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FEDERALhearing transcript
High Impact

Senate Hearing on 2018 National Nuclear Security Administration Budget

Original title: ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

January 1, 2017

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The Frame

What this does

The committee is reviewing a proposed $13.9 billion budget for the , which includes funding for major nuclear infrastructure projects that impact federal spending and national security operations.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

National Nuclear Security Administration

The agency is subject to congressional oversight regarding its $13.9 billion budget request and project management.

Taxpayers

Taxpayer funds are allocated to support the $13.9 billion NNSA budget and multi-billion dollar construction projects.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2017.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The Senate Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development held a hearing to review the President's $13.9 billion budget request for the National Nuclear Security Administration (). The committee focused on oversight of major construction projects, nuclear stockpile maintenance, and funding for the nuclear Navy.

Key Facts

  • The President's fiscal year 2018 budget request for the NNSA is $13.9 billion.
  • The requested budget represents a 7.7% increase ($993 million) over the 2017 enacted level.
  • The NNSA is responsible for three major construction projects: the Uranium Processing Facility (Tennessee), the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility (South Carolina), and the plutonium facility (New Mexico).
  • The combined cost of the three major construction projects is estimated to exceed $20 billion.
  • The Uranium Processing Facility has a target completion date of 2025 with a cost cap of $6.5 billion.
  • The committee requires that the design of nuclear facilities reach 90% completion before construction begins.
  • The Uranium Processing Facility design is expected to be 90% complete by the end of 2017, with construction slated for 2018.
  • A 2015 Red Team review concluded that the MOX project costs twice as much annually as the 'Dilute and Disposal' alternative.

Why It Matters

The committee is reviewing a proposed $13.9 billion budget for the , which includes funding for major nuclear infrastructure projects that impact federal spending and national security operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NNSA?
The National Nuclear Security Administration is a semi-autonomous agency within the Department of Energy responsible for maintaining the nuclear weapons stockpile, reducing global threats from weapons of mass destruction, and providing nuclear power for the Navy.
How much is the proposed budget increase for the NNSA?
The request is for $13.9 billion, which is a $993 million (7.7%) increase over the 2017 level.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Increased Oversight on Construction

The committee has implemented strict oversight mechanisms, such as the 90% design completion requirement, to control costs on major nuclear infrastructure projects.

Connected Entities

locationMOX Fuel Fabrication FacilityConstruction project in South CarolinaMap →
personFrank G. KlotzAdministrator of the National Nuclear Security AdministrationMap →
organizationNational Nuclear Security AdministrationThe agency requesting the budgetMap →
personFrank CaldwellDeputy Administrator for Naval ReactorsMap →
personLamar AlexanderChairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Energy and Water DevelopmentMap →
locationUranium Processing FacilityConstruction project in TennesseeMap →
personDianne FeinsteinSenator and ranking member of the subcommitteeMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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