of future opportunities for such programs; (3) the various options the Department of Defense could use to address this issue, including the advantages and disadvantages of each and funding requirements; (4) statutory, regulatory, policy, or funding constraints related to the options in (3); and (5) any other matter the Secretary considers appropriate. Report on New START Treaty The committee notes that the New START Treaty entered into force in 2011 and is set to expire in 2021 but may be extended for a period of an additional five years. U.S. Strategic Command Commander General Hyten stated in March 2017 before the House Armed Services Committee that ``I've stated for the record in the past, and I'll state again, that I'm a big supporter of the New START Agreement.'' In addition, the committee notes that Air Force deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence General Weinstein also stated in March 2017 that ``The reason you do a treaty is not to cut forces but to maintain strategic stability among world powers. And the New START Treaty allowed us to maintain [that stability]. I think there is a huge value with what the New START Treaty has provided . . . So I think the New START Treaty has been good, been good for us.'' Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, to provide a report to the congressional defense committees no later than November 15, 2018, on whether, and if so, the reasons that, the New START Treaty, and the extension of the treaty as of the date of the report, is in the national security interests of the United States. Report on U.S. Casualty Estimates for Armed Conflict With North Korea The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a report to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than September 30, 2018, and again 180 days thereafter, on the U.S. casualty estimates for likely scenarios of an armed conflict with North Korea. The reports should be unclassified, but each may contain a classified annex. Security and Stability in Venezuela The committee is concerned about the degradation of democratic institutions, security and stability, and human rights violations in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela during the authoritarian rule of President Nicol s Maduro. President Maduro's leadership tenure has produced economic, political, and security instability in Venezuela. The severe humanitarian crisis unfolding in Venezuela includes inflation exceeding 1,100 percent, massive shortages in food and medical supplies, and a near complete collapse of social services. The committee notes this crisis is directly impacting the Republic of Colombia with an estimated 500,000 Venezuelans seeking refuge there. The committee recognizes that hundreds of thousands more vulnerable members of the Venezuelan population could potentially migrate to Colombia and other neighboring countries to seek safety and opportunity. This migration could have impacts on stability throughout South America. Therefore, the committee urges the Department of Defense, in close conjunction with other U.S. agencies, to monitor the economic, security, and political situation in Venezuela closely and to continue working with the government of Colombia and other regional partners to assist the Venezuelan refugee population and resolve the crisis. Support to Syrian Women The committee notes the efforts of nongovernmental organizations that have successfully increased the inclusion of Syrian women in local and provincial governance. The committee further notes that women have been instrumental to humanitarian aid efforts at the local level in Syria, and have helped keep schools, hospitals, and basic services running in their communities. Women serve on local councils, advise local police departments, and are being trained to hold forums and town halls in their communities. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense in coordination with the Secretary of State to provide the House Armed Services Committees no later than December 1, 2018 a briefing on any efforts to support appropriately vetted Syrian opposition forces as defined in section 1209 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291; 128 Stat. 3541) in their efforts to increase the inclusion of women in security and governance processes. Additionally, the briefing shall include any plans to initiate or expand such efforts in the future. Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Support to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces The committee notes that the Department of Defense works closely with the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) to provide protected mobility as well as a wide-range of other capabilities based on military requirements, including ANDSF priorities as well as the ANDSF's capability to maintain and sustain such equipment. The committee understands the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A) conducted a tactical wheeled vehicle (TWV) optimization study in 2016 in support of the ANDSF with a focus on creating a sustainable, affordable, and effective fleet that would increase combat capability and force protection for occupants. It is unclear to the committee whether this study considered providing excess defense article mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles to the ANDSF. The committee notes there are several thousand MRAP vehicles categorized as Excess Defense Articles (EDA) in the Department's inventory that could potentially be used to address protected mobility requirements for the ANDSF. The committee is aware the ANDSF are using MRAP vehicles and notes these vehicles provide for increased survivability and offensive power in combat operations. Further, the committee is aware of a recent letter of request by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for 738 MRAP vehicles. Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, in consultation with the Director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by October 30, 2018, on the cost, operational survivability, and sustainability of EDA MRAP vehicles for the ANDSF, the status of the most recent letter of request for 738 MRAP vehicles for the ANDSF, and whether MRAP vehicles were considered as part of the most recent TWV optimization study conducted by CSTC-A. The briefing should also take into account cost, blast protection level, catastrophic losses to date of vehicles and numbers of Afghan soldiers killed in vehicles damaged by improvised explosive devices. Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) The committee recognizes the threat posed by terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Boko Haram, and ISIS West Africa, and that such threat poses risks to the stabilization of countries in West Africa and the Sahel. The committee emphasizes that countering terrorism throughout Western Africa and the Sahel requires enhancing regional border security, tracking illicit financial flows, building law enforcement capacity, and strengthening the rule of law. In order to promote stable and strong institutions throughout Western Africa and the Sahel, a whole of government approach is called for, leveraging State Department-led diplomatic efforts, military-to-military relationships developed and led by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), and development projects carried out by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) developed in 2005 by the Department of Defense (AFRICOM), Department of State, and USAID was created to support national and regional institutions in the region working with regional governments and European partners bordering the Mediterranean. The committee encourages the Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Partnership to continue with regular interagency coordination and engagement with regional partners and allies. The Committee directs the Office of the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to provide a briefing to the House Committees on Armed Services and Foreign Affairs by March 1, 2019 on the Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Partnership including any activities or partner engagement related to military, counter-terrorism, and law-enforcement capacity-building, as well as public diplomacy and information operations. U.S. Military Education and Training Locations The committee recognizes the importance of U.S. military leadership in advancing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's mission to guarantee freedom and security in the alliance and around the world. As the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the allied invasion of Normandy, France, approaches, the committee notes the significance of this event in history. As such, the committee believes the Cotentin Peninsula could serve as a potential location for Department of Defense activities to grow global partnerships and alliances. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the House Committee on Armed Services and the Senate Committee on Armed Services not later than December 1, 2018, on the feasibility (including cost and availability of any suitable locations for potential activities) of activities to grow global partnerships and alliances on the Cotentin Peninsula prior to the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in June 2019. Western Hemisphere Region Report on Strategy To Increase Engagement With Region It is the sense of Congress that the security, stability, and prosperity of the Western Hemisphere region are vital to the national interests of the United States. The United States has a military capability in the Western Hemisphere region that builds goodwill and is able to project power, build partner capacity, deter acts of aggression, and respond, if necessary, to natural disasters, regional threats or to threats to the national security of the United States by the activities of actors, such as Iran, China, Russia, North Korea, transnational criminal organizations, or terrorist organizations in the region. The Committee believes continuing efforts by the Department of Defense to increase investments in the Western Hemisphere are necessary to build and maintain a robust United States commitment to the region. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to submit a report to the congressional defense committees, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives by April 1, 2019, that contains a strategy on effective U.S. defense engagement with the Western Hemisphere region, a plan to implement that strategy, and any additional funding requirements to implement such strategy. The strategy shall address each of the following: (1) The security challenges, including threats, emanating from the Western Hemisphere region, including from natural disasters, and any capability gaps in United States defense posture to the region; (2) The security threats to the United States or to its interests in the Western Hemisphere region from the engagement of Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea in the region, with a specific focus on Iran's engagement in the Tri-Border region of South America, Bolivia, and Venezuela and Russian engagement in Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela; (3) The counterintelligence threats to the United States from Cuba and the role of Cuba in supporting the Venezuelan government; (4) The threats to the United States from transregional and transnational threat networks, including in drug trafficking, illegal mining, deforestation, human trafficking, and other illicit activities; (5) The threats to the United States from the links of the Venezuelan government with drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations and corrupt government actors in the region; (6) Department of Defense plans, force posture, capabilities, and resources to address any gaps in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, or counter- intelligence capabilities in the region; and (7) The allies, partners, and other countries in the region that the Defense Department has prioritized for increased cooperation and a description of the areas of proposed increased cooperation. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--Assistance and Training Section 1201--Report on the Use of Security Cooperation Authorities This section would express the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense should use appropriate security cooperation authorities to counter the malign influence campaigns that are directed at allies and partners and that pose a significant threat to the United States. This section would also require the Secretary of Defense to include a report on funding for this purpose with the consolidated budget materials for security cooperation required by section 381 of title 10, United States Code, in fiscal year 2020 through fiscal year 2025. The committee recognizes that Department of Defense programs aimed at building partner capacity, such as those authorized under section 333(a) of title 10, United States Code, have largely focused on building counterterrorism capabilities in allies and partners. However, with the security cooperation reforms contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328) and the evolving security environment, the committee urges the Department to develop capabilities with key allies and partners that will enable them to counter and mitigate the impact of malign influence campaigns by competitors or adversaries. Section 1202--Clarification of Authority To Waive Certain Expenses for Activities of the Regional Centers for Security Studies This section would amend section 342 of title 10, United States Code, to clarify that travel, transportation, and subsistence expenses are included among the costs of activities of the Regional Centers eligible for waiver of reimbursement. Section 1203--NATO Strategic Communications Center of Excellence This section would authorize the Secretary of Defense to provide funds for fiscal year 2019 for the purposes of supporting the NATO Strategic Communications Center of Excellence, and would direct the Secretary of Defense to assign executive agent responsibilities to an appropriate organization within the Department of Defense. Section 1204--NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence This section would authorize the Secretary of Defense to provide funds for fiscal year 2019 for the purposes of supporting the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence, and would direct the Secretary of Defense to assign executive agent responsibilities to an appropriate organization within the Department of Defense. Section 1205--Participation in and Support of the Inter-American Defense College This section would make permanent the authority for U.S. participation in and support of the Inter-American Defense College and would transfer such authority to chapter 16 of title 10, United States Code. This section would further require that Department of Defense participation in, and host nation support of, the Inter-American Defense College shall be in accordance with a memorandum of understanding between the Department and the Inter-American Defense Board, with Secretary of State concurrence, and that such memorandum of understanding shall provide details of any cost-sharing or funding arrangements, a curriculum, and a plan for academic program development. Section 1206--Increase in Cost Limitation for Small Scale Construction Related to Security Cooperation This section would increase the limitation on small scale construction related to security cooperation from $0.75 million to $2.0 million. Section 1207--Report on Security Cooperation With Haiti This section would require the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, to submit a report on cooperation between the Department of Defense and the Government of the Republic of Haiti. Section 1208--Review and Report on Processes and Procedures Used to Carry Out Section 362 of Title 10, United States Code This section would require the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, to conduct a review of the processes and procedures used to carry out section 362 of title 10, United States Code, and submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees on such review. This section would also make conforming amendments to section 362 and to section 1206 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291). Subtitle B--Matters Relating to Afghanistan and Pakistan Section 1211--Extension of Authority To Transfer Defense Articles and Provide Defense Services to the Military and Security Forces of Afghanistan This section would extend the authority to transfer defense articles being drawn down in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the authority to provide defense services regarding such transfers to the military and security forces of Afghanistan. Section 1212--Extension of Authority for Reimbursement of Certain Coalition Nations for Support Provided to United States Military Operations This section would extend through December 31, 2019, the authority to make Coalition Support Fund (CSF) payments under section 1233 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181). This section would also maintain the limitations enacted in section 1233 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91), which provided that of the funds authorized for CSF, not more than $700.0 million may be provided to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and of that amount, not more than $350.0 million may be provided until the Secretary of Defense certified that Pakistan is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani Network. The committee notes that elsewhere in this Act, it has fully authorized the President's budget request of $900.0 million for fiscal year 2019 for CSF payments. Section 1213--Extension and Modification of Commanders' Emergency Response Program This section would extend the Commanders' Emergency Response Program through 2020 and would modify the eligibility to include Somalia, Yemen, and Libya. Section 1214--Report on Assistance to Pakistan This section would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the congressional defense committees not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act describing the manner in which the Department provides assistance to the Government of Pakistan. Subtitle C--Matters Relating to Syria, Iraq, and Iran Section 1221--Extension and Modification of Authority To Provide Assistance to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria This section would extend the authority to provide assistance to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. This section would also authorize a funding level of $850.0 million for such support in Iraq. The committee notes that some U.S.-provided equipment has inadvertently fallen into the hands of groups that operate outside of the control of the central Government of the Republic of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government. The committee urges the Department of Defense to evaluate its current safeguards to ensure that equipment is properly stored and maintained. Section 1222--Extension of Authority To Provide Assistance to the Vetted Syrian Opposition This section would extend and modify section 1209 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291) by extending the ``Syria train and equip'' program and the reprogramming requirement through December 31, 2019. Further, this section would require the President to submit to the congressional defense committees a plan at least 30 days prior to an initial reprogramming request in fiscal year 2019. The plan would describe the efforts the United States will take to train and build an appropriately vetted force; the nature of the force; the current effectiveness of the force; the conditions to be met for a determination that the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has been adequately neutralized; the roles and contributions of partner countries; the concept of operations, timelines and types of training, equipment, stipends, sustainment, supplies to be provided by the United States (including measures for accountability); and a description of force posture. Section 1223--Extension and Modification of Authority To Support Operations and Activities of the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq This section would extend the authority for the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq (OSC-I) through December 31, 2019. The committee recognizes that OSC-I will manage U.S. security cooperation with the Republic of Iraq over the long term and expects the Department of Defense to ensure, to the extent practicable, that the Government of Iraq is able to sustain and maintain U.S.-provided equipment throughout the lifespan of such equipment. Section 1224--Sense of Congress on Ballistic Missile Cooperation to Counter Iran This section would express the sense of Congress that the Gulf Cooperation Council member countries should take meaningful steps to build an interoperable ballistic missile defense architecture with emphasis on information sharing, including early warning and tracking data, to defend against the Islamic Republic of Iran missile threat. Section 1225--Strategy To Counter Destabilizing Activities of Iran This section would authorize the Secretary of Defense, with concurrence of the Secretary of State, to develop and implement a strategy with foreign partners to counter the destabilizing activities of Iran. Under such a strategy, partners and allies would commit to collaborating with the United States on a variety of efforts, including but not limited to investing in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms, mine countermeasures resources, integrated air and missile defense, and cybersecurity; engaging in combined planning, defense education, and institution building; and sharing information. Further, this section would require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to submit a report to the congressional defense committees and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, on the strategy and the actions taken by partners and allies. Section 1226--Report on Compliance of Iran Under the Chemical Weapons Convention This section would require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to submit a report to the House Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs by February 1, 2019, assessing the extent to which Iran is complying with its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention. Section 1227--Report on Potential Release of Chemical Weapons or Chemical Weapons Precursors From Barzeh Research and Development Center and Him Shinshar Chemical Weapons Storage and Bunker Facilities in Homs Province of Syria This section would require the Secretary of Defense to provide a report to the congressional defense committees within 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act on the analysis for potential release of chemical weapons or chemical weapon precursors, conducted prior to U.S. and partner forces strikes on the Barzeh Research and Development Center and the Him Shinshar chemical weapons storage and bunker facilities in Homs province of Syria in April 2018. Section 1228--Report on Cooperation Between Iran and the Russian Federation This provision would require a report each year for the next 5 years on military and security cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation, particularly in respect to Syria. The report would further cover Russian and Iranian intelligence-sharing, joint naval exercises, joint cooperation on Iran's space and nuclear programs, Russian cooperation with Hezbollah, and the potential that Iran will adopt Russia's hybrid warfare model. Subtitle D--Matters Relating to the Russian Federation Section 1231--Prohibition on Availability of Funds Relating to Sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea This section would extend by 1 year the prohibition imposed by section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114-92), as amended by section 1232 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91). This section would prohibit the use of fiscal year 2019 funds to implement any activity that recognizes the sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea. This section would also allow the Secretary of Defense, in concurrence with the Secretary of State, to waive the prohibition if the Secretary determines that doing so would be in the national security interest of the United States and submits a notification to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. Section 1232--Limitation on Availability of Funds Relating to Implementation of the Open Skies Treaty The committee is aware that the Department of State's 2018 arms control compliance report, also known as the ``Report on Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments'', submitted pursuant to section 2593a of title 22, United States Code, continues to find the Russian Federation in violation of numerous provisions of the Treaty on Open Skies. Consistent with prior National Defense Authorization Acts, the committee believes legislation is appropriate and required to oversee the implementation of this treaty. This section would prohibit the use of funding authorized in this Act for fiscal year 2019 for the purposes of upgrading or modernizing certain Treaty on Open Skies systems until such time as the President (or the Secretary of State) is able to certify that the President has imposed treaty violations responses and legal countermeasures. This section would also limit the use of funding authorized in this Act or any other Act for fiscal year 2019 for the approval or adoption of any implementing decision in the Open Skies Consultative Commission concerning approval of a request by states parties to certify infra-red or synthetic aperture radar sensors under the treaty. Such funding would be restricted until: (1) the Secretary of Defense, jointly with the relevant U.S. Government officials, submits a certification that an implementing decision would not be harmful or detrimental to the national security of the United States, as well as a report on certain matters has been submitted to the appropriate congressional committees; and (2) the President has certified, not later than 90 days prior to a decision taking effect, that Russia is in complete compliance with the treaty, is allowing observation flights over certain specified regions, and it has agreed to certain conditions (including the extradition of Russian citizens involved in undertaking unlawful activities against the United States incident to the 2016 Presidential election, it has withdrawn from Crimea and ceased support to Russian proxies in Eastern Ukraine, and has ceased all military and financial support for any state that uses or has used against its civilian population any agent or substance banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention). The President would be permitted to waive the limitation subject to certain conditions. The section would also permit the Secretary to cease operation of treaty aircraft for safety of flight. Section 1233--Comprehensive Response to the Russian Federation's Material Breach of the INF Treaty This section would state a series of findings concerning Russian Federation violations of the INF Treaty. This section would also state that it is the policy of the United States that Russia has defeated the object and purpose of the treaty, is in material breach of the treaty, and as a result the U.S. is legally entitled to suspend the operation of the treaty in whole or in part for so long as the Russian Federation continues to be in material breach of the treaty. This section would additionally withhold 25 percent of the funding authorized to be appropriated by this Act for Department support to the Executive Office of the President, other than funding required for senior leader communications, until the President certifies that each requirement of section 1290 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328) has been met; that the President has notified the appropriate congressional committees of the imposition of sanctions pursuant to section 1290 of that Act; and, that the President has submitted the report required by section 1244(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91). The committee notes that because the requirements of section 1244(b)(2) of Public Law 115-91 have not been satisfied as of this report, the restriction on $50.0 million in fiscal year 2018 authorized funding for the Special Mission Area of the Defense Information Systems Agency remains in place. The committee is aware that the State Department's 2018 arms control compliance report, also known as the Report on Adherence to and Compliance With Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments, submitted pursuant to section 2593a of title 22, United States Code, continues to find Russia in violation of the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF Treaty), specifically the obligations not to possess, produce, or flight-test a ground-launched missile with a range capability of 500 kilometers to 5,500 kilometers. Each National Defense Authorization Act since fiscal year 2014 has included measures to pressure Russia to return to compliance with the treaty and to ensure Russia cannot obtain a military advantage by its violations of the treaty. The committee believes time is running out for Russia to take actions that will allow for the preservation of the treaty. Section 1234--Modification and Extension of Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative This section would extend by 2 years section 1250 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114-92), most recently amended by section 1234 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91), to authorize the Secretary of Defense to provide security assistance and intelligence support to the Government of Ukraine. This section would also authorize $250.0 million to carry out this authority in fiscal year 2019. The committee recognizes the essential role played by U.S. and partner assistance in training, advising, and equipping Ukrainian military and security forces, including the invaluable contributions of the National Guard through the State Partnership Program, and urges the Defense Department to fully resource those efforts. As part of these efforts, the committee recognizes the contributions of training activities conducted at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center in Yavoriv, Ukraine, and similar locations. The committee commends the administration for providing defensive lethal assistance through Foreign Military Financing in the past year to the Government of Ukraine to support its efforts to protect and defend its territorial integrity. The committee urges the Department to continue to use the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) for assistance to the Government of Ukraine and encourages the Department to consider USAI as a source of funds for future defensive lethal assistance. Section 1235--Statement of Policy on United States Military Investment in Europe This section would state that it is the policy of the United States to sustain credible deterrence against aggression by the Government of the Russian Federation. The committee notes section 1273 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) required the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the congressional defense committees detailing a Future Years Defense Program plan for resourcing and planning for the European Deterrence Initiative. Section 1273 also prohibited any further action with respect to sites identified for divestiture, but not yet divested, as part of the European Infrastructure Consolidation (EIC) initiative until the report was submitted to the congressional defense committees. As the section 1273 report has not been submitted in compliance with the statutory requirement, the committee believes the limitation of the divestiture of sites under the EIC is still in place. Section 1236--Imposition of Sanctions With Respect to Certain Persons Providing Sophisticated Goods, Services, or Technologies for Use in the Production of Major Defense Equipment or Advanced Conventional Weapons This section would require the President to submit a report to the specified congressional committees within 120 days after the date of enactment of the Act; the report would list such persons as are described in section 1290 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114- 328). This section would also require the President to submit a report to the specified congressional committees within 120 days after the date of enactment of the Act; the report would provide information related to the supply chains for Russian arms sales programs. The section would require the imposition of sanctions with respect to persons providing specified support to Russian industry, with a focus on targeting Russia's defense industry supply chain, involved with developing or producing major defense equipment or advanced conventional weapons. The sanctions available to the President would include, denial of sales or defense articles and services; licenses for export of an item on the United States Munitions List; or, exports controlled for national security under the Export Administration Regulations. It would also contain an enhanced sanction for governments of state-sponsors of terrorism that obtain such equipment from Russia. The President would be authorized to waive the imposition of sanctions with respect to the new sanctions provided in this section in certain specified circumstances. This section would also amend section 231 of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (Public Law 115- 44), by providing an authority to suspend the imposition of sanctions under that Act for 180-day periods in the event a person demonstrates that they are directly supporting U.S. national security objectives and have taken specified steps, including terminating defense relationships with Russia, or reducing reliance upon the Russian defense or intelligence sectors. Finally, all provisions or amendments made by this section would expire in 5 years. Section 1237--Extension of Limitation on Military Cooperation Between the United States and the Russian Federation This section would extend for 1-year section 1232(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328), as most recently amended by section 1231 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91). This section would limit the use of fiscal year 2019 funds for bilateral military-to-military cooperation between the Government of the United States and the Russian Federation until the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, provides a certification to appropriate congressional committees relating to certain actions by Russia. This section would also allow the Secretary of Defense to waive the limitation under certain conditions. Section 1238--Sense of Congress Regarding Russia's Violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention This section would express the sense of Congress that the Russian Federation is in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Section 1239--United States Actions Regarding Material Breach of INF Treaty by the Russian Federation This section would provide that, unless the President certifies to the specified congressional committees that the Russian Federation has returned to full and verifiable compliance with the INF Treaty within 1 year of the date of the enactment of this Act, the prohibitions set forth in Article VI of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty would no longer be binding upon the United States as a matter of U.S. law. Section 1240--Limitation on Availability of Funds To Extend the Implementation of the New START Treaty This section would limit the expenditure of funds for the Department of Defense to extend the implementation of the New START Treaty unless and until the President certifies that the President has raised the issue of certain new Russian nuclear weapons systems under Article V of the New START Treaty and that the Russian Federation has responded in writing to the United States as to whether they will agree to declare such nuclear weapons systems pursuant to the Treaty. The President would be required to notify the specified congressional committees on whether the Russian position threatens the viability of the New START Treaty or requires political, economic, or military response by the United States. Subtitle E--Matters Relating to the Indo-Pacific Region Section 1251--Support for Indo-Pacific Stability Initiative This section would express the sense of Congress in support of the Indo-Pacific Stability Initiative to increase and enhance U.S. force posture; improve military and defense infrastructure, basing, and logistics; and increase bilateral and multilateral training and exercises with allies and partner nations. This section would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a requirement and resource plan to the congressional defense committees by March 1, 2019, that includes an analysis of the challenges faced by the United States to meet the objectives and activities outlined in the Indo-Pacific Stability Initiative and the resource requirements needed through fiscal year 2024 to address such challenges. This section also would require the Secretary to submit budget materials in support of the budget of the President for fiscal year 2020. Section 1252--United States Strategy on China This section would require the President to issue a strategy on the United States' whole-of-government approach to safeguard U.S. interests against Chinese industrial acquisitions, political influence, and regional and global military capabilities and presence that have defense and security implications for the United States and its allies and partners. The strategy and recommendations for implementation would be required to be submitted to the appropriate congressional committees as a written report not later than March 1, 2019. Section 1253--Strengthening Taiwan's Force Readiness This section would direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct a comprehensive assessment, in consultation with appropriate counterparts of Taiwan, on ways to enhance and reform Taiwan's military forces, particularly Taiwan's reserve forces. The assessment would also require the development of recommendations to strengthen bilateral cooperation and improve Taiwan's self-defense capabilities. The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, would be required to submit a report on the assessment and a list of recommendations and planned actions to the appropriate congressional committees not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. Section 1254--Modification, Redesignation, and Extension of Southeast Asia Maritime Security Initiative This section would modify the Southeast Asia Maritime Security Initiative by amending the name to the Indo-Pacific Maritime Security Initiative. It would include India as a covered country and allow for the inclusion of additional countries in the Indo-Pacific region if the Secretary of Defense, in concurrence with the Secretary of State, determines and certifies to the appropriate committees of Congress that it is important for increasing maritime security and maritime domain awareness. This section would also extend the authority by 3 years from September 30, 2020, to September 30, 2023. Section 1255--Missile Defense Exercises in the Indo-Pacific Region With United States Regional Allies and Partners This section would express the sense of Congress that the United States should continue to develop and deploy robust missile defense in the Indo-Pacific region. This section would also express that the United States should increase coordination, conduct bilateral and multilateral missile defense exercises, and increase the capacity and integration of missile defense systems with allies and partners to move toward a more interoperable and integrated missile defense architecture. This section would also state that the Secretary of Defense may conduct missile defense exercises in the Indo-Pacific region with U.S. regional allies and partners to improve interoperability. Finally, this section would require the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives on the matters contained in subsection (c) not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Section 1256--Quadrilateral Cooperation and Exercise This section would express the sense of Congress on supporting quadrilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan, the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Republic of India, and others as appropriate. This section would also state that the Secretary of Defense may conduct a quadrilateral naval military exercise and it would require the Secretary to provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives on matters contained in this section not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Section 1257--Name of United States Indo-Pacific Command This section would change the name of ``United States Pacific Command'' to ``United States Indo-Pacific Command'' beginning in January 1, 2020. This section also would make several conforming amendments pursuant to the name change. The committee notes that changing the name from ``United States Pacific Command'' to ``United States Indo-Pacific Command'' may involve some necessary administrative expenditures. The committee believes the Department of Defense should be prudent and minimize such costs to the extent practicable. Section 1258--Requirement for Critical Languages and Expertise in Chinese, Korean, and Russian This section would require the Secretary of Defense to provide a plan to address shortfalls in Chinese, Korean, and Russian language and expertise across the Department of Defense. Specifically, the plan shall provide a near-term and long-term plan for how the Department is building competency in these critical areas and the Secretary of Defense shall submit that plan to the congressional defense committees not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Section 1259--Modification of Report Required Under Enhancing Defense and Security Cooperation With India This section would amend subsection (a)(2) of section 1292 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (114-328) by adding an additional reporting requirement. The new reporting requirement would include a description of the progress on enabling agreements between the United States and the Republic of India, any limitations that hinder or slow progress, measures to improve interoperability, and actions India is taking, or the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of State believe India should take, to advance the relationship with the United States. Section 1260--Statement of Policy on Naval Vessel Transfers to Japan This section would express that it shall be the policy of the United States to support maritime defense cooperation with Japan. Section 1261--Report and Public Notification on China's Military, Maritime, and Air Activities in the Indo-Pacific Region This section would state the sense of Congress that greater transparency of the People's Republic of China provocative military, maritime, and air activities in the Indo-Pacific region would aid in raising awareness of these activities, enable regional security partners to more effectively protect their sovereignty and defend their rights under international law, and maintain stability within the region to enable constructive relations with China. This section would also require Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of State, to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees on a quarterly basis describing China's activities in the Indo-Pacific region, and disseminate the report to regional allies and partners and provide public notification, as appropriate. The dissemination and availability of the report and public notification shall be made in a manner consistent with national security and the protection of classified national security information. Section 1262--Senior Defense Engagement With Taiwan This section would express the sense of Congress that, pursuant to the Taiwan Travel Act, a service secretary or member of the joint chiefs should visit Taiwan for a senior- level defense engagement. This section would require a briefing to the congressional defense committees, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives on any plans of the Department to carry out senior-level defense engagement. Section 1263--Limitation on Use of Funds To Reduce the Total Number of Members of the Armed Forces on Active Duty Who Are Deployed to the Republic of Korea This section would limit the use of funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act to reduce the number of members of the Armed Forces serving on Active Duty in the Republic of Korea below 22,000 unless the Secretary of Defense first provides certification to the congressional defense committees that such a reduction is in the national security interest of the United States and will not significantly undermine the security of the United States allies in the region. Section 1264--Enhancing Missile Defense Cooperation With Partners This section would state the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense should seek to increase missile defense coordination and cooperation with U.S. partners. This section would amend section 1292 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114- 328) as amended by section 1258 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) by including missile defense cooperation as a priority of Department of Defense defense cooperation efforts with the Republic of India. Subtitle F--Other Matters Section 1271--Report on Status of the United States Relationship With the Republic of Turkey This section would require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to submit a report on the U.S.-Turkish relationship to the congressional defense committees, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. This section would also prohibit any action to execute delivery of a foreign military sale for major defense equipment under section 36 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2761) to the Republic of Turkey until the required report is delivered to the specified congressional committees. Section 1272--Sense of Congress on Unity of Gulf Cooperation Council Member Countries This section would describe the sense of Congress that the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are important security cooperation partners of the United States, that GCC unity and cohesion is critical to facing the growing threats from the Islamic Republic of Iran, and that the timely normalization of diplomatic, security, and economic relationships is in the best interest of the United States. Section 1273--Report on United States Government Police Training and Equipping Programs for Mexico This section would require the President to submit a report to the congressional defense committees, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives by July 1, 2019, on U.S. police training and equipping programs with the United States of Mexico. Section 1274--Authority To Increase Engagement and Military-to-Military Cooperation With Western Balkans Countries This section would authorize the Secretary of Defense to increase engagement and military-to-military cooperation utilizing authorized programs and activities under chapter 16 of title 10, United States Code, for the Western Balkans region including the Republic of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Kosovo, and the Republic of Macedonia. The committee is concerned about long-term stability and security in the Western Balkans region. Ethnic tensions, economic challenges, and malign outside influences are contributing to the instability of the region. The committee remains concerned about the upcoming elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since the signing of the Dayton Accords in 1995, Bosnia and Herzegovina has maintained growth in developing democratic institutions and elections. The committee encourages the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to promptly and effectively address their constitutional challenges and hold fair and free elections in October 2018. The committee remains deeply concerned over the Russian Federation's intensifying efforts to assert its influence in the Western Balkans. The committee condemns Russia's involvement in the attempted coup against the Government of the newest member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Montenegro, in October 2016. The committee is also concerned about Russian information operations in the Balkans including propaganda and efforts to highlight lingering ethnic tensions. The committee is encouraged by the strong partnerships that continue to develop in the Western Balkans with the United States. These partnerships are vital to increase security, stability, and prosperity in the region. The committee also encourages European partners and allies to strengthen relationships in the region as well. The committee is hopeful about, and supportive of, the continued work of many in the region toward goals of integrating into the Euro-Atlantic community, including NATO and the European Union (EU). The continued forward progress by these nations toward accession into NATO and the EU provides a stable framework from which to achieve greater stability and security throughout Central Europe. The committee notes that the Department of Defense should continue to increase military-to-military cooperation and engagements in the region. Section 1275--Technical Corrections Relating to Defense Security Cooperation Statutory Reorganization This section would make technical corrections relating to defense security cooperation statutory reorganization. Section 1276--United States-Israel Countering Unmanned Aerial Systems Cooperation This section would modify section 1279 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114- 92) to authorize establishment of a cooperative research and development program with the State of Israel to develop capabilities for countering unmanned aerial systems through modification of the existing memorandum of agreement between the United States and Israel for anti-tunneling defense capabilities or through a new memorandum of agreement. Section 1277--Three-Year Extension of Authorization of Non-Conventional Assisted Recovery Capabilities This section would modify section 943(g) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110- 417), as most recently amended by section 1051(n) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91), authorization of non-conventional assisted recovery capabilities, by striking ``2021'' and inserting ``2024''. Section 1278--Revision of Statutory References to Former NATO Support Organizations and Related NATO Agreements This section would amend section 2350d of title 10, United States Code, to update the statutory reference to reflect a reorganization of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with respect to the elimination of the NATO Support Organization and the establishment of the NATO Support and Procurement Organization. This section would also amend section 2350d to reflect that NATO supply and logistics support activities may extend to NATO operations outside of Europe. Section 1279--Sense of the Congress Concerning Military-to-Military Dialogues This section would state the sense of Congress regarding the parameters that lead to successful military-to-military dialogues. Section 1280--Modifications to Global Engagement Center This section would modify section 1287 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114- 328). Nothing in this section would alter the requirements of section 8119 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-141) or any successor provision in an Appropriation Act. Section 1281--Report on Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreements This section would amend section 2342 of title 10, United States Code, with a requirement to report on cross-servicing agreements with NATO Allies and other countries. Reporting would include the country, date, text, dollar amount, and an assessment as to whether or not it falls within U.S. national security interests. Section 1282--Prohibition on Provision of Weapons and Other Forms of Support to Certain Organizations This section would prohibit funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2019 from being used to provide weapons or any other form of support to certain organizations. Section 1283--Certification and Authority To Terminate Funding for Academic Research Relating to Foreign Talent Programs This section would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a plan to implement a certification requirement to ensure certain applicants for certain Department of Defense research funding provide the Secretary information concerning whether they have participated, or are currently participating, in foreign talent or expert recruitment programs of certain countries. The Secretary would be required to implement such certification program not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. The Secretary would have the authority to terminate the award of Department funds if an applicant or recipient of such funds is unable to provide the required certification. Section 1284--Sense of Congress on Support for Georgia This section would express the sense of Congress regarding the United States support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as support for continued cooperation between the United States and Georgia. Section 1285--Sense of Congress on Support for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania This section would express the sense of Congress on U.S. support for the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, and the Republic of Lithuania, including support for their sovereignty, concern over aggressive military actions of the Russian Federation against these nations, and encouragement for further defense cooperation between the United States and these nations. Section 1286--Report on United States Strategy in Yemen This section would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the congressional defense committees not later than February 1, 2019, describing the strategy of the United States Armed Forces with respect to Yemen including a description of the U.S. Armed Forces activity in Yemen, costs associated with such activity, key objectives of such activity, indicators of effectiveness, how current efforts align with such objectives, the estimated annual resources required through fiscal year 2022 to achieve such objectives, the applicable legal authorities, and any other matters the Secretary deems relevant. Section 1287--Report on Hizballah This section would require the President to submit to the Senate Committee on Armed Services, the House Committee on Armed Services, the congressional intelligence committees, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report on Hizballah no later than 90 days after the enactment of this act. The report would include accounting of Hizballah's known rocket arsenal, an evaluation of the impact of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), an evaluation of Hizballah's capabilities, a description of routes used by Hizballah to procure weapons illegally, an estimate of entities that support Hizballah's network, an assessment of Hizballah's involvement in regional conflicts, and an assessment of Hizballah's fundraising in territories where UNIFIL operates. TITLE XIII--COOPERATIVE THREAT REDUCTION ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Future of the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program The committee notes the successful history of the Nunn- Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) program, including the pivotal role it played in securing former Soviet Union nuclear material and delivery platforms, the destruction of Russian and Syrian chemical weapons, and the securing of sensitive biological laboratories around the world. In response to an evolving threat landscape, Congress has provided modifications to the original program to address current requirements for threat reduction and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by state and non-state actors around the globe. The committee is aware that additional opportunities may exist for enhanced cooperation with allies and partners to address emerging proliferation concerns and WMD threats, such as those on the Korean Peninsula. The committee notes, however, that interagency coordination, expeditious project approval, prioritization, measuring program effectiveness, and policy gaps continue to pose challenges to effective and efficient utilization of CTR by the Department of Defense, despite efforts for improvement. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a report to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 1, 2018, on how to strengthen the CTR program so that it may be better leveraged for emerging threat reduction and proliferation concerns in an efficient and expeditious manner. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Section 1301--Funding Allocations This section would allocate specific funding amounts for each program under the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program from within the overall $335.2 million that the committee would authorize for the CTR Program. The allocation under this section reflects the amount of the budget request for fiscal year 2019. Section 1302--Specification of Cooperative Threat Reduction Funds This section would specify that funds authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense for the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, established under the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Act (50 U.S.C. 3711), would be available for obligation in fiscal years 2019, 2020, and 2021. TITLE XIV--OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--Military Programs Section 1401--Working Capital Funds This section would authorize appropriations for Defense Working Capital Funds at the levels identified in section 4501 of division D of this Act. Section 1402--Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction, Defense This section would authorize appropriations for Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction, Defense at the levels identified in section 4501 of division D of this Act. Section 1403--Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense- Wide This section would authorize appropriations for Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense-wide at the levels identified in section 4501 of division D of this Act. Section 1404--Defense Inspector General This section would authorize appropriations for the Office of the Inspector General at the levels identified in section 4501 of division D of this Act. Section 1405--Defense Health Program This section would authorize appropriations for the Defense Health Program at the levels identified in section 4501 of division D of this Act. Section 1406--National Defense Sealift Fund This section would authorize appropriations for the National Defense Sealift Fund at the levels identified in section 4501 of division D of this Act. Subtitle B--Other Matters Section 1411--Authority for Transfer of Funds to Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund for Captain James A. Lovell Health Care Center, Illinois This section would authorize the transfer of funds from the Department of Defense to the Joint Department of Defense- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund established by section 1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84). Section 1412--Authorization of Appropriations for Armed Forces Retirement Home This section authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2019 from the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund for the operation of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. Section 1413--Quarterly Briefing on Progress of Chemical Demilitarization Program This section would modify section 1521 of title 50, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Defense to provide quarterly briefings to the congressional defense committees on the progress of the chemical demilitarization program, including contractor cost and schedule performance, destruction progress, and any other relevant information until stockpile destruction is complete. This section would also eliminate the semiannual written reports required in the section referenced above. TITLE XV--AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Cargo Inspections To Counter Vehicle Borne IED Threats The Committee is encouraged that the Department of the Army is testing and planning to deploy new passive cargo inspection technologies to address a joint urgent operational need to counter Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) threats. This disruptive technology, which utilizes naturally occurring cosmic ray muons and electrons, identifies shielded and unshielded nuclear and radioactive materials; detects smuggled contraband, including weapons, bombmaking materials, and illicit goods; and is proven safe for humans, animals, and food products. The Committee encourages the Army to continue with the current testing program and supports efforts to deploy the system at a major US military facility. Further, the Committee requests a briefing 60 days after the enactment of this bill on the potential future deployments of these next generation inspection technologies inside and outside the continental United States. The briefing, which may be provided in a classified setting, shall include an assessment of current cargo inspection protocols and requirement gaps that may exist. National Guard and Reserve Component Equipment Account The budget request for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) contained no funding for a National Guard and Reserve Component equipment account. Elsewhere as reflected in division D of this Act, the committee notes that the base budget request contained $3.4 billion for procurement of National Guard and Reserve Component equipment and $219.9 million in the OCO request for Army National Guard and Army Reserve other procurement programs. The committee remains concerned about the availability of equipment needed to sustain and modernize the National Guard and Reserve Components as an operational reserve and for their domestic support missions. The committee notes that National Guard and Reserve Components are often reliant upon overused and outdated equipment, creating a widening capability gap with the Active Component, and have been unable to maintain pace with rapid technological change. The committee believes additional funds are required to address identified equipment shortfalls and improve compatibility with Active Components. The committee expects these funds to be used for the purposes of, but not limited to, the procurement of rotorcraft; avionic and radar upgrades for legacy strike fighter aircraft to include Navy Reserve F-18 strike fighters; wheeled and tracked combat vehicles; tactical wheeled vehicles; ammunition; small arms; tactical radios (to include single channel ground and airborne radio systems); UH-72A Lakota survivability upgrades; UH-60 disaster response equipment, such as rescue hoists, water buckets, and radios; non-system training devices; vehicle convoy operations trainers; unstabilized gunnery trainers and virtual convoy operations trainers; sense and avoid system upgrades for unmanned air systems; and explosive ordnance disposal man-portable robots & lightweight X-ray systems and other unfunded procurement items for the National Guard and Reserve Components. The committee recommends additional funding for a National Guard and Reserve Component equipment account within the Overseas Contingency Operations budget request. The committee also recommends $3.4 billion, the full amount of the base budget request, for National Guard and Reserve Component equipment and also recommends $219.9 million in the OCO request for Army National Guard and Army Reserve. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations Section 1501--Purpose of Certain Authorizations of Appropriations This section would establish the purpose of this title and make authorization of appropriations available upon enactment of this Act for the Department of Defense, in addition to amounts otherwise authorized in this Act, to provide for additional authorization of funds due to overseas contingency operations and other additional funding requirements. Section 1502--Procurement This section would authorize additional appropriations for procurement at the levels identified in section 4102 of division D of this Act. Section 1503--Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation This section would authorize additional appropriations for research, development, test, and evaluation at the levels identified in section 4202 of division D of this Act. Section 1504--Operation and Maintenance This section would authorize additional appropriations for operation and maintenance programs at the levels identified in section 4302 of division D of this Act. Section 1505--Military Personnel This section would authorize additional appropriations for military personnel at the levels identified in section 4402 of division D of this Act. Section 1506--Working Capital Funds This section would authorize additional appropriations for Defense Working Capital Funds at the levels identified in section 4502 of division D of this Act. Section 1507--Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense- Wide This section would authorize additional appropriations for Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense-Wide, at the levels identified in section 4502 of division D of this Act. Section 1508--Defense Inspector General This section would authorize additional appropriations for the Office of the Inspector General at the levels identified in section 4502 of division D of this Act. Section 1509--Defense Health Program This section would authorize additional appropriations for the Defense Health Program at the levels identified in section 4502 of division D of this Act. Subtitle B--Financial Matters Section 1511--Treatment as Additional Authorizations This section would state that amounts authorized to be appropriated by this title are in addition to amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated by this Act. Section 1512--Special Transfer Authority This section would authorize the transfer of up to $4.5 billion of additional war-related funding authorizations in this title among the accounts in this title. Subtitle C--Limitations, Reports, and Other Matters Section 1521--Afghanistan Security Forces Fund This section would extend the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund through December 31, 2019. This section would also set a goal of using $18.0 million to support, to the extent practicable, the efforts of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to promote the recruitment, training, and integration of Afghan women into the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces and as security personnel for future elections. This section would also require an assessment of the Government of Afghanistan's ability to manage, employ, and sustain equipment divested under the Afghan Security Forces Fund; if the results of said assessment are unfavorable, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, would be authorized to withhold assistance under the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund. Section 1522--Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Fund This section would amend subsections (b) and (c) of section 1514 of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Public Law 109-364) to extend the use and transfer authority for the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Fund through fiscal year 2019. This section would also extend the authority for interdiction of improvised explosive device precursor chemicals to December 31, 2019. This section would also direct the Secretary of Defense to submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by March 1, 2019, a plan to transition funding for the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Fund from Overseas Contingency Operations to the base budget. TITLE XVI--STRATEGIC PROGRAMS, CYBER, AND INTELLIGENCE MATTERS ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Space Activities Briefing on Deployed Satellite Communications Terminals The committee notes that currently deployed satellite communications terminals may not meet the performance, the agility, timeliness, and weight requirements needed to provide secure satellite communications to naval and expeditionary forces. The committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by November 1, 2018, on the current validated requirements for the terminals and a plan, including applicability, operational capability and cost, for quickly fielding commercially available, secure, lightweight, satellite communications terminals, equipped with rapidly deployable antennas, in support of warfighter operations. Briefing on Supply Chain for In-Space Propulsion Thrusters The committee is aware that the Department of Defense and its suppliers rely on U.S., allied, and non-allied manufacturers for procurement of in-space propulsion thrusters. These thrusters are used on critical military satellites and the Committee is concerned that the presence of Russian origin thrusters on these satellites may constitute a security risk, particularly as the Department of Defense shifts towards the use of commercial off the shelf satellites. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing on the supply chain for in-space propulsion thrusters, whether the presence of allied or non- allied thrusters increases risk, and if so how, options to mitigate any identified risks, and the cost implications of relying solely on U.S. sources to the House Committee on Armed Services by January 31, 2019. Commercial Satellite Imagery The committee continues to support the National Geospatial- Intelligence Agency's (NGA) continued acquisition of commercial satellite imagery in support of global geospatial-intelligence needs. The committee is also aware that NGA, working with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), is developing a joint transition plan to transfer commercial imagery pixel acquisition from NGA to NRO in fiscal year 2019, and expects continued focus and leveraging of these commercial capabilities to add to U.S. imagery capacity and capabilities. As this transition occurs, the committee believes it is essential to maintain continuity of operation, quality of service, cost-effective services, and capability for the warfighter and other user communities. Acquisition of commercial imagery should contract with several providers to leverage U.S. industry providers of global, high-resolution, and cost-effective services, with high revisit rates, and reliable performance including those that have demonstrated proven capability and those that are rapidly emerging within industry. Commercial synthetic aperture radar imagery can also provide day, night, and all-weather imagery in highly cloud covered regions. The committee directs the NGA Director and the NRO Director to jointly provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees and the congressional intelligence committees by August 1, 2018, on agency plans for the transition from NGA to NRO, and planned funding beyond fiscal year 2019, and on an open and fair competitive acquisition process to leverage industry capabilities, including but not limited to plans following the EnhancedView contract. Commercial Space Situational Awareness Capabilities The committee continues to be concerned with the direction of the multiple programs seeking to address space situational awareness (SSA) requirements, including Joint Space Operations Center Mission System, the Enterprise Space Battle Management Command and Control System, and the SSA Operations at the National Space Defense Center. The committee expects the Air Force to operationalize existing best of breed commercial capabilities to meet warfighter requirements. The committee supports the efforts being undertaken by the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office to develop common data standards and process commercial data to augment Department of Defense capabilities. The development of common data standards will be important to ensuring the broader multi-domain command and control efforts that are being undertaken within the Air Force. Criteria for Launch Service Agreement Down-Select The committee notes that the Secretary of the Air Force plans to make an initial down-select decision to three potential Expendable Evolved Launch Vehicle (EELV) launch providers for assured access to space in the summer of 2018, and plans to make a final award for launch service procurement contracts by the end of fiscal year 2019. The committee is aware that full-scale flight tests of new space launch vehicles may not occur until after this award is made. The committee therefore directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than October 1, 2018, on the criteria and sufficiency of test data that the Air Force will use to make the final launch service agreement awards by the end of fiscal year 2019, potentially ahead of fully integrated flight tests. The briefing should also include criteria and incentives that the Air Force will use to ensure that the contractors selected maintain schedule and fidelity in line with their contract bids. GPS Backup Demonstration The committee continues to support the demonstration of backup and complementary positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities of the Global Positioning System (GPS) as required by section 1606 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91). The committee encourages the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Transportation, and Secretary of Homeland Security to continue to work together to jointly develop and implement a plan for carrying out this backup GPS capability demonstration in 2019 and 2020. Further, the committee expects the Secretaries to submit the final report next year as required by Public Law 115-91. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees by December 1, 2018, on the progress being made on this demonstration. Launch Support and Infrastructure Modernization The committee is aware that the Air Force's launch support and modernization program required by section 1609 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) covers the Eastern and Western Ranges, but does not include U.S. spaceports. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives not later than September 14, 2018, on the potential benefits of including in this program U.S. spaceports and ranges that actively support national security missions, including benefits such as increasing resilience and rapid launch capability, and the estimated costs of including them. Launch Vehicle Upper Stage Mission Enhancement The committee is interested in the cost-effective development of advanced launch vehicle upper stages to be used for defense of our space assets. Advanced upper stages could increase the operational flexibility and on-orbit reusability of the holistic launch system while also allowing for greater delivery of mass to orbit. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees by December 3, 2018, on the benefits, risks, costs, and operational opportunities for next generation upper stage technology. The briefing should examine as appropriate on-orbit reusability, cryogenic refueling, multiple engine restarts, and power generation to support secondary payloads that can support space resiliency. Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Satellites The committee supports the Department of Defense's efforts to improve the affordability, resiliency, and agility of Overhead Persistent Infrared Satellite systems that can be rapidly fielded as the battlespace changes. As adversaries challenge this capability, the Department must respond with technology upgrades in a rapid fashion to counter the threat by pursuing affordable systems with lifetimes under 7 years; disaggregated strategic missile warning, missile defense tracking, and battlespace awareness missions; smaller bus sizes; resilient mission architectures that can survive a loss of system nodes/satellites and still provide primary mission capability through complementary mission capabilities and both on-orbit and ground spares with the ability to rapidly reconstitute. The committee believes these efforts should be supported with robust prototyping to demonstrate the now disaggregated missions of strategic missile warning and battlespace awareness for increased resiliency: operational demonstrations to drive down operational interface risks and technical demonstrations to drive down technical risks so that technology insertion into our operational systems can be done in a low-risk fashion. Prototypes should have residual operational capability that can contribute immediately to the resilience of the mission. Plan for Use of Allied Launch Services in Case of Emergency Need The committee notes that a plan for the use of allied launch vehicles was mandated by section 1604 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114- 328). This plan was to provide assured access to space should the Department of Defense be unable to meet that requirement for a limited period using only U.S. launch vehicles. In 2017, the Air Force provided to Congress a report that analyzed the initial potential of using an allied nation's launch vehicle and services for U.S. national security space launches. The committee commends the Air Force for providing this analysis. The committee notes the report identified a number of activities that have not been implemented, specifically regarding the pursuit of non-recurring design validation or certification of the allied launch system for specific payloads or reference missions, early integration studies of specific payloads, an environmental impact statement plus one year of standard mission integration and space-flight- worthiness assessment, and the pursuit of a pathfinder mission. The committee further notes that additional capabilities may be needed to use allied launch capability in the event of an emergency and inability of U.S. launch providers to provide assured access to space. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a report to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 3, 2018, on an operational backup plan for assured access into space using allied launch vehicles. This plan shall include: (1) an assessment of U.S. satellites that would be appropriate to be launched on an allied launch vehicle; (2) relevant laws, regulations, and policies governing the launch of national security satellites; (3) whether any legislative, regulatory, or policy actions or changes would be necessary to allow for the launch of a national security satellite on an allied launch vehicle; and (4) the certification requirements for using allied launch vehicles pursuant to the plan and the estimated cost, schedule, and measures that would be necessary to certify allied launch vehicles. When creating this backup plan, the committee expects the Secretary to leverage findings identified by the previous Air Force report. Portable Satellite Data Receiver Status The committee notes that the United States Air Force Research Laboratory's Small Business Initiative Research has provided funding for the development of a unique satellite communications receive suite for reliable, portable connection by the warfighter to the Global Broadcast System (GBS). The committee is aware that the Department of Defense joint program office now includes these portable receive suites as an approved solution for receive technology with military satellite communications on the existing GBS network. The committee encourages the Department of Defense and the Air Force to ensure that these suites are made available to the warfighter. The committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by November 1, 2018, on a plan, including applicability and cost, for rapidly fielding commercially available, secure, satellite, Suitcase Portable Receive Suites and Rucksack Portable Receive Suites in support of deployed warfighter operations. Rapid Satellite Capability Reconstitution The committee recognizes the value that rapid reconstitution may contribute to increasing resilience in the space domain. The committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to submit a report to the House Committee on Armed Services by January 15, 2019, on the needs and capabilities of the Department of Defense to rapidly reconstitute disaggregated Earth-orbiting satellite constellations. The report should include options for developing an approach for commercially acquiring, where cost effective, resilient and rapid launch services to support reconstitution, including but not limited to the feasibility of launching satellites within one week of need. Satellite Communications The committee is aware that the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141) added two more Wideband Global Satellite Communications System (WGS) satellites. The committee also notes the increasing demand for satellite communications (SATCOM) capacity and the potential for increased contribution from commercial SATCOM providers. In addition, recognizing the growing capacity and resilience requirements, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114- 328) required that the pilot program required under section 1605 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291) provide order-of-magnitude improvements in SATCOM capability. The committee is aware of proven commercial SATCOM technology, including high capacity satellite communications technology, that delivers improvements in capacity and performance capabilities and supports operations in contested environments in a cost-effective manner. The committee supports the Department of Defense's request for multiyear procurement authority for these services. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives by December 1, 2018, including: (1) the costs associated with the procurement, operations, and sustainment of the additional WGS satellites, including life-cycle costs, and costs related to operations and maintenance, and launch; (2) an update on the status of the Air Force commercial SATCOM pilot and pathfinder programs, including an update on fulfilling the order-of-magnitude requirement, an explanation of the steps the Department is taking to expedite the integration of commercially available high capacity satellite communications to meet the growing capacity demand and counter accelerating adversary communications denial capabilities, and whether the Air Force plans to use its existing authorities to solicit and award annual services contracts; and (3) a comprehensive plan to modernize terminals and networking capability needed to access and adopt new multi- domain commercial communications technologies, multi-mode terminals and network. Space Flag Exercise and Responsive Launch The committee is encouraged that the budget request proposed creating a dedicated Air Force Space Procurement funding line to acquire affordable, flexible launch services to deliver spacelift capability for small payloads to low Earth orbit through geostationary transfer orbit. The committee supports the proposed Rocket System Launch Program procurement and encourages sustained investment to further operationalize integration of new small launch services into the space enterprise. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) also states that the Secretary of Defense should establish ``an annual capstone training event'' for space professionals to refine doctrine, operations, and training. This ``Space Flag'' exercise improves training to operate in the event of loss of space capabilities and to deter conflict in space. The U.S. Air Force concluded its second annual Space Flag exercise in August 2017 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Demonstrating overt resolve and ability to rapidly replenish diminished capabilities could contribute to increasing resilience in space as it relates to operations, tactics, and procedures for protecting and defending U.S. assets. In addition, integrating responsive launch capabilities into the annual Space Flag event could be an important step in evolving space mission operations, and to test, train, and operationalize these capabilities. Accordingly, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees by December 1, 2018, on the value, plans, requirements, and benefits of aligning the small launch activities of the Rocket System Launch Program with the annual Space Flag training exercise. Use of Commercial Items in Follow-On Wideband Communications System The committee supports efforts to conduct an analysis of alternatives for a follow-on wideband communications system to the Wideband Global Satellite Communications System as required by section 1611 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114-92). The committee encourages the Department of Defense's efforts to maximize the use of commercial satellite communications capabilities as required by section 2377 of title 10, United States Code. Section 2377 of title 10, United States Code, requires that Federal agencies maximize the use of commercial items in determining requirements and soliciting for procurements. To prevent critical satellite communications capability gaps and to field a follow-on wideband communications system by 2021, the Department must ensure that its market research is fully investigating the ability of a commercial offeror to meet the requirements of the Air Force's procurement needs on a commercial basis, in part or in full. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by June 30, 2018, on the Department's efforts to comply with section 2377 of title 10, United States Code, and on its analysis of alternatives for a follow-on wideband communications system. Missile Defense Programs Airborne Tracking and Targeting System The Committee notes that the Missile Defense Agency has been working on technologies to develop and test ballistic missile tracking and surveillance using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles under an experimental program. The Committee directs the Missile Defense Agency, in coordination with Commander, Pacific Command and Commander, Central Command, to provide a brief to the House Armed Services Committee by December 31, 2018 on the addition of an operational fleet of advanced sensors deployed on MQ-9 Reaper systems to the ballistic missile defense system, to include integration and test efforts, operational value for regional and homeland defense, basing options, Warfighter concepts of operation, and total research, development, test and evaluation and operations and sustainment costs associated with deployment to the Pacific command and Central command areas of responsibility. Cruise Missile Threat to Hawaii The committee notes the cruise missile threat to the United States, including Hawaii, and notes that the ballistic missile defense review, which has been delayed, may address this issue. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, to provide to the Armed Services Committee of the House of Representatives a briefing no later than 45 days after the Ballistic Missile Defense Review is submitted to Congress, on the cruise missile defense threat to the United States, including Hawaii, including in the event of a conflict with Russia or China, the role of nuclear deterrence plays in the layered defense of the United States, and an assessment of the required architecture, development and deployment timeline, estimated costs and any relevant policy implications related to a potential cruise missile defense system to protect the United States, including specifically Hawaii. Cybersecurity of Ballistic Missile Defense System This committee notes the 2017 report from the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, of the Department of Defense, on the cybersecurity testing gaps that exist for the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). The committee further notes that a plan is needed from the Missile Defense Agency and Director, Operational Test and Evaluation to conduct vulnerability assessments, cooperative vulnerability and penetration assessments, and adversarial assessments on all BMDS mission elements. Therefore, the committee directs the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, in coordination with the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by December 31, 2018, on the BMDS cybersecurity testing road map. The briefing must include a comprehensive plan to improve the cybersecurity posture of the mission elements of the BMDS, including addressing the requirement to further enhance such posture through the integration and dissemination of left- and right-of-launch data, and what process the Director of the Missile Defense Agency will use to incorporate lessons learned from the cybersecurity assessments. Hypersonic Defense The committee directs the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees by December 31, 2018, on the hypersonic defense analysis of alternatives and the integrated plan, including estimated costs to deliver hypersonic defense capabilities in a manner that is global, cost effective, persistent, and provides resilient tracking, in accordance with section 1687 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328). This briefing shall include an assessment on the required architecture, deployment timeline, and estimated costs for defense against hypersonic threats as demonstrated and/or pursued by Russia and China. Maintenance of Patriot Batteries The committee notes that an ongoing review by the Comptroller General of the United States of the Army's maintenance of the Patriot missile defense system has found that although the Army believes that the current pace of recapitalizing Patriot equipment incurs long-term risks to sustaining the system, the Army has concluded that it cannot increase the recapitalization pace without affecting current operational demands or without shifting resources from its integrated air and missile defense modernization priorities. In addition, the ongoing review by the Comptroller General has found that the return of reset equipment to Patriot units generally has not met the Army's timeliness goal and that delays in returning reset equipment can affect unit training. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives not later than December 1, 2018, on a plan to conduct a comparative analysis of factors affecting Patriot reset timeliness and appropriate corrective actions to improve timeliness. Options To Supplement Missile Defense of Hawaii The committee notes that Hawaii is currently defended against missile threats from North Korea by the deployed ground-based interceptors located at Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Mindful of potential costs and untested capability of Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptors against long-range missile threats, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy, in consultation with the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, to provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, not later than September 15, 2018, on the potential to supplement this defense by assigning a permanent Aegis ship patrol to increase a layered ballistic missile defense of Hawaii, with the assumption that SM-3 missiles might be effective against long-range threats. The briefing should address the technical capability, feasibility, benefits, risks, cost, and trade-offs of this option for the purpose of defending Hawaii. In addition, mindful of the high demand for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries and the untested capability of the THAAD weapon system against long-range threats, the committee also directs the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, in coordination with the Secretary of the Army, to provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, not later than September 15, 2018, on the feasibility of stationing a permanent THAAD battery in Hawaii, and the technical capability, costs, benefits, and risks of testing a THAAD interceptor against an intercontinental ballistic missile. Patriot Interceptor Inventory The committee recognizes, given the reality of ever- increasing capabilities and quantities of ballistic missiles and air-breathing threats (such as cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles), the importance of maintaining a full complement of interceptors for the Patriot system. Section 1678 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) directed the Army to submit a plan to maintain an inventory of interceptors necessary to retain the capability provided by Patriot interceptors. The committee notes that the report has not yet been received and will be delayed until July 2018. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army, in coordination with the Chief of Staff of the Army, to submit an amended report to the congressional defense committees by July 31, 2018, that addresses the value of maintaining use of Guidance Enhanced Missile (GEM-T) capabilities alongside Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) and PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhanced (MSE) to provide Patriot with a full complement of capability and capacity against current and evolving threats, including air-breathing and all other types of ballistic missiles. The report should also include the Army's intent to recertify the aging GEM-T inventory and cite a desired date to commence this activity so as to minimize any negative consequences to Patriot munitions capacity. Protection of Ballistic Missile Defense System Components The committee notes an increase to land-based ballistic missile defense system (BMDS) components with the development and delivery of the Long Range Discriminating Radar, Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii, Pacific Radar, and completion of the Aegis Ashore site in Poland. These new sites are in addition to already deployed terrestrial weapon system sites and radars. Responsibility for protection of these sites against threats such as cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and electronic warfare falls under the combatant commander for which they are located. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, and appropriate regional combatant commands, to provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees by November 30, 2018, detailing the current protections of deployed BMDS assets from cruise missile, unmanned aerial vehicle, and electronic warfare threats. The briefing should also include the requirements for protection of the future assets that are in the program of record, as well as any plans to increase protection of current and future assets, including costs and any mitigating measures in the event that a system is degraded or unavailable. Standard Missile-3 Testing and Reliability The committee is aware of the role and importance of the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptors in providing missile defense capability to the warfighter. The committee notes that failures of the SM-3 IB and SM-3 IIA revealed issues that may have been avoided with additional system engineering focus, and these recent challenges could have impacts on reliability assessments of these interceptors by the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation. The committee also notes that section 1680 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115- 91) included a requirement to test the SM-3 IIA capability against a longer range threat. The committee directs the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate, not later than August 1, 2018, on how the recent SM-3 IIA test failure affects the planned test of this missile against an intercontinental ballistic missile-range target. This briefing should include implications such as changes to timeline of planned tests, requirements for additional tests, and changes in funding requirements. The committee also directs the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Test and Evaluation, to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, not later than December 15, 2018, detailing how the Missile Defense Agency will ensure the contractor's systems engineering and ground testing procedures are adequate to support production of SM-3 IB and SM-3 IIA interceptors. The briefing should describe how ground test data from production interceptors supports SM-3 reliability estimates from the Missile Defense Agency and the Office of Test and Evaluation. Warfighter Procedures for Responding to and Releasing Information Regarding an Inbound Ballistic Missile Threat The committee notes that on January 13, 2018, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) issued a false incoming ballistic missile alert that caused widespread panic and confusion in the State of Hawaii. The U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) notified HI-EMA that no launch had occurred within minutes of the false alert being issued. Nevertheless, it took HI-EMA 38 minutes to retract the alert. The committee notes the importance of clear and accurate communications and cooperation between PACOM and relevant federal and state entities responsible for communicating and alerting the public of an incoming threat. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives on ballistic missile alert procedure, warfighter coordination, plans, and timelines in the event of a legitimate incoming ballistic missile attack to the Homeland, including coordination, plans and timelines for releasing critical defense information to other Federal agencies, and state entities as appropriate, responsible for informing the general public. The briefing shall also include the DoD's role and process, if any, in retracting a false, misinformed, or unauthorized alert issued by a federal or state agency regarding an inbound ballistic missile threat. Nuclear Forces Air Force Global Strike Command and Nuclear Deterrence Institute The committee continues to oversee Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) as it leads and coordinates efforts across the Air Force for both nuclear deterrence operations and the National Leadership Command Capabilities/Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications system. The committee believes strong and sustained attention on these missions will be required as the Air Force carries out its portions of the nuclear modernization program. The committee understands that the AFGSC's strategy to enhance science, technology, innovation, and collaboration related to its missions has successfully leveraged partnerships with local governments, academia, industry, and non-profits. This strategy also includes an intent to establish an institute dedicated to AFGSC's missions, further leverage these partnerships, and provide AFGSC an analytical foundation and direct access to expertise across its mission set. To better understand how the Air Force intends to proceed with this initiative, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by November 30, 2018, on implementation of the AFGSC's strategy to enhance science, technology, innovation, and collaboration. The briefing should include: (1) the Secretary's decision regarding if, and if so, when and how, to establish the institute recommended by the strategy; (2) whether and how the institute could uniquely contribute to the nuclear deterrence operations mission of the Air Force without duplication of other capabilities and resources; and (3) the benefits and costs associated with the institute. B83-1 Nuclear Gravity Bomb The committee notes that the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) proposes to retain the B83-1 nuclear gravity bomb in the U.S. nuclear stockpile, whereas it had previously been slated for retirement in the early 2020s. The NPR stated, ``the B83-1 and B61-11 gravity bombs can hold at risk a variety of protected targets. As a result, both will be retained in the stockpile, at least until there is sufficient confidence in the B61-12 gravity bomb that will be available in 2020.'' The NPR elaborated, saying it proposes ``sustaining the B83-1 past its currently planned retirement date until a suitable replacement is identified.'' The committee also notes that in 2012, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) estimated that retaining the B83 gravity bomb would potentially require it to undergo an alteration in the 2020s and a life extension program in the 2030s, both of which would cost billions of dollars. Additionally, the NNSA may have planned to use certain materials from the B83 for currently planned life extension programs. The committee believes further explanation for the decision to retain the B83 is warranted, particularly because such decision may require the B83 to undergo significant life extension activities and could impact other planned warhead modernization programs. The committee also expects a fuller understanding of the military requirements associated with the B83-1 and its retention. The committee therefore directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Commander of U.S. Strategic Command and the Administrator for Nuclear Security, to submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by November 15, 2018, on the plan and rationale for, and implications of, retaining the B83-1. The report should address specific military requirements associated with the decision to now retain the B83-1, impacts on current or planned warhead programs including re-use of any materials, and potential risks, benefits, plans and costs associated with continued surveillance and potential life extension activities for the B83-1. The committee directs the report to be provided in unclassified form, with a classified annex as necessary. Comptroller General Review of Plans To Swap B61 Bombs in Europe The committee notes that the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense are carrying out a life extension program to maintain the safety, security, reliability, and credibility of B61 nuclear gravity bombs, and expect a first production unit of the updated B61-12 weapon to be available in late 2019. To swap legacy B61 bombs currently deployed in Europe in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for modern B61-12 bombs, the Air Force will conduct movements of nuclear weapons to and from Europe using certified military cargo aircraft. Initial planning for these movements is underway and the committee understands that such planning requires dialogue and close coordination with host nation governments. To enable improved oversight of this planning, the committee directs the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by March 1, 2019, containing a review and assessment of the Department of Defense plans to swap B61 nuclear gravity bombs in Europe, including the following: (1) readiness of the military forces responsible for conducting and supporting the weapon movements; (2) coordination between the United States and allied host nations regarding the movements; (3) any potential actions that may be considered or planned to enhance surety and survivability; and (4) the Department of Defense's identification and mitigation of any risks to these plans. Nuclear Survivability and Hostile Environments Testing To be a credible and effective deterrent, U.S. nuclear weapons are designed to operate in the most extreme hostile environments. The committee has no doubt that current U.S. nuclear forces and weapons meet these exacting requirements. However, as it has expressed in the past, the committee believes that the Department of Defense and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) must be mindful of how the threat environment and so-called ``stockpile-to-target sequence'' may evolve as adversaries continue to advance their defensive capabilities. In particular, the committee believes the United States must ensure it has the capability to experimentally test materials, components, subsystems, and full systems in realistic environments that combine multiple extreme threats. To better understand Department of Defense and NNSA efforts in this regard, the committee directs the Chairman of the Nuclear Weapons Council, in coordination with the Administrator for Nuclear Security, to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by November 30, 2018, on nuclear weapon survivability requirements and related test capabilities. Such briefing should include: (1) current requirements related to survivability and the stockpile-to-target sequence; (2) the evolving threat environment and potential changes to such requirements over the next 20 years; (3) capabilities to test materials, components, subsystems, and systems in realistic, combined environments; (4) any risks or gaps in such experimental capabilities and any plans to address or mitigate such risks or gaps; and (5) any changes in concepts of operation that may be applicable. Perimeter Security at NATO Nuclear Bases The committee appreciates the importance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) deterrence and defense mission, and the role that U.S. forward-deployed nuclear weapons play in the NATO Alliance. The committee notes its continuing interest in ensuring robust and consistent security for these weapons and that NATO, the United States, and individual host nations have engaged in a series of security enhancement and modernization projects in recent years. The committee applauds these steps and supports ongoing efforts to standardize requirements and security measures across NATO's nuclear bases but also recognizes that each base and host nation presents different challenges for implementation and standardization of upgrades. The committee believes that continued enhancements and progress towards standardization is an important endeavor, and that an area particularly ripe for further action is perimeter security. The committee therefore directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of the Air Force, to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate by December 1, 2018, assessing and comparing perimeter security at all NATO nuclear bases. Such briefing should also contain the following: (1) a comparison of perimeter security at NATO nuclear bases versus each other and versus nuclear bases in the United States; (2) details on requirements and standards for perimeter security at NATO nuclear bases and nuclear bases in the United States; and (3) a plan for actions that the United States could propose and undertake to standardize and enhance perimeter security at NATO nuclear bases, including through bilateral engagements with host nations and multilateral engagement through NATO. Plutonium Pit Production and Reuse In 2008, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy stated in a joint report, ``at present the United States does not have the ability to produce new nuclear weapons,'' particularly the ability to produce plutonium pits. In 2010, the Secretaries signed a Memorandum of Agreement that said the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) would ``plan and program to ramp up to a minimum of 50-80 pits/year.'' In 2014, the Secretary of Defense said in a letter to the congressional defense committees that ``the Department of Defense (DOD) has revalidated its requirement for 50-80 pits per year based on the demands of stockpile modernization, the commitments to a modern physical infrastructure, and the ability to hedge against technical or geopolitical risk.'' Section 3112 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291), put this requirement, and associated timeframes for production, into statute and included a Sense of Congress that ``the requirement to create a modern, responsive nuclear infrastructure that includes the capability and capacity to produce, at minimum, 50 to 80 pits per year, is a national security priority.'' The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) also discusses the need for a plutonium pit production capacity, saying ``the United States does not have a sustained plutonium pit manufacturing capability needed to avoid stockpile age-out, support life extension programs (LEP), and prepare for future uncertainty . . . To avoid age-related risks, DOD requires NNSA to produce at least 80 plutonium pits per year by 2030, and to sustain the capacity for future LEPs and follow-on programs.'' The committee continues to believe a pit production capability is a national security priority, but seeks clarification on whether and why the 2018 NPR has modified the pit production requirement. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy and the Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, to submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by November 30, 2018, on the annual pit production requirement, including any associated timelines. Such report should include a detailed rationale and justification for any changes to the requirement, the drivers behind the requirement, and associated costs. Such report should also include a detailed assessment of the potential to reuse plutonium pits that are currently in the inventory of the United States. Tonopah Test Range Land Use Agreement The committee understands that the Air Force and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) are currently negotiating an extension to a land use agreement at the Tonopah Test Range (TTR) which enables NNSA's Sandia National Laboratories to utilize a portion of TTR for drop testing of inert nuclear gravity bombs. Sandia Labs has been operating at TTR since 1956, when it originally used 580 square miles of the range, and since the most recent update to the agreement in 2002 has been using 280 square miles. The current land use agreement expires in 2019 and is likely to make further reductions to make additional land available to the Air Force. The committee supports efforts to provide additional land for the Air Force mission at TTR and nearby ranges, which are operating over capacity, but is mindful that Sandia and NNSA must be able to carry out their testing mission. The committee encourages and looks forward to a cooperative, mutually beneficial update to this agreement that enables both partners to carry out their important missions. Cyber-Related Matters Addressing Readiness Deficiencies Through the Hacking for Defense Innovation Education Program The committee notes that the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) authorized the Secretary of Defense to support national security innovation and entrepreneurial education, including but not limited to, Hacking for Defense. The committee notes that expansion of Hacking for Defense innovation and entrepreneurial education at U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) universities may optimize and enhance the Department's innovation efforts outlined in the 2018 National Defense Strategy. Developing a culture of rapid and meaningful innovation, and deploying advanced warfighter solutions, may remedy existing readiness deficiencies. The committee also notes that Hacking for Defense innovation education programs may benefit overall Department of Defense professional education such as at the National Defense University, the Defense Acquisition University, the Naval Postgraduate School, and other professional education programs. Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than September 28, 2018 on how the Department may expand Hacking for Defense to support the Department's innovation and entrepreneurial education efforts, including a description of how the Hacking for Defense program is currently being employed within the Department of Defense and how it may be further leveraged to provide advanced warfighter solutions, address readiness deficiencies, and reinvigorate, modernize, and enhance the Department's innovation education with U.S. and NATO universities and professional education programs. Comptroller General Review of Current Military Cyber Operations The committee notes that in the last several years, the Department of Defense has employed cyber capabilities to achieve objectives in or through cyberspace. Unlike military operations that occur in the air and land domains, cyberspace operations and the effects of those operations are not always visible to Congress and the American people. The committee believes that as the Department continues to conduct cyberspace operations, it will be critical that operations are fully aligned with the appropriate authorities, policies and doctrine, rules of engagement, plans, oversight mechanisms, and lessons learned processes. It will also be important that the Department manages the number of organizations that are conducting these operations, to ensure there are clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and that there are deconfliction mechanisms in place. Therefore, the committee directs the Comptroller General of the United States to assess the Department of Defense's current military cyberspace operations. The assessment should identify: (1) the types of cyberspace operations the Department has undertaken, activities undertaken to prepare for cyberspace operations, and the organizations conducting these operations; (2) authorities, policies, doctrine, and rules of engagement for these operations; (3) internal oversight and congressional reporting mechanisms; (4) efforts to develop and synchronize cyberspace operations within combatant commanders' plans; and (5) processes used to deconflict cyberspace operations or mitigate the impact of cyberspace operations on other military operations. The committee directs the Comptroller General to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by March 1, 2019, on preliminary findings, and submit a final report to the congressional defense committees at a date agreed to at the time of the briefing. Comptroller General Review of Information Operations Strategy The committee notes that information operations are a means for the United States to promote economic and political freedom, as well as countering all forms of extremism and adversarial influence. In June 2016, in response to a congressional requirement, the Department of Defense issued an information operations strategy to align departmental actions and ensure effective integration of Department of Defense efforts. These efforts contribute to the mission that the Department of State's Global Engagement Center was directed to lead, organize, and synchronize. Section 1637 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) directed the Department of Defense to establish processes and procedures to integrate strategic information operations and cyber-enabled information operations across the relevant elements of the Department of Defense, including those responsible for military deception, public affairs, electronic warfare, and cyber operations. This section also directed the Department of Defense to coordinate regional information strategies and interagency coordination plans of the combatant commands with the appropriate Department of State officials and the Global Engagement Center, and to develop an implementation plan to support the Department of Defense Strategy for Operations in the Information Environment. However, the committee remains concerned about the lack of progress in developing the strategy, tools, and coordination mechanisms to counter adversarial influence. Therefore, the committee directs the Comptroller General of the United States to assess the Department's information operations strategy and implementation efforts. The assessment shall: (1) identify the Department of Defense's implementation of the 2016 strategy, integration of cyber and intelligence capabilities, and other activities, for information operations; (2) identify roles, responsibilities, and coordination of activities within the Department of Defense, and between the Department and interagency partners; (3) identify previous and planned investments by the Department to support and implement information operations; and (4) any other matters the Comptroller General determines relevant. The committee directs the Comptroller General to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by March 1, 2019, on preliminary findings, with a report to follow at a time agreed to at the time of the briefing. Cyber Scholarship Program The budget request contained $7.9 million in PE 33140D8Z, for the defense-wide Information Security Systems Program. Section 1649 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) amended chapter 112 of title 10, United States Code, to establish the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program. The committee believes the Cyber Scholarship program may alleviate the challenges the Department of Defense is experiencing in recruiting and retaining cybersecurity personnel. Additionally, the committee believes that providing additional opportunities under the program will be beneficial in addressing Department requirements for a qualified cyber workforce, especially if the Department focuses on educating the public and relevant academic institutions about this program. The committee also believes that Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs at universities that offer degrees in cyber studies and related fields provide an opportunity to leverage and expand partnerships to assist in closing the gap of trained cyber warriors in the military. Therefore, the committee recommends $17.9 million, an increase of $10.0 million, in PE 33140D8Z. Further, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by February 1, 2019, on the implementation and utilization of the Cyber Scholarship Program, to include efforts to educate the public and focus on institutions with high-quality computer science, engineering, and cybersecurity programs, including historically black colleges and universities, and minority- serving institutions. The briefing should also include implementation and utilization of efforts to leverage ROTC at institutions with cyber studies as a way to expand the pool of talented technical applicants. Information Security Continuous Monitoring and Comply-To-Connect Implementation While the Committee understands that pursuant to the requirements established in Section 1653 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114- 328), the Department of Defense included language relating to a Department-wide automated information security continuous monitoring capability and a comply-to-connect policy in its Fiscal Year 2019 budget request, the Committee is concerned that this language failed to adequately explain the Department's implementation strategy and the resources it will require. The Committee therefore directs the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation to provide the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, no later than December 1, 2018, a briefing specifically outlining the resources and any recommendations that will be required to fully address the requirements contained within Section 1653 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure On September 13, 2017, the Deputy Secretary of Defense signed a memorandum establishing the Cloud Executive Steering Group to accelerate the adoption of enterprise-wide cloud architecture and services, known as the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure, or JEDI. A report provided to Congress by the Department of Defense on October 19, 2017, in response to the committee report (H. Rept. 114-577) accompanying the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017, outlined several challenges impacting the Department's ability to expand commercial cloud service usage. These included accurately projecting costs for security and complex migrations, lack of consistent security requirements, and an inability to identify tangible cost- savings. Although the report outlined efforts to address these challenges, additional information has not been provided to the committee on progress to that end. The report also outlined several ongoing cloud computing activities. The committee has long championed modernization of information technology to facilitate efficiencies and cost- savings, enhance performance, and provide our warfighters with cutting-edge capabilities on and off the battlefield. The committee is encouraged by the Department's renewed commitment to accelerate the adoption of cloud computing architecture and services. However, the committee is concerned with the lack of information supporting the planned acquisition of JEDI from a single commercial provider. This includes lack of detail regarding security requirements and associated costs, anticipated cost-savings, migration costs, and how the Department intends to maintain the ability to leverage the latest cloud computing capabilities and preserve the ability to transition workloads and data to other providers. Additionally, the committee has not been provided with details on customer capability requirements or how JEDI impacts current cloud computing services and other activities, such as those identified in the October 2017 report. The committee expects the Department to provide sufficient information necessary for the conduct of oversight responsibilities. Mitigation of Autonomous Systems The Committee notes the Department's increased reliance on autonomous systems and their associated datalinks and sensors. While the Committee supports increased investments in these systems, the rapid research, development, and deployment of autonomous equipment presents unique challenges to cyber vulnerability. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing by December 1, 2018 outlining the specific steps the Department is taking to protect autonomous systems from cyberattack, including mitigations resulting from the cyber vulnerability evaluations of major weapon systems that were conducted as directed by Section 1647 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114-92). The briefing should address layered cyber defense of associated datalinks, sensors, and onboard systems, technologies used to secure the communication architecture and RF links, and any other approaches used to improve the cyber security in these systems. Network Protection The committee is aware that open, highly scalable network protection platforms that allow for integration of both government and commercial off-the-shelf capabilities, may allow for the Department of Defense to keep pace with evolving threats. The committee believes expeditious detection and mitigation is critical, especially as the Department makes greater use of commercial cloud computing and other commercial capabilities. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than February 5, 2019, on the status and evolution of automated cyber defense capabilities, to include those that automatically detect and mitigate malware and other threats. The briefing should include a description of efforts to acquire an open, scalable platform that can integrate commercial and government off-the-shelf technologies, and an evaluation of the potential effectiveness of a capability that can be deployed within and across network boundaries and endpoints. Operational Cyber Testing of Weapons Systems The committee is aware of the challenges of performing operational cyber testing of weapon systems to understand the potential impacts of a cyber attack to the system's performance. The committee continues to believe in the importance of evaluating the cyber vulnerabilities of major Department of Defense weapons systems, as authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114-92). The committee recognizes that for some systems there are gaps in the capability of the operational test and evaluation infrastructure that prevent it from adequately completing tests and measuring the impacts on a weapon system of a realistic cyber threat. The committee is also aware of efforts within the Department to further develop the capabilities to provide the necessary test, modeling, and simulation capabilities to build a robust infrastructure to be able to perform comprehensive cybersecurity weapon systems testing. The committee encourages the Department to utilize collaboration between academia and the different test ranges and facilities to build a robust infrastructure to execute tactical cyber attack scenarios against weapon systems in an operationally realistic environment. Plan to Enhance Coordination With Universities and Industry on Cyber Education The committee notes that universities and private industry will continue to be critical partners in the education and training of our future cyber force. Traditional academic approaches to cyber training and cyber certifications such as Security + and CISSP are based on preventing vulnerabilities, attacks, and gaps that have been identified in the past. The committee is concerned that the relevance of the training content of academic institutions could be immaterial depending on when the courseware was updated. Bridging the gap in cyber training between curriculum that has been built on legacy data versus training built on current real world cyberattacks is a meaningful area of cyber training research, curriculum development, and instruction delivery that must be addressed. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to present to the defense committees a plan on how the Department of Defense can leverage and partner with universities and industry on cyber education and training that addresses this gap by November 1, 2018. This plan shall include: current partnerships and ability to expand and leverage those partnerships; existing curriculum and recommended changes needed to ensure relevance to future threats; joint development of curriculum, courseware and research projects; availability and joint use of university facilities; and recommended changes to legislation to improve cyber education and training partnerships. Securing Personally Identifiable Information The committee recognizes that the Department of Defense takes extensive measures to protect the personally identifiable information (PII) of its Servicemembers and civilian employees but that more remains to be done, especially with advances in technological communications and evolving threats. For instance, the use of smartphone devices invites new security threats that could potentially exploit the integrity of PII. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by October 31, 2018 detailing information security technologies that the Department employs to protect the official unclassified email and official unclassified mobile communications of its employees. Threat Cyberspace Operations The committee notes the increasingly contested nature of the cyber domain and the growing reliance of the Department of Defense and the military services on information technology systems. The committee continues to believe in the importance of performing robust cyber security assessments to determine the potential vulnerabilities of a system to a cyber-attack. The committee is aware that these assessments are based on realistic adversarial threats, including intelligence-based cyber tactics, techniques, and procedures that are representative of the continually emerging adversary capabilities. The Army Threat Cyberspace Operations program maintains a threat intelligence-based test capability that is important in meeting these mission needs. Therefore, the committee urges the Department of the Army to ensure that this program is adequately funded in future years to maintain cyber threat capabilities in an environment where the threat is rapidly evolving. Intelligence Matters Foundational Intelligence Analysis Modernization The committee believes the Department of Defense must ensure that the defense intelligence enterprise has modern tools that can quickly integrate new technologies to assist analysts providing intelligence to support operations and acquisition activities. The committee is aware of the Department's efforts to modernize intelligence capabilities; however, the committee is concerned by a lack of urgency in modernizing the defense intelligence enterprise's capabilities to provide foundational intelligence to the combatant commands and the military services. Therefore, the committee directs the Joint Staff Director for Intelligence, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), to develop a plan by October 1, 2018, to modernize systems used to provide foundational intelligence. Further, the committee directs the Joint Staff Director for Intelligence, in coordination with the DIA Director, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by November 1, 2018, on such plan to modernize foundational intelligence systems. If a determination is made that a new system is required, the committee expects the Battlespace Awareness Functional Capabilities Board to validate the requirements for any new system, and that the acquisition plan will follow best practices for the rapid acquisition and improvement of technology dependent systems. Insider Threat Detection and User Activity Monitoring The committee is aware that in June 2015, the Government Accountability Office recommended that the Department of Defense issue risk-assessment guidance and evaluate the ability of its insider threat programs to address capability gaps (GAO- 15-544). The committee is also aware of the Department's efforts to rapidly detect and remedy cyber vulnerabilities through programs such as the Air Force's Automated Remediation and Asset Discovery Program. The committee believes that continuous network monitoring and greater network visibility can significantly improve security of the Department's classified information and systems. Therefore, the committee encourages the Department to perform cost and technical analyses of available commercial off-the-shelf and government off-the-shelf solutions for user activity monitoring and for rapid detection and remediation of cyber attacks, for the purposes of obtaining best value and performance to decrease risks. Further, the committee directs the Chief Management Officer to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by November 1, 2018, on the outcomes of its cost and technical analyses required by this report, and the Department's efforts to implement enterprise-wide programs and policies for insider threat detection, user activity monitoring, and cyber attack detection and remediation. Insider Threat Risk Model Validation The committee supports the Department of Defense continued efforts to improve vetting and screening of its workforce for potential threats. The committee commends the efforts to develop risk-rating tools and to migrate department programs to a risk in person model in order to prioritize risk so that the Department can efficiently allocate resources against the riskiest populations inside the workforce. The committee encourages the Department to continue to evolve and mature insider threat and continuous vetting risk models and rating tools, especially those efforts to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to help identify potential sources of human investigative biases in current tools and algorithms. The committee believes artificial intelligence and machine learning have tremendous potential to assist in the identification of potential issues in time for commanders and other leaders to mitigate potential issues before they escalate into security vulnerabilities. Intelligence Combat Support Agencies The committee commends the work of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence to answer a request in the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (division N of Public Law 115-31) to review the roles and missions of the Defense Intelligence Agency. The committee agrees with the Under Secretary's finding identifying a gap in Department of Defense coordination of the functions of the Combat Support Agencies (CSA) that also are members of the intelligence community. The directors of these agencies report to both the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence, but these agencies lack a framework to balance the resourcing and mission conflicts this bifurcated chain of command can occasionally cause. Therefore, not later than October 1, 2018, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, to develop policies that outline the process to balance the missions under the Combat Support Agency role with the missions and functions assigned by the intelligence community. These policies must address a process for assigning and integrating any new missions assigned by the Department of Defense or the intelligence community. The committee further directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives not later than October 15, 2018, on the plan to develop these policies. Intelligence Support to Cyber Operations The committee is concerned about the Defense Intelligence Enterprise's ability to provide the cyber community with all- source intelligence support, consistent with the support provided to operations in other domains. Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, in coordination with the Defense Intelligence Agency and the military services, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence by December 1, 2018, on intelligence support to cyber operations. The briefing should include efforts to standardize a common military intelligence lexicon and doctrine for intelligence preparation of the battlefield for cyber operations, efforts to develop all-source intelligence analysts with the capability to support cyber operations, and efforts to fully resource intelligence analysis support elements at U.S. Cyber Command and the service cyber components. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Careers in Defense Intelligence The committee is concerned about the Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) ability to attract and maintain adequate science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professionals. Specifically, the committee is concerned about career progression in the science and technology intelligence (S&TI) field at the Service Intelligence Centers and the Missile and Space Intelligence Center. Therefore, the committee directs the Director of DIA to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than December 1, 2018, on a plan to develop a STEM career program that attracts and maintains the defense intelligence cadre of S&TI analysts to meet tomorrow's threats. Security and Intelligence Role in Export Control The committee is concerned about the coordination of security and technology protection issues involved in the export control process managed for the Department of Defense by the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. The committee understands export controls support the Department's broad policy objectives to build relationships with partner nations, but the committee believes the risks of technology transfer deserve close scrutiny by the intelligence and security communities. Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than October 1, 2018, on security support to export control. Security Clearance Background Investigation Reciprocity The committee remains interested in improving the efficiency, effectiveness and timeliness of background investigations for security clearances. The committee believes that the federal government must do more to address conditions that have caused the investigation backlog, including reciprocity issues across agencies and departments. The committee notes that the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) (Public Law 108-458) mandated that investigations initiated by an authorized investigative agency shall be transferable to any other authorized investigative agency, but a December 2017 Government Accountability Office report found full implementation of investigative transferability has yet to occur. The committee strongly believes that ample time has passed since the passage of IRTPA for full implementation of investigative reciprocity between agencies, and the failure to implement transferability requirements is unacceptable. Not later than October 1, 2018, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to brief the committee on efforts to ensure seamless transition of investigations between authorized investigative agencies, as required by law. The committee has received numerous briefings on the Department's plan to reassume the background investigation mission for Department of Defense personnel from the National Background Investigations Bureau, and is encouraged by the efforts to move towards continuous evaluation and continuous vetting as a replacement for periodic reinvestigations to reduce the investigative backlog. The committee notes the lead role the Department is taking for continuous monitoring and continuous vetting across the federal government. The committee believes any solution to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and timeliness of background investigations must be applied across the federal government uniformly. Therefore, not later than November 1, 2018, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to brief the committee on efforts to ensure reciprocity is a consideration for implementation of continuous evaluation and continuous vetting across the federal government. Strengthening Oversight of the Military Intelligence Program Budget The committee is aware of a recent draft Government Accountability Office report on the Military Intelligence Program (MIP) that identifies a lack of clear and definitive guidance about which programs, projects, and activities should be assigned to the MIP. As a result, there may be intelligence and intelligence-related capabilities resourced outside of the MIP. Conversely, the committee believes there are MIP resources allocated to programs, projects, and activities that do not primarily support the Secretary of Defense's intelligence, counterintelligence, and related intelligence responsibilities and requirements. Thus, the Department of Defense's ability to make informed decisions to balance appropriate resources against programs, projects, or activities is limited. The committee believes the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USDI) should take measures to more clearly define guidance about which programs, projects, or activities should be assigned to the MIP using the Joint Publication's definition of intelligence. Therefore, the committee directs USDI to review all of the Department's intelligence, counterintelligence, and related intelligence programs, projects, and activities supporting the Secretary's responsibilities and requirements. The review shall also include programs, projects, and activities potentially funded outside of the MIP. In conducting the review, the committee expects USDI to note that the committee believes resources for sensors integral to the function of weapon systems, sensors and systems developed for space and missile defense, and resources for activities and programs associated with Operational Preparation of the Environment and Nonconventional Assisted Recovery are in support of operational requirements, and should be excluded from designation to the MIP. Further, the committee directs USDI to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by March 1, 2019, on the results of the review, including how the review will result in clear guidance on designation of programs, projects, and activities to the MIP. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--Space Activities Section 1601--Improvements to Acquisition System, Personnel, and Organization of Space Forces This section would direct the Deputy Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to establish a separate alternative acquisition system for defense space acquisitions, including with respect to space vehicles, ground segments, and terminals. The Deputy Secretary would be required to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by December 31, 2019, on such plan. This section would also task the Secretary of the Air Force to develop and implement a plan to increase the number and improve the quality of the civilian and military space cadre within the Air Force. The Secretary would also be required to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by March 1, 2019, on such plan. This section would also require the Secretary of the Air Force to establish a new numbered Air Force responsible for space warfighting operations. The Secretary would be required to submit a plan for doing so to the congressional defense committees by December 31, 2019. Lastly, this section would amend chapter 6 of title 10, United States Code, by adding a new section that would establish a subordinate unified command for space under U.S. Strategic Command that would be responsible for joint space warfighting operations. Section 1602--Rapid, Responsive, and Reliable Space Launch This section would amend section 2273b of title 10, United States Code, regarding assured access to space to include consideration of rapid, responsive, and reliable space launches for national security space programs. It would also require the Secretary of Defense to provide for consideration of both reusable and expendable launch vehicles with respect to any solicitations occurring on or after March 1, 2019. Lastly, it would require the Secretary of Defense to conduct a risk and cost impact analysis with respect to reusable launch vehicles for national security payloads. The Secretary would be required to submit such analysis to the congressional defense committees within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Section 1603--Provision of Space Situational Awareness Services and Information This section would amend section 2274 of title 10, United States Code, by terminating the authority of the Department of Defense to provide space situational awareness (SSA) data to commercial and foreign entities on January 1, 2024. This section would further require the Secretary of Defense to enter into a contract with a federally funded research and development center to assess which department or departments should assume the authorities of section 2274 of title 10. This section would also direct the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to ensure that one or more departments may provide space situational awareness services to non-United States Government entities. Lastly, this section would direct the Secretary to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees, as defined by this section, on such plan. Section 1604--Budget Assessments for National Security Space Programs This section would amend section 239b of title 10, United States Code, by extending the required budget assessments for national security space programs to fiscal year 2021 and by requiring the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on the budget for space programs to the congressional defense committees within 30 days after the date on which the President submits the budget request to Congress. Section 1605--Enhancement of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Capacity This section would require the Secretary of the Air Force to ensure that military Global Positioning System user equipment terminals have the capability to receive Galileo and QZSS signals, starting with increment 2, including with appropriate mitigation efforts. This section would also require the terminals to have the capability to receive non-allied positioning, navigation, and timing signals if the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, determines that the benefits outweigh the risks or the risks can be appropriately mitigated. This section would also require engagement with relevant U.S. allies. Section 1606--Use of Small- and Medium-Size Buses for Strategic and Tactical Satellite Payloads This section would require the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study on the risks, benefits, and cost savings with respect to using small- and medium-size buses for strategic and tactical satellite payloads for protected satellite communications programs and next-generation overhead persistent infrared systems. This section would further require the Secretary to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, not later than 180 after the date of the enactment of this Act, on such study. This section would also require the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation to certify that future analysis of alternatives include materiel solutions for using small- and medium-size buses. Lastly, this section would require the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Air Force, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, not later than 240 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, on alternative space-based architectures using small-, medium-, and large-size buses. Section 1607--Designation of Component of Department of Defense Responsible for Coordination of Modernization Efforts Relating to Military-Code Capable GPS Receiver Cards This section would require the Secretary of Defense to designate a component of the Office of the Secretary of Defense to be responsible for coordinating common solutions for the Military-code modernization efforts among the military departments, Defense Agencies, and other appropriate elements of the Department of Defense by not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act. Section 1608--Designation of Component of Department of Defense Responsible for Coordination of Hosted Payload Information This section would require the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of the Air Force, and other Secretaries of the military departments and the heads of Defense Agencies the Secretary determines appropriate, to designate a component of the Department of Defense or a military department to be responsible for coordinating information, processes, and lessons learned relating to using commercially hosted payloads across the military departments, Defense Agencies, and other appropriate elements of the Department of Defense not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Section 1609--Limitation on Availability of Funds for Joint Space Operations Center Mission System This section would limit obligation or expenditure of funds for the Joint Space Operations Center Mission System and Enterprise Space Battle Management Command and Control program until the Deputy Secretary of Defense provides to the congressional defense committees a certification that the Secretary of the Air Force has entered into a contract to operationalize existing, proven, best-in-breed commercial space situational awareness processing software to address warfighter requirements and fill gaps in current space situational awareness capabilities. Section 1610--Evaluation and Enhanced Security of Supply Chain for Protected Satellite Communications Programs and Overhead Persistent Infrared Systems This section would require the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan for and conduct evaluations of the supply chain vulnerabilities for protected satellite communications and next-generation overhead persistent infrared systems. Additionally, it would require the Secretary to develop risk mitigation strategies for the identified vulnerabilities. This section would require the Secretary to establish requirements to carry out the supply chain vulnerability evaluation and submit such requirements to the congressional defense committees not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Lastly, this section would require the Secretary to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act on the plan developed for carrying out such an evaluation. Section 1611--Report on Protected Satellite Communications This section would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by December 31, 2018, on how specific protected satellite communications programs meet the requirements for resilience, mission assurance, and nuclear command, control, and communication missions of the Department of Defense. Section 1612--Plan on Space Warfighting Readiness This section would require the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan that identifies joint mission-essential tasks for space as a warfighting domain. This section would further require the Secretary to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate, within 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, on any authorities associated with such plan that the Secretary determines require legislative action. Section 1613--Study on Space-Based Radio Frequency Mapping This section would direct the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence to jointly conduct a study on the capabilities of the private sector with respect to radio frequency mapping and services for space-based electromagnetic collections. This section would also require the Secretary, in coordination with the Director, to provide a report on the study to the congressional defense committees and congressional intelligence committees, not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Section 1614--Plan To Provide Persistent Weather Imagery for United States Central Command This section would require the Secretary of the Air Force to develop a plan to provide the U.S. Central Command with persistent weather imagery after 2025. The Secretary would be required to submit such plan to the congressional defense committees by March 1, 2019. Subtitle B--Defense Intelligence and Intelligence-Related Activities Section 1621--Role of Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence This section would amend section 137 of title 10, United States Code, to clarify the responsibilities of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. Section 1622--Security Clearance for Dual Nationals This section would authorize the Secretary of Defense to apply additional security reviews to dual citizens seeking positions that require access to highly classified information. The committee expects that any additional security reviews will not further exacerbate background investigation backlogs. Section 1623--Department of Defense Counterintelligence Polygraph Program This section would amend section 1564a of title 10, United States Code, by authorizing the Secretary of Defense to add dual citizens to Department of Defense counterintelligence polygraph program, for the purposes of assessing risk. Section 1624--Defense Intelligence Business Management Systems This section would require the Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, to provide a report to the congressional defense committees and the congressional intelligence committees, not later than March 1, 2019, outlining a plan to standardize the planning, programming, budgeting, and execution process for the Military Intelligence Program (MIP) across the Department of Defense. This section would also direct the implementation of the plan not later than October 1, 2020. This section would prohibit the use of program elements that contain both MIP and non-MIP resources. The committee is concerned with the Department's ability to provide sufficient oversight of the Military Intelligence Program budget. Section 1625--Modification to Annual Briefing on the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Requirements of the Combatant Commands This section would require the Department of Defense to incorporate into the existing report required by section 1626 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113- 291) data related to the number of requests for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability and capacity submitted to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) by the combatant commanders, the number of requests formally validated by the CJCS, the quantity of validated requests tasked to the military services to fulfill, and the amount of validated requests actually fulfilled by the military services. Section 1626--Prohibition on the Availability of Funds for Department of Defense Assuming Background Investigation Mission for the Federal Government This section would prohibit the Department of Defense from assuming the background investigation mission for the entire Federal Government before December 31, 2019. Subtitle C--Cyberspace-Related Matters Section 1631--Amendments to Pilot Program Regarding Cyber Vulnerabilities of Department of Defense Critical Infrastructure This section would modify subsection (b) of section 1650 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328) to incorporate the Defense Digital Service (DDS) into pilot program authorities for identifying new, innovative methodologies or engineering approaches to evaluate cyber vulnerabilities of Department of Defense critical infrastructure. The committee notes the success of the Defense Digital Service's ``Hack the Pentagon'' program, and encourages the Department to use this or similar DDS activities to more rapidly and effectively improve the cybersecurity of government owned and operated facilities. Section 1632--Budget Display for Cyber Vulnerability Evaluations and Mitigation Activities for Major Weapon Systems of the Department of Defense This section would require that the justification materials submitted to Congress by the Secretary of Defense in support of the President's annual budget request for the Department of Defense include a consolidated display for cyber vulnerability evaluations and mitigation activities for each major weapon system beginning in fiscal year 2021. The display for each major weapon system shall include the status of, funding required, and a description of planned activities to continue or complete the cyber vulnerability evaluations in accordance with section 1647 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114-92), and necessary mitigation activities for the Future Years Defense Program. Section 1633--Transfer of Responsibility for the Department of Defense Information Network to United States Cyber Command This section would mandate that the Secretary of Defense transfer of all roles, missions, and responsibilities of the Commander, Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Networks from the Defense Information Support Agency to Commander, United States Cyber Command, by September 30, 2019. It would additionally require the Secretary of Defense to certify in writing to the congressional defense committees that such transfer shall not result in mission degradation. Section 1634--Pilot Program Authority To Enhance Cybersecurity and Resiliency of Critical Infrastructure This section would authorize the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, to provide technical personnel to the Department of Homeland Security to enhance cooperation, collaboration, and unity of government efforts in support of the protection of critical infrastructure from cyber incidents and significant cyber incidents. Section 1635--Pilot Program on Regional Cyber Security Training Center for the Army National Guard This section would authorize the Secretary of the Army to carry out a pilot program to establish a National Guard cyber security training center for members of the Army National Guard. Section 1636--Procedures and Reporting Requirement on Cybersecurity Breaches and Loss of Personally Identifiable Information This section would require the Secretary of Defense to promptly notify the congressional defense committees in the event of a significant loss of personally identifiable information of civilian or uniformed members of the Armed Forces in classified or unclassified formats. Section 1637--Cyber Institutes at the Senior Military Colleges This section would authorize the Secretary of Defense to establish a Cyber Institute at each of the senior military colleges. Section 1638--Study and Report on Reserve Component Cyber Civil Support Teams This section would require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a study on the feasibility and advisability of establishing cyber civil support teams comprised of Reserve Component members, primarily operating under the command and control of the Governor of each State, to prepare for and respond to cyber incidents, cyber emergencies, and cyber attacks. The Secretaries concerned shall provide a report to the congressional defense committees, the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act on the results of the study, to include their final determination on the feasibility of, advisability and necessity of establishing Reserve Component cyber civil support teams for each State, and if so, proposed legislation. Subtitle D--Nuclear Forces Section 1641--Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Nuclear Weapons Council This section would amend section 179 of title 10, United States Code, to include the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering as a member of the Nuclear Weapons Council and make a technical correction to the title of the Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment. Section 1642--Long-Range Standoff Weapon Requirements This section would amend section 217 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113- 66) to enable the Secretary of the Air Force to retire the conventionally armed AGM-86 cruise missile and require the Secretary to ensure that a conventionally armed follow-on air- launched cruise missile, the long-range standoff weapon, achieves initial operating capability for conventional missions not later than 4 years after it achieves initial operating capability for nuclear missions. Section 1643--Acceleration of Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent Program and Long-Range Standoff Weapon Program This section would require the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in consultation with the Secretary of the Air Force, to develop and implement plans to accelerate the development, procurement, and fielding of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program and the Long- Range Standoff cruise missile program. For GBSD, the plan would be required to recapitalize the full intercontinental ballistic missile system, without phasing or splitting the program. For both programs, the plans would be required to assess the benefits, risks, feasibility, costs, and cost savings of various options for accelerating the programs. The Under Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Air Force, would be required to submit the plans to the congressional defense committees within 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. The Commander of U.S. Strategic Command would be required, within 160 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, to provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees on the views of the Commander regarding the plans. Section 1644--Procurement Authority for Certain Parts of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Fuzes This section would authorize $9.8 million of the funds made available by this Act for Missile Procurement, Air Force, for the procurement of certain commercially available parts of intercontinental ballistic missile fuzes, notwithstanding section 1502(a) of title 31, United States Code, under contracts entered into under section 1645(a) of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291). Section 1645--Prohibition on Reduction of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles of the United States This section would prohibit the Department of Defense from obligating or expending fiscal year 2019 funds to reduce the responsiveness, alert level, or quantity of deployed U.S. intercontinental ballistic missiles to less than 400. This section would provide an exception to this prohibition for activities related to maintenance and sustainment and activities to ensure safety, security, or reliability. Section 1646--Extension of Prohibition on Availability of Funds for Mobile Variant of Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent Missile This section would amend section 1664 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114- 328) to extend, to fiscal year 2020, a prohibition on the availability of funds to retain the option for, or develop, a mobile variant of the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent missile. Section 1647--Independent Study on Nuclear Weapons Launch-Under-Attack Option This section would require the Secretary of Defense, within 30 days of enactment of this Act, to seek to enter into a contract with a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) to conduct a study on the potential benefits and risks of reducing the role of the launch-under-attack option in U.S. nuclear weapons planning. The Secretary would not be allowed to award such contract to an FFRDC for which the Air Force is the primary sponsor. This section would require the FFRDC to submit the report to the Secretary not later than 270 days after enactment of this Act, and would require the Secretary to submit the report to the congressional defense committees not later than 30 days after receiving it. Section 1648--Extension of Annual Report on the Plan for the Nuclear Weapons Stockpile, Nuclear Weapons Complex, Nuclear Weapons Delivery Systems, and Nuclear Weapons Command and Control System This section would amend section 1043 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Public Law 112- 81) to extend the expiration of a reporting requirement related to nuclear weapons from 2019 to 2022. Section 1649--Sense of Congress on Nuclear Posture of the United States This section would express a sense of Congress regarding the nuclear posture of the United States. Section 1650--Sense of Congress on Extended Nuclear Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific Region This section would express the sense of Congress concerning the nuclear weapons program of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and U.S. extended deterrence commitments to Indo- Pacific region allies and partners. Subtitle E--Missile Defense Programs Section 1661--Development of Persistent Space-Based Sensor Architecture This section would direct the Director of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, the Commander of Air Force Space Command, and the Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, to complete a plan and initiate development in fiscal year 2019 for a space-based missile defense sensor architecture. This section would limit obligation or expenditure of funds to initiate the space-based missile defense layer program until the plan is submitted to Congress. This section would also amend section 1683 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) to require the Director of the MDA to submit a report to the congressional defense committees and congressional intelligence committees by January 31, 2019, on options to use other transactional authorities to accelerate development of this architecture. Section 1662--Boost Phase Ballistic Missile Defense This section would require the Director, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to begin a program in fiscal year 2019 to develop boost phase intercept capabilities that are either air-launched or ship-based, cost effective, and that include a kinetic interceptor. This section would require an independent feasibility study to be conducted for delivering an initial or demonstrated boost phase capability by calendar year 2021 using unmanned aerial vehicles and kinetic interceptors. This section would also provide support for directed energy efforts that would contribute to intercontinental ballistic missile boost phase intercept applications, and would direct MDA to continue developing this capability in fiscal year 2019 and leverage directed energy work by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. This section would require the Director of MDA to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and to any other congressional defense committee upon request, not later than February 28, 2019, on the criteria and parameters used to measure progress of such program. Section 1663--Improvements to Research and Development and Acquisition Processes of Missile Defense Agency This section would require the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to transfer all research and development efforts and programs that have not yet reached milestone B to the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) if they are planned to be incorporated into the ballistic missile defense system or have explicit application for ballistic missile or hypersonic defense. This section would also require the Under Secretary to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by March 31, 2019, on the programs affected. Further, this section would require the Secretary of Defense to notify the congressional defense committees before any of MDA's unique acquisition authorities are changed, and would prohibit changing the missile defense requirements generation process managed by U.S. Strategic Command. This section would also require that MDA make the quarter and fiscal year for execution of planned flight tests unclassified. Lastly, this section would require the Deputy Secretary of Defense to update membership of the Missile Defense Executive Board, and would require that the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment be a standing member of the board and a co-chairman with respect to all decisions regarding acquisition and production milestone approvals, including other transaction authority contracts or transactions in excess of $500.0 million. Section 1664--Layered Defense of the United States Homeland This section would express the sense of Congress in support of the Department of Defense's efforts to provide layered defense of the homeland, and would require the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Commander of U.S. Northern Command, and Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by January 31, 2019, on options to increase layered protection of the U.S. homeland, to include the continental United States, Hawaii, and Alaska, from both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Section 1665--Testing of Redesigned Kill Vehicle Prior to Production This section would prohibit a lot production decision for the Redesigned Kill Vehicle until after a successful flight intercept test. This section would also provide a waiver for the Secretary of Defense to make such a decision prior to a successful flight test, if the specified conditions are met. Section 1666--Requirements for Ballistic Missile Defense Capable Ships This section would require the Secretary of the Navy to include ballistic missile defense ship requirements in all future force structure assessments. Section 1667--Multiyear Procurement Authority for Standard Missile-3 Block IB Missiles This section would authorize the Department of Defense to enter a multiyear procurement for Standard Missile-3 Block IB missiles. Section 1668--Limitation on Availability of Funds for Army Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor This section would limit obligation or expenditure of funds for the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor until the Secretary of the Army provides a report detailing the rationale for any delay should the acquisition strategy delivered in September 2018 push initial operating capability past 2023. This section would also require the Secretary of the Army to ensure performance specifications of the sensor specify certain requirements. Section 1669--Missile Defense Radar in Hawaii This section would express the sense of Congress on maintaining or accelerating the schedule for the homeland missile defense in Hawaii. This section would further require alignment of the In-Flight Interceptor Communications System Data Terminal (IDT) with homeland defense radar in Hawaii by requiring the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to provide a certification that the contract for the homeland defense radar in Hawaii is on schedule to award the contract by not later than December 31, 2018, and that the radar and the IDT will reach initial operating capability not later than fiscal year 2023. Should the contract not be awarded by December 31, 2018, this section would direct the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate every other week until the date of award. This section would also require the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to provide semiannual briefings to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate on progress of the IDT and homeland missile defense radar in Hawaii, including updates on the environmental impact study process and acquisition of the radar and terminal. Section 1670--Reports on Unfunded Priorities of the Missile Defense Agency This section would require the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to submit a report to the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the congressional defense committees on the unfunded priorities of the Missile Defense Agency for fiscal years 2020 and 2021, within 10 days of the submission of the budget request to Congress for those fiscal years. Section 1671--Report on Ballistic Missile Defense This section would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on ballistic missile defense to the congressional defense committees not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act. Section 1672--Sense of Congress on Missile and Rocket Defense Cooperation Between the United States and Israel This section would express the sense of Congress in support of the administration's 10-year memorandum of understanding starting in fiscal year 2019 between the United States and the State of Israel on missile defense cooperation. Subtitle F--Other Matters Section 1681--Extension of Commission To Assess the Threat to the United States From Electromagnetic Pulse Attacks and Similar Events This section would amend section 1691 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115- 91) to extend several deadlines associated with the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse Attacks and Similar Events. Section 1682--Procurement of Ammonium Perchlorate and Other Chemicals for Use in Solid Rocket Motors This section would require the Secretary of the Army and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy to jointly conduct a business case analysis of the Federal Government using a government-owned, contractor-operated model to ensure a robust domestic supply of specialty chemicals, including ammonium perchlorate, for use in solid rocket motors. The Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary would be required to submit this business case analysis to the congressional defense committees by March 1, 2019. This section would also require the Secretary of Defense to use, to the extent practicable, full and open competition in awarding a contract for the sale of ammonium perchlorate from retired solid rocket motors. The Secretary would be required to notify the congressional defense committees 30 days after the date of any such award that does not use full and open competition. Section 1683--Conventional Prompt Global Strike Hypersonic Capabilities This section would require the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees by November 30, 2018, a validated requirement for ground-, sea-, or air- launched (or a combination thereof) conventional prompt global strike (CPGS) hypersonic capabilities. This section would further require the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by November 30, 2018, on the plan to deliver a CPGS capability in accordance with section 1693 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91). The report would also include options with cost estimates for accelerating delivery for such system, policy decisions needed to employ the capabilities, and details with respect to the assessed level of ambiguity and misinterpretation of risks, and how those risks would be addressed. Section 1684--Report Regarding Industrial Base for Large Solid Rocket Motors This section would require the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments that the Under Secretary determines appropriate, to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees by April 15, 2019, on whether, and if so, how, the Federal Government will sustain more than one supplier for large solid rocket motors. The report would be required to include an assessment of several matters, including risks, costs, and options for sustaining more than one supplier by leveraging various programs of the Department of Defense and the broader Federal Government. Finally, this section would require the Under Secretary to provide a briefing to the appropriate congressional committees by November 30, 2018, on the industrial base for large solid rocket motors. As it has expressed in the past, the committee continues to support the GBSD program and efforts to recapitalize the nuclear triad. The committee continues to expect the Air Force and the Department of Defense to be mindful of the impacts GBSD and other large upcoming or ongoing programs have on the industrial base for large solid rocket motors in the near, medium, and longer terms. Due to the large volume of rocket motors that will be procured for GBSD, this program may have a particularly large impact on the health and vitality of this key element of the U.S. industrial base. The committee does not expect or encourage the GBSD program alone to be responsible for sustaining this industrial base, but does expect the Department of Defense to carefully consider its impacts, assessing risks, benefits, and costs. Section 1685--National Intelligence Estimate With Respect to Russian and Chinese Interference in Democratic Countries This section would direct the Director of National Intelligence to produce a National Intelligence Estimate on Russian and Chinese interference in democratic countries around the world. DIVISION B--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATIONS PURPOSE Division B provides military construction, family housing, and related authorities in support of the military departments during fiscal year 2019. As recommended by the committee, division B would authorize appropriations in the amount of $10,332,478,000 for construction in support of the Active Forces, Reserve Components, defense agencies, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization security infrastructure fund for fiscal year 2019. MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND FAMILY HOUSING OVERVIEW The Department of Defense requested $8,612,447,000 for military construction, $267,538,000 for Base Realignment and Closure activities, and $1,582,632,000 for family housing for fiscal year 2019. The committee recommends authorization of appropriations of $8,498,136,000 for military construction, $322,868,000 for Base Realignment and Closure activities, and $1,582,632,000 for family housing in fiscal year 2019. In addition, the committee recommends the inclusion of $71,158,000 in undistributed savings from prior years. The Department of Defense also requested $921,420,000 for Overseas Contingency Operations military construction for fiscal year 2019. The committee recommends authorization of appropriations of $921,420,000 for Overseas Contingency Operations military construction within title XXIX. Section 2001--Short Title This section would cite division B of this Act as the ``Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019''. Section 2002--Expiration of Authorizations and Amounts Required To Be Specified by Law This section would ensure that the authorizations provided in titles XXI through XXVII and title XXIX of this Act shall expire on October 1, 2023, or the date of the enactment of an Act authorizing funds for military construction for fiscal year 2024, whichever is later. Section 2003--Effective Date This section would provide that titles XXI through XXVII and title XXIX of this Act would take effect on October 1, 2018, or the date of the enactment of this Act, whichever is later. TITLE XXI--ARMY MILITARY CONSTRUCTION SUMMARY The budget request contained $1,011,768,000 for Army military construction and $707,169,000 for family housing for fiscal year 2019. The committee recommends authorization of appropriations of $1,095,868,000 for military construction and $707,169,000 for family housing for the Army in fiscal year 2019. ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Explanation of Funding Adjustments The committee recommends the inclusion of funding for several projects requested by the Department of the Army but not contained in the budget request for military construction and family housing. These increases include: (1) $18.0 million for a Microgrid and Power Plant at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; (2) $16.5 million for Cantonment Area Roads at Fort Meade, Maryland; and (3) $9.6 million for a Supply Support Activity at Fort Hood, Texas. The committee also recommends the inclusion of $50.0 million for the Secretary of the Army, with prior notification to Congress, to carry out projects intended to enhance force protection and safety. The committee recommends the Secretary use this authority to alleviate deficiencies in access control points, air traffic control towers, fire stations, and anti- terrorism and force protection. Finally, the committee recommends a reduction of funding for a project contained in the budget request submitted by the Department of the Army for military construction and family housing. This reduction is: (1) $10.0 million for Command and Control Facility, Increment 4 at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. While the committee supports the requirement for this incrementally funded project, the committee notes this is the second consecutive year the Army has reported cost increases associated with this project. The committee believes the Department did not provide sufficient justification for the most recent cost increase associated with this project. Therefore, the committee recommends $95.0 million, a reduction of $10.0 million, for this project. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Section 2101--Authorized Army Construction and Land Acquisition Projects This section would contain the list of authorized Army construction projects for fiscal year 2019. The authorized amounts are listed on an installation-by-installation basis. The State list contained in this Act is intended to be the binding list of the specific projects authorized at each location. Section 2102--Family Housing This section would authorize new construction and planning and design of family housing units for the Army for fiscal year 2019. Section 2103--Authorization of Appropriations, Army This section would authorize appropriations for Army military construction at the levels identified in section 4601 of division D of this Act. Section 2104--Extension of Authorizations of Certain Fiscal Year 2015 Projects This section would extend the authorization of a certain project originally authorized by section 2101 of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (division B of Public Law 113-291) until October 1, 2019, or the date of the enactment of an act authorizing funds for military construction for fiscal year 2020, whichever is later. TITLE XXII--NAVY MILITARY CONSTRUCTION SUMMARY The budget request contained $2,543,189,000 for Navy and Marine Corps military construction and $419,117,000 for family housing for fiscal year 2019. The committee recommends authorization of appropriations of $2,538,898,000 for military construction and $419,117,000 for family housing for the Navy and Marine Corps in fiscal year 2019. ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Explanation of Funding Adjustments The committee recommends the inclusion of funding for several projects requested by the Department of the Navy but not contained in the budget request for military construction and family housing. These increases include: (1) $78.8 million for an Aircraft Paint Complex at Naval Base Coronado, California; (2) $75.6 million for X-Ray Wharf Improvements (Berth 2) at Naval Base Guam, Guam; (3) $51.3 million for 2nd Radio Battalion Complex, Phase 2 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; (4) $31.9 million for a Welding and Body Repair Shop Facility at Marine Corps Base Albany, Georgia; (5) $22.3 million for Expeditionary Combat Skills Student Berthing at Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi; (6) $21.8 million for Missile Magazines at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, California; (7) $19.7 million for a Consolidated Fire Station at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; (8) $19.5 million for LCS Mission Module Readiness Center at Naval Base San Diego, California; (9) $16.6 million for a Supply Warehouse SOI-West at Camp Pendleton, California; (10) $14.9 million for a Communications Line Ops to Admin at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California; (11) $14.8 million for Missile Motor Magazines and U&SI at Camp Navajo, Arizona (12) $13.1 million for Ammunition Supply Point Upgrade, Phase 2 at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia; (13) $10.0 million for Air Traffic Control Tower (North Field) at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Florida; and (14) $6.3 million for a Cryogenics Facility Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina. The committee also recommends the inclusion of $50.0 million for the Secretary of the Navy, with prior notification to Congress, to carry out projects intended to enhance force protection and safety. The committee recommends the Secretary use this authority to alleviate deficiencies in access control points, air traffic control towers, fire stations, and anti- terrorism and force protection. Finally, the committee recommends a reduction of funding for several projects contained in the budget request submitted by the Department of the Navy for military construction and family housing. These reductions include: (1) $73.97 million for an Aircraft Maintenance Hangar at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The committee supports the requirement for this project and provides the full project authorization of $133.97 million included in the budget request. However, the committee supports the authorization of appropriations in an amount equivalent to the ability of the Department to execute in the year of the authorization for appropriations. For this project, the committee believes that the Department of the Navy cannot fully expend the funding in fiscal year 2019. Therefore, the committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of $60.0 million, a reduction of $73.97 million, for this project. (2) $71.287 million for a Machine Gun Range at Joint Region Marianas, Guam. The committee supports the requirement for this project and provides the full project authorization of $141.287 million included in the budget request. However, the committee supports the authorization of appropriations in an amount equivalent to the ability of the Department to execute in the year of the authorization for appropriations. For this project, the committee believes that the Department of the Navy cannot fully expend the funding in fiscal year 2019. Therefore, the committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of $70.0 million, a reduction of $71.287 million, for this project. (3) $59.353 million for Pier 8 Replacement at Naval Base San Diego, California. The committee supports the requirement for this project and provides the full project authorization of $108.1 million included in the budget request. However, the committee supports the authorization of appropriations in an amount equivalent to the ability of the Department to execute in the year of the authorization for appropriations. For this project, the committee believes that the Department of the Navy cannot fully expend the funding in fiscal year 2019. Therefore, the committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of $47.747 million, a reduction of $59.353 million, for this project. (4) $55.6 million for the Master Time Clocks & Operations Facility at the Naval Observatory, District of Columbia. The committee supports the requirement for this project and provides the full project authorization of $115.6 million included in the budget request. However, the committee supports the authorization of appropriations in an amount equivalent to the ability of the Department to execute in the year of the authorization for appropriations. For this project, the committee believes that the Department of the Navy cannot fully expend the funding in fiscal year 2019. Therefore, the committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of $60.0 million, a reduction of $55.6 million, for this project. (5) $58.321 million for Dry Dock #1 Superflood Basin at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Maine. The committee supports the requirement for this project and provides the full project authorization of $109.96 million included in the budget request. However, the committee supports the authorization of appropriations in an amount equivalent to the ability of the Department to execute in the year of the authorization for appropriations. For this project, the committee believes that the Department of the Navy cannot fully expend the funding in fiscal year 2019. Therefore, the committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of $51.639 million, a reduction of $58.321 million, for this project. (6) $51.86 million for Flightline Utility Modernization at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The committee supports the requirement for this project and provides the full project authorization of $106.86 million included in the budget request. However, the committee supports the authorization of appropriations in an amount equivalent to the ability of the Department to execute in the year of the authorization for appropriations. For this project, the committee believes that the Department of the Navy cannot fully expend the funding in fiscal year 2019. Therefore, the committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of $55.0 million, a reduction of $51.86 million, for this project. (7) $50.52 million for a D5 Missile Motor Receipt/Storage Facility at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The committee supports the requirement for this project and provides the full project authorization of $105.52 million included in the budget request. However, the committee supports the authorization of appropriations in an amount equivalent to the ability of the Department to execute in the year of the authorization for appropriations. For this project, the committee believes that Department of the Navy cannot fully expend the funding in fiscal year 2019. Therefore, the committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of $55.0 million, a reduction of $50.52 million, for this project. (8) $21.98 million for a TBS Fire Station at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. The committee notes this project was authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) and a subsequent appropriations was included for this project in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141). The committee does not believe an additional authorization of appropriations for fiscal year 2019 is required for this project and therefore recommends a reduction of $21.98 million, for this project. (9) $8.0 million for Planning and Design. The committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of $177.542 million, a reduction of $8.0 million, for planning and design activities. Aegis Ashore Poland Austere Housing The committee notes that the U.S. Navy has made the decision to maintain austere housing accommodations for the Aegis Ashore site in Redzikowo, Republic of Poland. This decision was made despite the committee's concerns about the impact that these conditions could have on the quality of life for the sailors manning the site. Aegis Ashore Poland will provide critical missile defense capability to defend our deployed forces, allies, partners, and friends from missile defense threats. The site will be manned 24/7 by sailors on rotating, unaccompanied tours. The Commander of Naval Installations Command determined that the Aegis Ashore site located in Redzikowo, Poland, warranted ``austere'' housing, and the Chief of Naval Operations approved this determination. Under this determination, the housing accommodation guidelines will place up to 4 persons in each berthing room. The committee is concerned that the austere housing may have a negative impact on quality of life for the sailors manning the site as they execute a critical missile defense mission. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by November 30, 2018, on options to improve housing standards for sailors at the Aegis Ashore Poland site, including estimated costs and schedule for completing the possible improvements. Infrastructure in Support of Submarine Training and Operational Requirements The committee supports the Navy's development of the Columbia-class to serve as the Navy's future ballistic missile submarine. While the first submarine delivery is projected outside of the current Future Years Defense Program, the committee believes it is important for infrastructure requirements to be properly identified, programmed, and synchronized to support the training and operational requirements of this new class of submarine. The committee notes that the military departments have struggled in the past to align military construction and infrastructure investments with delivery of new weapon systems. The committee encourages the Secretary of the Navy to review the Navy's current infrastructure plans to ensure proper alignment with the Columbia-class program. Finally, the committee notes the importance of continuing to make appropriate investments in the infrastructure capabilities and capacity necessary to meet the training and certification of crews supporting the current fleet of Ohio-class submarines. Public Shipyard Infrastructure The committee acknowledges that it has received the report related to Naval Shipyard Development Plans required by the committee report (H. Rept. 115-200) accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. The report identified a number of infrastructure-related configuration, age, condition, and capacity issues that adversely impact nuclear submarine and aircraft carrier depot maintenance throughput. The Navy's report identifies approximately $21.0 billion in infrastructure investments through 2040 that will be needed in the shipyards, to include $14.0 billion for construction to provide the optimal layout of facilities in order to increase production capacity, $4.0 billion for improvements of the dry docks to provide needed capability and capacity for future classes of ships, and $3.0 billion for capital equipment. The committee believes the public shipyards are key elements that support our national defense. As such, the committee encourages the Secretary of the Navy to plan, program, and budget appropriate investments in the public shipyards to ensure those shipyards have the capabilities and capacity necessary to efficiently and effectively support the Navy fleet of today as well as the future. Red Hill Bulk Underground Fuel Storage Facility The committee is aware that the Navy and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) have entered into an enforceable agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Hawaii Department of Health known as an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC). The AOC has opportunities for stakeholder involvement at every milestone. The committee notes that the EPA and Hawaii Department of Health regulate the Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility and must approve work on AOC milestones including tank inspection, repair, and maintenance; tank upgrade alternatives using Best Available Practicable Technology (BAPT); release detection and tank tightness testing; corrosion and metal fatigue practices; investigation and remediation of releases; groundwater protection and evaluation; and a risk and vulnerability assessment. The committee encourages the Navy and DLA to continue to work with Federal and State regulators to meet all compliance deadlines related to the AOC. Furthermore, the committee encourages the Navy and DLA to consider increasing community outreach efforts, to include holding more public events such as town halls, to keep the community and local stakeholders informed on milestones and compliance with the AOC. Furthermore, the committee continues to recognize the strategic value of the Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility and the support it provides to U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) operations in peacetime and for contingencies. This facility is a national strategic asset that supports combatant commander theater security requirements, contingency operations, and routine movements in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Moving the fuel to another storage facility in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region would have implications for the U.S. military force structure in the region. If the facility were closed, the ability of the U.S. Armed Forces to support the National Defense Strategy would be significantly undermined. The committee appreciates the ongoing dialogue with the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy on this topic while they continue to comply with the requirements of the AOC. The committee will continue to provide congressional oversight on compliance with the AOC and the planning, programming, budgeting, and execution for the BAPT solutions and overall recapitalization plan for the Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility. Tijuana Sewage Runoff The committee is aware that discharges of raw sewage into the Tijuana River have required Navy in-water military training in the vicinity of Coronado, California, to be temporarily shifted to another location due to health and safety concerns. In addition, sewage spills and debris such as discarded tires often clog the river channel causing substantial erosion along the perimeter of the Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach (NOLFIB). The erosion has threatened the installation's perimeter fencing and resulted in the Navy developing a project to reinforce the riverbank and relocate portions of Navy fencing. The committee is aware that such discharges also cause secondary impacts to local Navy operations, such as beach closures at Naval Base Coronado in areas that are prime nesting grounds for the Western Snowy Plover and the California Least Tern. Increased regulatory actions by State and Federal environmental protection agencies may be levied if the quality and safety of these species' nesting areas are affected, which will negatively constrain military activities in these areas. The committee is concerned that future spills, discharges, and debris from the Tijuana River may have more significant impacts on the military installations and operations in the San Diego region. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services and other committees of jurisdiction in the House, not later than December 1, 2018, detailing whether such spills, discharges, and debris have any impact on the national security interests of the United States; whether there is a need to avoid future spills to prevent impacts to training, installations, and operations; and what actions might be taken to resolve or mitigate these impacts. As necessary, the Secretary is encouraged to coordinate with the Department of State, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Homeland Security (to include U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard), the International Boundary and Water Commission, and the Department of the Interior on this briefing requirement. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Section 2201--Authorized Navy Construction and Land Acquisition Projects This section would contain the list of authorized Navy construction projects for fiscal year 2019. The authorized amounts are listed on an installation-by-installation basis. The State list contained in this Act is intended to be the binding list of the specific projects authorized at each location. Section 2202--Family Housing This section would authorize new construction and planning and design of family housing units for the Department of the Navy for fiscal year 2019. Section 2203--Improvements to Military Family Housing Units This section would authorize the Secretary of the Navy to make improvements to existing units of family housing for fiscal year 2019. Section 2204--Authorization of Appropriations, Navy This section would authorize appropriations for Navy military construction at the levels identified in section 4601 of division D of this Act. TITLE XXIII--AIR FORCE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION SUMMARY The budget request contained $1,725,707,000 for Air Force military construction and $395,720,000 for family housing for fiscal year 2019. The committee recommends authorization of appropriations of $1,570,773,000 for military construction and $395,720,000 for family housing for the Air Force in fiscal year 2019. ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Explanation of Funding Adjustments The committee recommends the inclusion of funding for several projects requested by the Department of the Air Force but not contained in the budget request for military construction and family housing. These increases include: (1) $26.0 million for a Dormitory (168 personnel) at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas; (2) $26.0 million for a Composite Aircraft Antenna Calibration facility at Hill Air Force Base, Utah; (3) $15.0 million for an AGE Facility at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona; (4) $14.2 million for Anti-Terrorism Perimeter Security/ Entry Control Point at Rome Laboratory, New York; (5) $14.0 million for Add-Alter Joint Personnel Recovery Agency Command and Control Mission Support Facility at Fairchild Air Force Base-White Bluff, Washington; (6) $13.0 million for a Child Development Center at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland; (7) $12.25 million for an Entrance Road and Gate Complex at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana; (8) $9.0 million for a Main Gate at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida; (9) $8.0 million for a Military Working Dog Facility at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland; and (10) $7.0 million for Wyoming Gate Upgrade for Anti- Terrorism Compliance at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The committee also recommends the inclusion of $50.0 million for the Secretary of the Air Force, with prior notification to Congress, to carry out projects intended to enhance force protection and safety. The committee recommends the Secretary use this authority to alleviate deficiencies in access control points, air traffic control towers, fire stations, and anti-terrorism and force protection. Finally, the committee recommends reduction of funding for several projects contained in the budget request submitted by the Department of the Air Force for military construction and family housing. These reductions include: (1) $185.0 million for the MIT-Lincoln Laboratory (West Lab CSL/MIF) at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. The committee supports the requirement for this project and provides the full project authorization of $225.0 million included in the budget request. However, the committee supports the authorization of appropriations in an amount equivalent to the ability of the Department to execute in the year of the authorization for appropriations. For this project, the committee believes that Department of the Air Force cannot fully expend the funding in fiscal year 2019. Therefore, the committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of $40.0 million, a reduction of $185.0 million, for this project. (2) $55.1 million for the ADAL Intelligence Production Complex (NASIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The budget request included $116.1 million to construct the first phase of the construction of additional workspace for intelligence analysis and production to support the National Air and Space Intelligence Center. The committee supports the requirement for this project and is aware that a $66.0 million second phase is planned in a future program but is needed to support the full mission requirement. The committee believes it is more appropriate to authorize the full scope of a military construction requirement and provide incremental funding as opposed to bifurcating a construction project into separate phases. Therefore, the committee recommends combining the two phases into a single project and provides a total authorization of $182.0 million for the ADAL Intelligence Production Complex at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. However, the committee supports the authorization of appropriations in an amount equivalent to the ability of the Department to execute in the year of the authorization for appropriations. For this project, the committee believes that Department of the Air Force cannot fully expend the funding in fiscal year 2019. Therefore, the committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of $61.0 million, a reduction of $55.1 million, for this project. (3) $40.0 million for a Personnel Deployment Processing facility at Al Udeid, Qatar. The committee supports this requirement. However, the committee recommends no funds in the base budget, a reduction of $40.0 million, for this project in order to transfer this project to Title XXIX, Overseas Contingency Operations Military Construction. (4) $30.884 million for the Presidential Aircraft Recap Complex, Increment 2 at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. The committee supports the requirement for this project, but notes that an additional $24.884 million was provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141), which was signed into law after the budget request for fiscal year 2019 was submitted. In addition, the committee notes an additional $6.0 million was included in the project for site preparation work that is no longer required. Therefore, the committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of $123.116 million, a reduction of $30.884 million, for this project. (5) $30.4 million for Flightline Support facilities at Al Udeid, Qatar. The committee supports this requirement. However, the committee recommends no funds in the base budget, a reduction of $30.4 million, for this project in order to transfer this project to Title XXIX, Overseas Contingency Operations Military Construction. (6) $8.0 million for Planning and Design. The committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of $187.577 million, a reduction of $8.0 million, for planning and design activities. Infrastructure Investments in Support of Research and Development Contracts The committee notes that section 2353 of title 10, United States Code, provides the secretary of a military department the authority to provide for the acquisition or construction of facilities and equipment by either the Government or the contractor that the secretary concerned determines to be necessary for the performance of a contract for research, development, or both. However, the committee notes that the Air Force Instruction (AFI) approval process currently used to approve projects seeking to use this authority may not be appropriate for the circumstances at certain research facilities. Specifically, the committee notes that the current AFI-32 series is used for traditional military construction projects, and does not adequately address construction funded through contracts for research, development, or both. Therefore, the addition of language to AFIs pertinent to acquisition and construction of facilities and equipment authorized by section 2353 of title 10, United States Code, may be more appropriate and necessary for the implementation of this authority. The committee believes the Secretary of the Air Force should closely examine this issue and issue a revised AFI, as appropriate, that better supports the use of section 2353 of title 10, United States Code. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than September 30, 2018, on the results of a review of the authorities that support the acquisition or construction of facilities and equipment for research and development contracts, the supporting AFIs to carry out such projects, and any plans to update the AFI to better utilize the existing authorities. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Section 2301--Authorized Air Force Construction and Land Acquisition Projects This section would contain the list of authorized Air Force construction projects for fiscal year 2019. The authorized amounts are listed on an installation-by-installation basis. The State list contained in this Act is intended to be the binding list of the specific projects authorized at each location. Section 2302--Family Housing This section would authorize new construction and planning and design of family housing units for the Air Force for fiscal year 2019. Section 2303--Improvements to Military Family Housing Units This section would authorize the Secretary of the Air Force to make improvements to existing units of family housing for fiscal year 2019. Section 2304--Authorization of Appropriations, Air Force This section would authorize appropriations for Air Force military construction at the levels identified in section 4601 of division D of this Act. Section 2305--Modification of Authority To Carry Out Certain Phased Project Authorized in Fiscal Years 2015, 2016, and 2017 This section would modify the authority provided by section 2301(b) of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (division B of Public Law 113-291), the authority provided by section 2301(b) of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (division B of Public Law 114-92), and the authority provided by section 2301(b) of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (division B of Public Law 114-328) to authorize the Secretary of the Air Force to modify the location of three previously authorized construction phases of the project. Section 2306--Modification of Authority To Carry Out Certain Fiscal Year 2017 Project This section would modify the authority provided by section 2301 of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (division B of Public Law 114-328) and authorize the Secretary of the Air Force to make certain modifications to the scope and authorized cost of a previously authorized construction project. Section 2307--Modification of Authority To Carry Out Certain Fiscal Year 2018 Project This section would modify the authority provided by section 2301 of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (division B of Public Law 115-91) and authorize the Secretary of the Air Force to make certain modifications to the scope of a previously authorized construction project. Section 2308--Additional Authority To Carry Out Certain Fiscal Year 2019 Projects This section would provide the Secretary of the Air Force additional authority to carry out certain fiscal year 2019 projects pursuant to the Defense Laboratory Modernization Pilot Program established by section 2803 of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (division B of Public Law 114-92). Section 2309--Additional Authority To Carry Out Project at Travis Air Force Base, California, in Fiscal Year 2019 This section would provide specific authorization for a construction project at Travis Air Force Base. TITLE XXIV--DEFENSE AGENCIES MILITARY CONSTRUCTION SUMMARY The budget request contained $2,693,324,000 for defense agency military construction and $58,373,000 for family housing for fiscal year 2019. The committee recommends authorization of appropriations of $2,473,338,000 for military construction and $58,373,000 for family housing for defense agencies for fiscal year 2019. ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Explanation of Funding Adjustments The committee notes the budget request submitted by the Department of Defense for military construction and family housing included $150.0 million for the Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program. The committee supports this program and encourages the Department of Defense to continue to emphasize projects that will support increased resiliency of military installations and mission critical functions. Therefore, the committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of $165.0 million, an increase of $15.0 million, for this program. In addition, the committee recommends reduction of funding for several projects contained in the budget request submitted by the Department of Defense for military construction and family housing. These reductions include: (1) $130.386 million for Kinnick High School at Yokosuka, Japan. The committee supports the requirement for this project and provides the full project authorization of $170.386 million included in the budget request. However, the committee supports the authorization of appropriations in an amount equivalent to the ability of the Department to execute in the year of the authorization for appropriations. For this project, the committee believes that Department of Defense cannot fully expend the funding in fiscal year 2019. Therefore, the committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of $40.0 million, a reduction of $130.386 million, for this project. (2) $44.0 million for Long Range Discrimination Radar System Complex, Phase 2 at Clear Air Force Station, Alaska. The committee supports the requirement for this project and provides the full project authorization of $174.0 million included in the budget request. However, the committee supports the authorization of appropriations in an amount equivalent to the ability of the Department to execute in the year of the authorization for appropriations. For this project, the committee believes that Department of the Defense cannot fully expend the funding in fiscal year 2019. Therefore, the committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of $130.0 million, a reduction of $44.0 million, for this project. (3) $32.6 million for Next NGA West (N2W) Complex, Phase 1, Increment 2 in St. Louis, Missouri. The committee supports the requirement for this project, but notes that an additional $25.0 million was provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141), which was signed into law after the budget request for fiscal year 2019 was submitted. In addition, the committee notes that the Office of Management and Budget has directed the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency not to award the project until receiving the full appropriation for both increments, resulting in a cost increase of $7.6 million due to the delay in award. As noted elsewhere in this report, the committee believes such a policy is not in the best interest of the Department of Defense or the taxpayer. Therefore, the committee recommends an authorization of appropriation of $181.0 million, a reduction of $32.6 million, for this project. (4) $10.0 million for an Ambulatory Care Center Addition/ Alteration at RAF Croughton, United Kingdom. The committee notes this facility may be early-to-need based on an ongoing analysis of alternatives related to a separate military construction requirement. Therefore, the committee recommends no funds, a reduction of $10.0 million, for this project. (5) $10.0 million for Contingency Construction at Unspecified Worldwide Locations. The budget request included $10.0 million to support contingency construction requirements not previously authorized by law. While the committee notes this authority was used for a project in fiscal year 2018, unobligated balances remain available in the military construction account and other authorities exist to construct projects that are in keeping with a national security interest. As such, the committee recommends no funds, a reduction of $10.0 million, for this program. (6) $8.0 million for Missile Field #1 Expansion at Fort Greely, Alaska. The committee notes that the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-56) provided $200.0 million for the construction of an additional 20 silos at Missile Field #4. The committee questions why the requirement for the additional expansion of Missile Field #1 was not included in the previous request. In addition, the committee notes that this project could be carried out as a minor military construction project and does not require specific authorization. Therefore, the committee recommends no funds, a reduction of $8.0 million, for this project. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Section 2401--Authorized Defense Agencies Construction and Land Acquisition Projects This section would contain the list of authorized defense agencies' construction projects for fiscal year 2019. The authorized amounts are listed on an installation-by- installation basis. The state list contained in this Act is intended to be the binding list of the specific projects authorized at each location. Section 2402--Authorized Energy Conservation Projects This section would authorize the Secretary of Defense to carry out energy resilience and conservation projects. Section 2403--Authorization of Appropriations, Defense Agencies This section would authorize appropriations for defense agencies' military construction at the levels identified in section 4601 of division D of this Act. Section 2404--Extension of Authorizations of Certain Fiscal Year 2015 Projects This section would extend the authorization of certain projects originally authorized by section 2401 of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (division B of Public Law 113-291) until October 1, 2019, or the date of the enactment of an Act authorizing funds for military construction for fiscal year 2020, whichever is later. TITLE XXV--INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS SUMMARY The budget request contained $171,064,000 for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program (NSIP) for fiscal year 2019. The committee recommends authorization of appropriations of $171,064,000 for NSIP for fiscal year 2019. ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Facilities and Infrastructure for U.S. Military Personnel at North Atlantic Treaty Organization Host Nation Bases The committee appreciates its ongoing and cooperative dialogue with the Department of Defense regarding efforts to improve infrastructure and facilities for U.S. military personnel stationed at North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) host nation bases. As NATO continues to strengthen and update its posture in response to increasing threats, the committee believes that the United States, NATO, and individual host nations must recapitalize facilities and infrastructure that support the NATO mission. Based on site visits and direct oversight, the committee is pleased that the Kingdom of Belgium has taken several unilateral steps and applied its own funding to improve the security posture at several bases hosting U.S. personnel. However, the committee is disappointed that longstanding plans to recapitalize certain facilities at Belgian bases have not yet been executed. The committee understands that, over a decade ago, NATO allocated common funding to construct several new, modern facilities in Belgium to replace inadequate, decades-old buildings. But, due to bureaucratic delays outside of the control of NATO and the U.S. Government, the new facilities have not yet been built and U.S. personnel continue to work and operate in antiquated, substandard, and potentially unsafe facilities. The committee is aware of recent discussions between senior officials from the U.S. and Belgium on this issue, and is pleased that officials from both nations are working together to execute recapitalization plans. The committee encourages Belgium, NATO, and the U.S. Government to find and execute a near-term solution to this serious problem. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program Section 2501--Authorized NATO Construction and Land Acquisition Projects This section would authorize the Secretary of Defense to make contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program in an amount not to exceed the sum of the amount specifically authorized in section 2502 of this Act and the amount collected from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as a result of construction previously financed by the United States. Section 2502--Authorization of Appropriations, NATO This section would authorize appropriations for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program at the levels identified in section 4601 of division D of this Act. Subtitle B--Host Country In-Kind Contributions Section 2511--Republic of Korea Funded Construction Projects This section would authorize the Secretary of Defense to accept 16 military construction projects totaling $518.6 million pursuant to agreement with the Republic of Korea for required in-kind contributions. TITLE XXVI--GUARD AND RESERVE FORCES FACILITIES SUMMARY The budget request contained $467,395,000 for military construction of National Guard and Reserve facilities for fiscal year 2019. The committee recommends authorization of appropriations of $648,195,000 for military construction for fiscal year 2019. ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Explanation of Funding Adjustments The committee recommends the inclusion of funding for several projects requested by the Department of the Army and Department of the Air Force for their reserve components but not contained in the budget request for military construction and family housing. These increases include: (1) $42.6 million for a Regional ISO Maintenance Hangar at Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts; (2) $24.0 million for a NORTHCOM--Construct Alter Facilities at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana; (3) $24.0 million for an HC-130J Maintenance Hangar at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida; (4) $23.0 million for an ECS Modified TEMF at Yakima Training Center, Washington; (5) $13.0 million for Replace Fire Station at Mansfield Lahm Airport, Ohio; (6) $11.0 million for an Aircraft Vehicle Storage Building at Lexington, Oklahoma; (7) $9.4 million for an Aerial Port Facility at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Indiana; (8) $9.0 million for Construct Aircraft Apron at Great Falls International Airport, Montana; (9) $8.8 million for Relocate Main Gate at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio; (10) $8.0 million for Construct Small Arms Range at Rickenbacker International Airport, Ohio; and (11) $8.0 million for Construct Small Arms Range at Duluth International Airport, Minnesota. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--Project Authorizations and Authorization of Appropriations Section 2601--Authorized Army National Guard Construction and Land Acquisition Projects This section would contain the list of authorized Army National Guard construction projects for fiscal year 2019. The authorized amounts are listed on an installation-by- installation basis. The State list contained in this Act is intended to be the binding list of the specific projects authorized at each location. Section 2602--Authorized Army Reserve Construction and Land Acquisition Projects This section would contain the list of authorized Army Reserve construction projects for fiscal year 2019. The authorized amounts are listed on an installation-by- installation basis. The State list contained in this Act is intended to be the binding list of the specific projects authorized at each location. Section 2603--Authorized Navy Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve Construction and Land Acquisition Projects This section would contain the list of authorized Navy Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve construction projects for fiscal year 2019. The authorized amounts are listed on an installation-by-installation basis. The State list contained in this Act is intended to be the binding list of the specific projects authorized at each location. Section 2604--Authorized Air National Guard Construction and Land Acquisition Projects This section would contain the list of authorized Air National Guard construction projects for fiscal year 2019. The authorized amounts are listed on an installation-by- installation basis. The State list contained in this Act is intended to be the binding list of the specific projects authorized at each location. Section 2605--Authorized Air Force Reserve Construction and Land Acquisition Projects This section would contain the list of authorized Air Force Reserve construction projects for fiscal year 2019. The authorized amounts are listed on an installation-by- installation basis. The State list contained in this Act is intended to be the binding list of the specific projects authorized at each location. Section 2606--Authorization of Appropriations, National Guard and Reserve This section would authorize appropriations for the National Guard and Reserve military construction at the levels identified in section 4601 of division D of this Act. Subtitle B--Other Matters Section 2611--Modification of Authority To Carry Out Certain Fiscal Year 2016 Project This section would modify the authority provided by section 2603 of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (division B of Public Law 114-92) to authorize the Secretary of the Navy to modify the location of a previously authorized construction project. Section 2612--Modification of Authority To Carry Out Certain Fiscal Year 2018 Project This section would modify the authority provided by section 2601 of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (division B of Public Law 115-91) to authorize the Secretary of the Army to make certain modifications to the scope of a previously authorized construction project. Section 2613--Additional Authority To Carry Out Certain Fiscal Year 2019 Project This section would authorize the Secretary of the Navy to carry out a military construction project and acquire land at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the construction of a reserve training center. The Secretary may use available, unobligated Navy military construction reserve funds for the project. TITLE XXVII--BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE ACTIVITIES SUMMARY The budget request contained $267,538,000 for activities related to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) activities. The committee recommends authorization of appropriations of $322,868,000 for BRAC activities. ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Explanation of Funding Adjustments The committee notes the budget request submitted by the Department of Defense for activities related to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) included $322.868 million for the activities related to recommendations from the previous BRAC rounds. The committee notes that additional resources may allow for the acceleration of certain activities. Therefore, the committee recommends additional authorization of appropriations of $18.11 million for Base Realignment and Closure--Army, $19.11 million for Base Realignment and Closure--Navy, and $18.11 million for Base Realignment and Closure--Air Force. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Section 2701--Authorization of Appropriations for Base Realignment and Closure Activities Funded through Department of Defense Base Closure Account This section would authorize appropriations for ongoing activities that are required to implement the base realignment and closure activities authorized by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (part A of title XXIX of Public Law 101-510), at the levels identified in section 4601 of division D of this Act. Section 2702--Additional Authority To Realign or Close Certain Military Installations This section would provide the Secretary of Defense with authority to close or realign a military installation if the Secretary receives notification from the Governor of a State or territory that recommends the realignment or closure of a military installation within the Governor's State or territory. Section 2703--Prohibition on Conducting Additional Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Round This section would affirm that nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize an additional Base Realignment and Closure round. TITLE XXVIII--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION GENERAL PROVISIONS ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Allied Pilot Training on Advanced Pilot Trainer The committee understands that as the U.S. Air Force evaluates proposals for the Advanced Pilot Trainer (T-X) to make a final award in 2018, it will also be conducting an analysis of each undergraduate pilot training base to determine when the T-X will replace the T-38C Talon currently in service at those bases. Undergraduate pilot training lays the foundation for all pilots that will fly advanced fighter aircraft, including pilots from allies and partners who will fly American fighter aircraft variants. It is critical that pilots from allies and partners also receive opportunities to adequately prepare to fly these aircraft. Therefore, the committee recommends that the Secretary of the Air Force, when evaluating locations for basing the T-X, consider the importance of locations that also provide training to allies and partners. Comptroller General Review of Utilities Privatization The committee continues to support the utility privatization program and other alternative financing arrangements to achieve greater efficiencies, improve reliability and resiliency of utility systems, and reduce operating costs to the Department of Defense. While the Department has leveraged this authority for approximately 20 years, the committee notes with concern the amount of time it can take to complete a utility privatization project, from initial feasibility review by the military department to award of a contract to a utility provider. The committee is aware of instances where the process took more than 5 years from analysis to award. After two decades of experience with utilities privatization, the committee is concerned that procedures have not improved. The Department's protracted process for awarding privatization contracts deters potential utility providers from considering such a contract. Therefore, the committee directs the Comptroller General of the United States to review the Department's utility privatization program and submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives not later than September 30, 2019, on his findings and recommendations. Specifically, the report shall address the following for each military service: (1) the specific steps of the utility privatization process, the average amount of time to complete each step, and the contributing factors for the time each step takes; (2) the extent to which best practices have been identified and are shared between the services and the Defense Logistics Agency, and other stakeholders to improve the process; and (3) any recommendations to help improve the process as determined to be appropriate by the Comptroller General. Core Sampling at Joint Base San Antonio The Committee notes that Joint Base San Antonio is served by a wastewater pipeline, known as W-6 that is subject to a Consent Decree with the Environmental Protection Agency requiring its replacement. The local utility providing wastewater service is the San Antonio Water System, an agency of the City of San Antonio, Texas. This pipeline is critical to the functional wastewater system of Joint Base San Antonio, the City of San Antonio, and Bexar County. The Committee believes that the timely replacement of the pipeline is in the best interests of both Joint Base San Antonio and the community. The proposed route of the replacement pipeline would traverse a part of the base that contains capped and closed landfills with uncertain contents. The committee understands that the Air Force and the City are currently at an impasse on the liability for any contamination discovered during site investigations of the proposed pipeline route and during construction and subsequent maintenance and operation of a new pipeline. Given the hazards posed by the condition of the existing pipeline to the population on Joint Base San Antonio, and the legal requirements for replacing the pipeline under the Consent Decree, the Committee encourages the Secretary of the Air Force to work with the City of San Antonio toward an amicable and rapid resolution. To establish an estimate of liability that will allow informed decisions, the Committee encourages the Secretary of the Air Force to conduct core sampling along the proposed route of the new pipe to determine if any regulated or hazardous substances are present in the soil along the proposed route and the concentrations of any such substances. Furthermore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Armed Services Committee, not later than September 30, 2018, on the whether or not the Air Force performed such core sampling and the results of the core sampling performed. If the Air Force did not perform such core sampling, the briefing shall include a detailed explanation for the reasons such sampling was not performed. At the time of the briefing, the Secretary should also provide an update on the status of negotiations with the San Antonio Water System and proposed way-ahead for the site investigations and construction of the W-6 replacement pipeline. Department of Defense Lands Leases in Hawaii The Department of Defense has multiple land leases in Hawaii that require renegotiation and renewal within the next 15 years, including the Pohakuloa Training Area, Kahuku Training Area, Makua Military Reservation, and Poamoho Training Area. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to report to the House Committee on Armed Services on efforts to renew Department of Defense leases in Hawaii by July 31, 2018. Incremental Funding of Military Construction Projects As noted elsewhere in this report, the committee continues to believe in the value and appropriateness of incrementally authorizing appropriations for certain military construction projects. The committee notes that the Office of Management and Budget has directed the Department of Defense to not plan, program, or request incremental funded projects. However, the committee believes that allowing the Department to seek incremental funding for certain projects ensures more stability and predictability in the planning process, reduces acquisition costs, and enables the Department to execute more work in place on other infrastructure requirements in the fiscal year. Furthermore, the committee believes that incremental funding of large and complex military construction projects ensures continuous oversight and opportunities to adjust the authorization of appropriation level for projects should issues arise or requirements change over the course of construction. To date, the committee is not aware of any example where a military construction project has been left with inadequate funding or has not been executable as a result of an incremental funding approach. The committee expects the Secretary of Defense and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to work with the House Committee on Armed Services, and the other appropriate congressional oversight committees, to develop a framework that enables the planning, programming, budgeting, and execution of incrementally funded military construction projects. Naval Academy Dairy Farm The committee is aware the Secretary of the Navy is currently prohibited by section 6976 of title 10, United States Code from disposing of 875 acres of real property containing the Naval Academy dairy farm located in Gambrills, Maryland. The committee notes that this prohibition has been in place for more than twenty years and believes that it should be reexamined. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a report to the House Armed Services Committee, not later than September 30, 2018, regarding the real property containing the Naval Academy dairy farm. At minimum, the report shall address the current use and activities taking place on the property, an assessment of the continued need for the property to be retained by the Navy, and an evaluation of potential future uses for the property, including conveyance to a local county or municipality. In addition, the report should address how the Navy would continue supporting the functions and activities that benefit from the proceeds of current leases of the real property. Operational Energy Technologies The committee is aware of a variety of technologies that may improve operational flexibility, enhance logistics, and reduce supply lines for forces operating in deployed environments, to include the ability to convert natural gas to tactical fuels, improve power generation, distribution, and storage in deployed environments, and increase the range and capability of tactical vehicles. The committee is supportive of these efforts and encourages the Department of Defense to transition such natural gas to tactical fuel technologies from the research and development stage in support of operational requirements. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Armed Services Committee, not later than March 1, 2019, that outlines steps the Department is taking, to include resourcing and timelines for maturation of operational energy technologies, to transition such technologies to full scale demonstrations and commercial production. Privatization of On-Base Lodging The committee supports the ongoing efforts of the Secretary of Defense to make Department of Defense business operations more efficient. As the Secretary of Defense noted in his February 2017 Memorandum, this efficiency will free up resources to enable ``a larger, more capable and more lethal Joint force.'' One of the ways to accomplish this is to find savings in areas that may no longer merit individual military department approaches, particularly in non-core functions. To that end, the committee notes that the Army has privatized its on-base lodging operations and understands this effort has resulted in upgraded on-base lodging facilities, an improved experience for the military traveler, annual savings for the Army, and a self-sustaining lodging program. The committee is aware that the Department is considering options to consolidate and privatize Navy and Air Force on-base lodging. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than March 1, 2019, on how the Navy and Air Force will ensure holistic sustainability and affordability of their lodging programs. At a minimum, the briefing shall include details on capital investment needs to correct facility configuration and capacity deficiencies, provision of adequate long-term sustainment of facilities, and the implementation of best practices that will maximize reductions in government manpower and operational costs for Navy and Air Force on-base lodging programs. Relocation of Defense Non-Tactical Generator and Rail Equipment Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah The committee is aware of the Department of the Army's decision to relocate the Defense Non-Tactical Generator and Rail Equipment Center (DGRC) from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, to Anniston Army Depot, Alabama. The committee is also aware the Utah Department of Transportation plans to construct a new interchange at the current site of the DGRC and State funding is programmed in 2022. The committee understands that the Army, Air Force, and State of Utah must undertake a number of actions before the DGRC parcel may be transferred and encourages the Secretary of the Air Force to begin discussions as soon as practicable with the Utah Department of Transportation to ensure the orderly transfer of the property by 2022. Furthermore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army, in coordination with the Secretary of the Air Force, to submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives not later than January 31, 2019, on the detailed plan for executing the relocation of the DGRC and all actions necessary to ultimately transfer property to the Utah Department of Transportation. The report shall provide a detailed plan and timeline to relocate this mission to Anniston Army Depot and all necessary construction or renovation of facilities at Anniston Army Depot. The report should also include all actions necessary to enable transfer of Air Force property on Hill Air Force Base to the Utah Department of Transportation, to include the demolition of facilities, the construction or renovation of facilities, environmental remediation required, funding programmed to facilitate the transfer of the property to the Utah Department of Transportation, and any constraints to the execution of the transfer of the property by 2022. Wireless Communications on Base The committee recognizes that some military installations are located in rural areas with limited wireless communications coverage. There are also installations that cover such a large amount of land that communications infrastructure outside the fence line is unable to provide consistent or optimal service to portions of the installation. The committee believes that wireless communications coverage on military installations not only provide valuable support for the quality of life for service members and their families, but also can support military requirements related to force protection, logistics, training, or operations. The committee is aware that the Navy is considering using real estate agreements, such as easements and enhanced use leases, to allow commercial industry to develop communications infrastructure on its installations to improve service and connectivity. The committee is aware that the Army and Air Force have also expressed a desire to improve wireless communications capabilities on military installations but may not be taking the same approach as the Navy. Therefore, the committee directs the service secretaries to provide a briefing to the House Armed Services Committee, not later than September 30, 2018, on each of the military departments' requirements, plans, and timelines for improving communications coverage and capabilities on its installations. Yucca Mountain Pursuant to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, the Department of Energy (DOE) plans to permanently dispose of high-level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, located on DOE's Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), which would require transportation of nuclear waste to the repository. The committee has been briefed on DOE's proposed route to transport the waste to Yucca Mountain, and understands the route is located near DOE activities at NNSS and Department of Defense (DOD) activities at the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR). In 2017, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson stated that, ``if Yucca Mountain becomes a storage area it needs to operate without impacting the ability of the country to defend itself,'' and, ``there is no route across the range that would not impact testing and training.'' Documents provided to the committee by the Air Force indicate that although the proposed route is located outside of the boundaries of NTTR, several sections of the route would border the range, and this siting of the rail line was confirmed in a DOE Record of Decision and Environmental Impact Statement. The NTTR provides the largest air and ground military training space in the contiguous United States, free from commercial aircraft interference, and stores 75 percent of stateside Air Force live munitions. The NNSS provides DOE and other government agencies unique, high-hazard testing environments. Both facilities are national assets. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, to submit a report to the congressional defense committees, not later than January 15, 2019, describing any impacts that the Yucca Mountain Project would have on DOD and DOE activities at NNSS, NTTR, and any other defense facilities in proximity to Yucca Mountain or the proposed transportation route. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Subtitle A--Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Section 2801--Commercial Construction Standards for Facilities on Leased Property This section would amend section 2667 of title 10, United States Code, to allow the use of commercial construction standards when a private developer is constructing facilities on military land for commercial use under an enhanced use lease agreement. Section 2802--Extension of Temporary, Limited Authority To Use Operation and Maintenance Funds for Construction Projects Outside the United States This section would provide continued authority for the Secretary of Defense to use funds appropriated for operation and maintenance for military construction to meet temporary operational requirements during a time of declared war, national emergency, or contingency operation through the end of fiscal year 2019. Section 2803--Small Business Set-Aside for Contracts for Architectural and Engineering Services and Construction Design This section would amend section 2855 of title 10, United States Code, to increase the threshold for small business set- asides for architectural and engineering services and construction design contracts from $300,000 to $1.0 million. Section 2804--Authority To Obtain Architectural and Engineering Services and Construction Design for Defense Laboratory Modernization Program This section would amend section 2803 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114- 92) to clarify that the Secretary of the military department concerned may use amounts available for research, development, testing, and evaluation funding to obtain architectural and engineering services to carry out a construction project under this authority. This section would also extend the period of the Defense Laboratory Modernization Pilot Program until October 1, 2023. Section 2805--Repeal of Limitation on Certain Guam Project This section would amend section 2879 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115- 91) by repealing the requirement that the Secretary of the Navy award five military construction projects prior to awarding the ``Replace Andersen Housing Phase II'' project. Section 2806--Enhancing Force Protection and Safety on Military Installations This section would authorize the Secretaries of the military departments to carry out military construction projects to enhance force protection and safety on military installations. This section would require a notification to the congressional defense committees prior to obligating or expending funds to carry out a project under this authority. Section 2807--Limitation on Use of Funds for Acquisition of Furnished Energy for New Medical Center in Germany This section would prohibit the Secretary of Defense or Secretary of any military department from using funds to enter into a contract for the acquisition of energy for the proposed Rhine Ordnance Barracks Army Medical Center until the Secretary of Defense submits certain certifications regarding the source of energy supply and the design of the medical center. Section 2808--Treatment of Leases of Non-Excess Property Entered Into With Insured Depository Institutions This section would amend section 2667 of title 10, United States Code, to direct the Secretary concerned to accept financial services provided by an insured depository institution to service members and employees of the Department of Defense as sufficient in-kind consideration to cover all lease, services, and utilities costs assessed with regard to the leased property. Subtitle B--Real Property and Facilities Administration Section 2811--Optional Participation in Collection of Information on Unutilized and Underutilized Military Installation Properties Available for Homeless Assistance This provision would amend section 11411 of title 42, United States Code, to provide the Department of Defense discretion on the reporting of surplus facilities for possible assistance for the homeless. Since most facilities owned by the Department require credentialed access, few if any facilities have been transferred for adaptive reuse by homeless organizations. Section 2812--Force Structure Plans and Infrastructure Capabilities Necessary To Support the Force Structure This section would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a force structure plan for each military service not later than February 3, 2021, accompanied by a categorical model of installation capabilities required to support force structure and an assessment of the adequacy of the Department of Defense's existing infrastructure inventory to support force structure plans. Section 2813--Retrofitting Existing Windows in Military Family Housing Units To Be Equipped With Fall Prevention Devices This section would amend section 2879 of title 10, United States Code, to authorize the Secretaries of the military departments to create a grant program from which privatized housing entities and military installations may request funds to retrofit or install window fall prevention devices in privatized and military-owned housing. Section 2814--Updating Prohibition on Use of Certain Assessment of Public Schools on Department of Defense Installations to Supersede Funding of Certain Projects This section would freeze a portion of the Public Schools on Military Installations List required in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328) to ensure that the original top 38 schools do not lose priority due to any reassessment. Subtitle C--Land Conveyances Section 2821--Authority for Transfer of Administrative Jurisdiction Over Certain Lands, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona This section would authorize the Secretary of the Navy to transfer acquired State and privately owned lands to the Secretary of the Interior for inclusion as public lands withdrawn and reserved by section 2941 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113-66). This section would also allow the Secretary of the Interior to transfer certain parcels of land at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma to the Secretary of the Navy. Section 2822--Public Inventory of Guam Land Parcels for Transfer to Government of Guam This section would require the Secretary of the Navy to establish, maintain, and regularly update an inventory of real property located on Guam owned by the U.S. Government and administered by the Department of the Navy which the Secretary of the Navy expects to transfer to the Government of Guam. Such inventory shall be available online and accessible to the public and include specific information about each parcel of land included in the inventory. This section would also establish a formal process for the Governor of Guam to petition the Secretary of the Navy to add parcels to the inventory. Section 2823--Land Conveyance, Naval Academy Dairy Farm, Gambrills, Maryland This section would authorize conveyance of 40 acres of land from the United States Naval Academy Dairy Farm to Anne Arundel County, Maryland, contingent on certain conditions and considerations. Section 2824--Technical Correction of Description of Limestone Hills Training Area Land Withdrawal and Reservation, Montana This section would amend section 2931 of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (division B of Public Law 113-66) to adjust the acreage of withdrawn public land in Broadwater County, Montana. Section 2825--Land Conveyance, Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Rich County, Utah This section would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer ownership of 80 acres of public land to the Utah State University Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Subtitle D--Military Land Withdrawals Section 2831--Indefinite Duration of Certain Military Land Withdrawals and Reservations and Improved Management of Withdrawn and Reserved Lands This section would amend statutory authority for several military land withdrawals to extend the withdrawals indefinitely. This section would also amend section 670a of title 16, United States Code, to require the Secretary of the Interior and the concerned Secretary of a military department to continuously review such withdrawals and would establish a public comment process regarding the resource management plans and military use of such lands. Section 2832--Designation of Potential Wilderness Area This section would allow the Secretary of the Interior to permit a microwave communications site on one acre of land within a federally protected wilderness area. Subtitle E--Other Matters Section 2841--Defense Community Infrastructure Program This section would amend section 2391 of title 10, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Defense to make grants, conclude cooperative agreements, and supplement funds available under other Federal programs to assist States and local governments in addressing deficiencies in community infrastructure projects or facilities which are located outside of military installations but which support military installations. Section 2842--Restrictions on Use of Funds for Development of Public Infrastructure in Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands This section would require the Secretary of Defense to convene an Economic Adjustment Committee meeting and describe assistance necessary to support changes in Department of Defense activities in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in a report to the congressional defense committees. This section would also prohibit the Department of Defense from carrying out any grant, transfer, cooperative agreement, or supplemental funding that will result in the development of public infrastructure unless such project is included in the Economic Adjustment Committee report and specifically authorized by law. Section 2843--Study and Report on Coleman Bridge, York River, Virginia This section would require the Commander, U.S. Transportation Command, to review the feasibility of including the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge near Naval Weapons Station, Yorktown, Virginia, in the Strategic Highways Network and to report his findings to the congressional defense committees not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Section 2844--Certifications Required Prior to Transfer of Certain Veterans Memorial Object This section would amend section 2864 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115- 91); it would provide language clarifying the certification requirement and require a report prior to the return of certain veterans memorial objects. TITLE XXIX--OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS MILITARY CONSTRUCTION SUMMARY The budget request contained $921,420,000 for Overseas Contingency Operations military construction for fiscal year 2019. The committee recommends authorization of appropriations of $921,420,000 for Overseas Contingency Operations military construction for fiscal year 2019. ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Explanation of Funding Adjustments The committee recommends reduction of funding for a project contained in the Overseas Contingency Operations budget request submitted by the Department of Defense for military construction. This reduction is: (1) $69.0 million for a High Value Detention Facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Department of Defense did not provide the committee sufficient justification for the need to construct a new, permanent facility with increased capacity and capabilities. In addition, the committee notes that while the current facility may not be ideally configured, it is still capable of meeting current and foreseeable detention requirements. Therefore, the committee recommends no funds, a reduction of $69.0 million, for this project. As noted earlier in this report, the committee recommended a reduction in funding for several projects included in the base budget request in order to transfer them to the Overseas Contingency Operations title of this Act. Therefore, the committee recommends a commensurate increase in the Overseas Contingency Operations account to support these projects. Specifically, these projects include: (1) $40.0 million for a Personnel Deployment Processing facility at Al Udeid, Qatar; and (2) $30.4 million for Flightline Support facilities at Al Udeid, Qatar. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS Section 2901--Authorized Army Construction and Land Acquisition Projects This section would contain the list of certain authorized Army construction projects for fiscal year 2019. These projects represent a binding list of the specific projects authorized at these locations. Section 2902--Authorized Navy Construction and Land Acquisition Projects This section would contain the list of authorized Navy construction projects for fiscal year 2019. These projects represent a binding list of the specific projects authorized at these locations. Section 2903--Authorized Air Force Construction and Land Acquisition Projects This section would contain the list of certain authorized Air Force construction projects for fiscal year 2019. These projects represent a binding list of the specific projects authorized at these locations. Section 2904--Authorized Defense Agencies Construction and Land Acquisition Projects This section would contain the list of authorized defense agencies' construction projects for fiscal year 2019. These projects represent a binding list of the specific projects authorized at these locations. Section 2905--Authorization of Appropriations This section would authorize appropriations for Overseas Contingency Operations military construction at the levels identified in section 4602 of division D. Section 2906--Restrictions on Use of Funds for Planning and Design Costs of European Deterrence Initiative Projects This section would limit the ability of the secretaries concerned from using any of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for planning and design of military construction projects requested under the European Deterrence Initiative until the Secretary of Defense submits a list of the military construction projects to support the European Deterrence Initiative that are anticipated during fiscal year 2019 and at least the four succeeding fiscal years. The committee notes its support for the European Deterrence Initiative and the military construction program that supports it. However, the committee believes that it is important for Congress to have a clear understanding of the overall military construction plan for Europe and the construction projects that will be supported with this planning and design funding. DIVISION C--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL SECURITY AUTHORIZATIONS AND OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS TITLE XXXI--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAMS OVERVIEW The budget request for fiscal year 2019 contained $21.60 billion for atomic energy defense activities. The committee recommends $21.96 billion, an increase of $357.0 million to the budget request. ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST National Nuclear Security Administration Overview The budget request for fiscal year 2019 contained $15.09 billion for the programs of the National Nuclear Security Administration. The committee recommends $15.40 billion, an increase of $307.0 million to the budget request. Weapons Activities Defense Nuclear Security and related construction projects The budget request contained $690.6 million for Defense Nuclear Security at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). This funding supports day-to-day security operations across the nuclear security enterprise, as well as sustainment and recapitalization of physical security infrastructure and equipment. This does not include certain major line item construction projects that would result in significant security improvements. The committee continues to emphasize the need for sustained and focused NNSA and Department of Energy leadership attention on physical security efforts within the nuclear security enterprise. The security certifications required by section 2657 of title 50, United States Code, were intended to ensure the Administrator for Nuclear Security and the Secretary of Energy focus significant personal attention on the issue and are accountable for both progress and problems. Further, the congressionally mandated Center for Security Technology, Analysis, Response, and Testing, the Security Management Improvement Plan, and Security Infrastructure Revitalization Program have helped provide a solid knowledge base of physical security expertise and clear direction for a program that must be continuously vigilant and improving. The committee commends these steps, but continues to seek further progress on two major line item construction projects that will support both improved security and accomplishment of NNSA's mission deliverables: the West End Protected Area Reduction Project at the Y-12 National Security Complex, and the Material Staging Facility at the Pantex Plant. The committee recommends $701.6 million for Defense Nuclear Security, an increase of $11.0 million to the budget request, $9.0 million for the West End Protected Area Reduction project, and $24.0 million for the Material Staging Facility. Directed Stockpile Work The budget request included $4.67 billion for Directed Stockpile Work (DSW), including life extension programs (LEP) and major alterations, stockpile systems, stockpile services, and strategic materials. The committee continues to believe the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) must emphasize these programs and capabilities that directly support and enable NNSA's deliverables to the Department of Defense. The W76-1 LEP will soon complete production and its successful delivery to the Navy is a notable achievement. This weapon will soon comprise approximately 70 percent of the nation's operationally deployed strategic warheads. Production engineering on the B61-12 LEP continues, and the committee will closely oversee capacity and throughput challenges to ensure it stays on track for delivery of a first production unit and associated capabilities by December 2019. This weapon will be both a tangible and credible extended deterrent for U.S. allies, as well as form an important component of the United States' own strategic deterrent. The W88 ALT 370, with its refresh of components and high explosives, will produce a modernized warhead that will ensure its reliability for decades. And the W80-4 LEP will produce a warhead for the future long-range standoff (LRSO) cruise missile, which supports the air leg of the strategic triad. The committee will continue to track alignment between the W80-4 LEP and the LRSO program itself. Finally, the W76-2 program will produce a lower-yield submarine-launched ballistic missile warhead, as proposed by the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review. Aligning initial production of the W76-2 with the end of production of the W76-1 will help minimize costs and ensure timely production and deployment. The committee recommends $4.66 billion for Directed Stockpile Work, a decrease of $8.0 million to the budget request. Domestic uranium The committee understands that recent market trends, foreign competition, and other factors have had significant negative impacts on the nation's domestic uranium industry. For instance, the domestic uranium mining industry has diminished such that in recent years domestic suppliers provide less than 5 percent of U.S. demand for uranium. Additionally, all domestically owned uranium enrichment facilities have been closed. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is conducting an analysis of alternatives (AOA), due for completion in 2020, regarding if and how to reconstitute a domestic uranium enrichment capability for national security purposes. In its review of NNSA's AOA guidance, the Comptroller General of the United States found that NNSA's mission needs statement was limited in scope, showed preference toward a particular solution, and did not include the potential for enrichment facilities that meet multiple mission needs beyond just tritium production. The Comptroller General also found that NNSA's cost estimates for two potential enrichment technologies, which ranged from $3.8 billion to $14.0 billion depending on the technology and assumptions, only partially or minimally met best practice standards for being comprehensive, credible, well-documented, and accurate. The committee also notes that policy changes must be considered as part of the AOA, including changes that would enable the current supply of unobligated fuel to last longer and changes that would revise domestic policies or international agreements regarding limitations on the use of obligated fuel. The committee believes this AOA must be comprehensive and data-driven, and expects NNSA to update the mission needs statement and AOA guidance to address the Government Accountability Office's recommendations. While the AOA is underway, the committee believes NNSA must be mindful of ensuring U.S. technical expertise for uranium does not atrophy and that both mature and less-mature technology options continue to be advanced. The committee also believes NNSA and the wider Federal Government must be mindful of any short- or long-term implications for national security if the domestic uranium industry as a whole is moribund. To enable its oversight of these issues, the committee directs the Administrator for Nuclear Security, in consultation with appropriate officials from the Department of Energy and other agencies, to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by November 30, 2018, on the state of the domestic uranium industry in general, its impacts on national security, and the status of NNSA's ongoing analysis of alternatives related to domestic uranium enrichment. Such briefing should include: (1) an assessment of commercial market trends, Department of Energy excess uranium sales, Federal regulations and policies, enrichment capacity, and foreign imports; (2) details on how NNSA is sustaining technical expertise in domestically owned uranium enrichment technologies while its analysis of alternatives is ongoing and no domestically owned source of enriched uranium is operational; (3) NNSA's plans to revise and clarify the mission needs statement, as recommended by the Comptroller General; (4) how NNSA intends to consider a comprehensive range of options in the AOA, including policy changes such as reexamining the mixture of obligated and unobligated fuel used in reactors in proportion to tritium production and energy production, and revisions regarding limitations on the use of obligated fuel; (5) how NNSA will ensure that cost estimates of all options are consistent with best practices, and how the cost estimates are aligned with the updated scope of need. Fusion technology pathways The committee is aware of several different paths that may, some day, lead to viable fusion-based energy production and believes such a breakthrough would have extraordinary implications for energy security, national security, and the world in general. The committee is also cognizant that fusion- based energy production has been a long-sought outcome of the high energy density physics community, but has yet to yield anticipated results. The committee understands that tokamak technology is of particular interest in the scientific community for its potential to achieve viability for fusion energy production. To better understand the state of science and technology development in this field, the committee directs the Administrator for Nuclear Security, in coordination with the directors of appropriate national laboratories and appropriate officials of the Department of Energy, to provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives by February 1, 2019, on fusion energy technology development. Such briefing should review and assess all potential fusion technology paths, particularly technologies related to the tokamaks and the use of divertor test facilities to better understand remaining challenges for dealing with hot plasma exhaust. In addition, the briefing should assess fusion technology paths, their viability as a potential future power source, remaining risks and challenges associated with such technologies, any complementary research and development that is needed or ongoing, any implications of such research and technologies for the programs of the National Nuclear Security Administration, and any other matters the Administrator determines appropriate to enhance the committee's oversight and understanding. Inertial Confinement Fusion The budget request included $418.9 million for the Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Ignition and High Yield program at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). In the absence of nuclear explosive testing, this program provides for specialized expertise and unique facilities to better understand high energy density science and the operation of nuclear weapons. The budget request proposed a significant decrease in funding for ICF, including initiation of ``a three- year ramp-down in NNSA's financial commitment to . . . the Omega Laser Facility, resulting in the cessation of the financial assistance agreement,'' and reductions in funding for both ignition and non-ignition experiments at the National Ignition Facility. The committee is encouraged by NNSA's proposal to rebalance and prioritize funding for programs and capabilities that directly support NNSA's deliverables to the Department of Defense, recapitalize NNSA's aging infrastructure, and prepare for an uncertain future. The committee also notes that the ICF program has, so far, failed to achieve fusion ignition, an outcome that was long-promised on specific timelines. However, the committee also believes that NNSA must carefully consider the impacts of its deep proposed reduction to the ICF program, particularly on the long-term pipeline of expertise and the sustainment of unique capabilities upon which certification of the U.S. nuclear stockpile has depended since the cessation of nuclear explosive testing. To better understand these impacts and deliverables, the committee directs the Administrator for Nuclear Security to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by September 1, 2018, on NNSA's plans for the ICF program. Such briefing should include the impacts of the proposed budget reductions, any risks and risk mitigation options, the sustainability of facilities and infrastructure related to the ICF program, plans for maintaining a robust pipeline of experts in high energy density science and ICF at NNSA, clear criteria and milestones for measuring ICF program performance against measurable goals, an evaluation of ICF lines of efforts against stated goals, and such other matters as the Administrator determines relevant. The committee recommends $467.9 million, an increase of $49.0 million, for the ICF program. Infrastructure The budget request includes $540.7 million for Recapitalization and $365.0 million for Maintenance and Repair of Facilities. These programs fund efforts to reduce the large backlog of deferred maintenance across the nuclear security enterprise and preventative maintenance activities. Combined, these programs and the large line item construction projects are critical to arresting and reversing the declining state of the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) infrastructure. Section 3111 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) directed the Administrator for Nuclear Security to establish the Infrastructure Modernization Initiative (IMI) with a goal of reducing the backlog of deferred maintenance and repair needs at NNSA by 30 percent by 2025. The committee believes that achieving this goal is critical to accomplishing NNSA's national security mission and to the safety and well-being of NNSA's workforce. Section 3111 and section 3119 of Public Law 115-91 also provided the Administrator new and enhanced statutory authorities to accelerate and streamline action on these infrastructure problems. The committee agrees with NNSA's view that infrastructure risk is becoming safety risk and mission risk and will closely monitor NNSA's progress in implementing the IMI and leveraging its associated authorities. The committee continues to note the importance of adequately resourcing preventative and sustaining maintenance to extend the life and increase the safety of its facilities. The committee encourages the Administrator to work closely with Congress as it prepares and executes the long-term NNSA infrastructure strategy. The committee recommends $611.7 million for Recapitalization, an increase of $71.0 million to the budget request, and $404.0 million for Maintenance and Repair of Facilities, an increase of $39.0 million to the budget request. Lithium and tritium The committee continues to conduct oversight of the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) approach to managing and ensuring a sustainable supply of key strategic materials, and recognizes NNSA's efforts to bring coherency and stability to what were previously scattered and decentralized efforts. The committee believes that a clear, long-term plan to ensure access to these materials is important for the credibility of the nuclear deterrent. Although NNSA's plans for all of its strategic materials would benefit from further clarification and refinement, the committee in particular desires increased detail and clarity on NNSA's plans with regard to tritium and lithium. As the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) states, ``U.S. production of tritium . . . is now insufficient to meet the forthcoming U.S. nuclear force sustainment demands, or to hedge against unforeseen developments. Programs are planned, but not yet fully funded, to ease these critical production shortfalls.'' And as the NPR states with regards to lithium: ``The U.S. is also unable to produce or process a number of other critical materials, including lithium . . . For instance, the United States largely relies on dismantling retired warheads to recover lithium to sustain and produce deployable warheads. This may be inadequate to support the nuclear force replacement program and any supplements to it.'' The committee therefore directs the Administrator for Nuclear Security to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by November 1, 2018, on NNSA's plans to meet near- and long- term requirements for tritium and lithium. Such briefing should include the requirements, the options and plans to meet such requirements, costs associated with these options and plans, and the status of any actions underway. Report on IW-1 and W78 replacement The committee notes that the recent Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) proposes ``advancing the W78 warhead replacement one year to FY19 to support fielding on [the] Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) by 2030.'' The NPR also discusses ``exploring future ballistic missile warhead requirements based on the threats and vulnerabilities of potential adversaries, including the possibility of common reentry systems between the Air Force and Navy,'' but does not directly mention the Interoperable Warhead-1 (IW-1) program. However, the fiscal year 2019 budget request for the National Nuclear Security Administration includes $53.0 million for the IW-1 restart of the Phase 6.2 work (Feasibility Study & Design Options) on this program. The budget request justification materials further say that the IW-1 program ``will replace the W78 warhead by 2030 and support fielding of the U.S. Air Force GBSD missile system planned to replace the current Minuteman III ICBM force. Additionally, the program will investigate the feasibility of deploying the replacement warhead's nuclear explosive package in a US Navy flight body.'' To clarify and better understand the direction of this program, the committee directs the Administrator for Nuclear Security, in coordination with the Chairman of the Nuclear Weapons Council, to provide a report to the congressional defense committees no later than January 15, 2019, on the status of the W78 replacement, also referenced as the IW-1 program. Specifically, the report should include, since deferral of the program or due to the NPR, any changes in requirements, program plans and schedules, assumptions, and options and designs being considered or that are preferred. Secure transportation asset and Mobile Guardian Transporter The budget request includes $278.6 million for the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Secure Transportation Asset. Run by the NNSA Office of Secure Transportation, this program provides for the safe and secure transportation of nuclear weapons, weapons components, and special nuclear materials. Within this amount, $51.8 million was requested to continue development of the Mobile Guardian Transporter (MGT) program, which is developing and procuring new highly-secure trailers to replace existing Safeguards Transporter (SGT) trailers that are nearing the end of their 20-year service life. The committee understands that several SGTs are beginning to show signs of significant rusting and structural degradation in key locations, that mitigation of this issue is not cost effective, and that at least one SGT has been removed from the fleet earlier than planned due to this problem. The committee is concerned that this issue, or similar unexpected issues, if widespread, could undermine NNSA's planned risk reduction effort to keep a portion of the SGT fleet in operation beyond their 20-year service life while MGT is developed. Coupled with NNSA's reduction in its planned fiscal year 2019 budget request for MGT, NNSA's ability to meet surging transportation requirements in the 2020s could be at risk. The committee will oversee the SGT risk reduction effort, the MGT development and prototyping effort, and the Secure Transportation more broadly to track these important efforts. The committee recommends $278.6 million for the Secure Transportation Asset, the amount of the budget request. Streamlined and innovative approaches to non-nuclear construction projects Section 3111 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) created the Infrastructure Modernization Initiative (IMI) at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to accelerate and streamline efforts to reduce the large backlog of deferred maintenance and repair needs across the infrastructure of the nuclear security enterprise. As part of IMI, the Secretary of Energy is required to provide an enhanced and streamlined process to the Administrator for Nuclear Security to construct and demolish non-nuclear facilities that cost less than $100.0 million. The committee continues to endorse and encourage efforts of the Department of Energy (DOE) and NNSA to streamline approaches and processes related to constructing these types of facilities using commercial standards and best practices, as well as efforts to employ innovative approaches. For example, new office buildings, light laboratories, fire stations, and emergency operations centers currently being planned at sites across the nuclear enterprise may be constructed at less cost and more quickly if streamlined, commercially-based, or more innovative approaches are utilized. The committee believes continued focus and action is needed. Therefore, the committee directs the Administrator for Nuclear Security to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by January 15, 2019, on the actions taken by NNSA and DOE to implement the IMI, and in particular to carry out a streamlined process to construct or demolish non-nuclear facilities costing less than $100.0 million. Such briefing should include options for further streamlining and accelerating associated processes (while retaining applicable safety standards), identification of any innovative approaches or pilot programs to accelerate construction of such facilities, and such other matters as the Administrator determines appropriate. Weapons Activities and the Future Years Nuclear Security Program The budget request contained $11.02 billion for the Weapons Activities of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). These programs support NNSA's central mission of ensuring and sustaining the safety, security, reliability, and credibility of the U.S. nuclear weapon stockpile. In previous years, the committee has highlighted the comments of senior administration and military officials that have expressed concern that NNSA's 5-year, Future Years Nuclear Security Program (FYNSP) budget profile was inadequate to meet NNSA's programmatic needs. The committee believes NNSA has taken noteworthy steps in this regard within its recent budget requests and the FYNSP submitted to Congress with the budget request for fiscal year 2019. Recent increases have made significant strides to address the inadequacy in NNSA funding identified by the Secretary of Energy in a December 23, 2015, letter to the Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, which said NNSA's 5-year, Future Years Nuclear Security Program budget profile, ``does not reflect the funding that we estimate is necessary to meet [NNSA] requirements over the period . . . we estimate that an additional $5.2 billion over FY2018-2021 is needed to establish a viable and sustainable program portfolio.'' Elsewhere in this title, the committee discusses its recommendations for increased funding and prioritization for several programs within Weapons Activities, including for infrastructure, defense nuclear security, and inertial confinement fusion. The committee recommends $11.22 billion for Weapons Activities, an increase of $198.0 million to the budget request. Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Future nuclear proliferation challenges The committee continues to focus on the challenges associated with the detection, evaluation, and response to emerging nuclear threats, including emerging technologies that could lead to technological surprise. Recent advancements in materials, manufacturing, computing, and cyber interconnectivity indicate that robust efforts are needed to identify and develop solutions to ensure the United States can continue to reliably detect, define, deter, delay, deny, and defeat these threats. The committee therefore directs the Administrator for Nuclear Security, in coordination with the directors of relevant national security laboratories, to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by November 15, 2018, on emerging nuclear proliferation threats and the state of our capabilities to address these threats. Such briefing should include options for novel solutions to meet these challenging threats, leverage on-