Sec. 1601. Major force program and budget for national security space programs
481 words·~2 min read·
/bill/114/hr/1735/eh/section-1601·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Congress finds the following: National security space capabilities are a key element of the national defense of the United States. Because of increasing foreign threats, the national security space advantage of the United States is facing the most challenging environment it has ever faced. To modernize and fully address the growing threat to the national security space advantage of the United States, further action is necessary to strengthen national security space leadership, management, and organization.
Congress and independent expert commissions have previously stated the importance of establishing a major force program for space with separate authorities, as one of the elements to strengthen national security space. Chapter 9 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: The Secretary of Defense shall establish a unified major force program for national security space programs pursuant to section 222(b) of this title to prioritize national security space activities in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Defense and national security.
The Secretary shall include with the defense budget materials for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2020 a report on the budget for national security space programs of the Department of Defense. Each report on the budget for national security space programs of the Department of Defense under paragraph
(1)shall include the following: An overview of the budget, including— a comparison between that budget, the previous budget, the most recent and prior future-years defense program submitted to Congress under section 221 of this title, and the amounts appropriated for such programs during the previous fiscal year; and the specific identification, as a budgetary line item, for the funding under such programs. An assessment of the budget, including significant changes, priorities, challenges, and risks. Any additional matters the Secretary determines appropriate. Each report under paragraph
(1)shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. In this section: The term budget , with respect to a fiscal year, means the budget for that fiscal year that is submitted to Congress by the President under section 1105(a) of title 31. The term defense budget materials , with respect to a fiscal year, means the materials submitted to Congress by the Secretary of Defense in support of the budget for that fiscal year. . Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan to carry out the unified major force program designation required by section 239(a) of title 10, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), including any recommendations for legislative action the Secretary determines appropriate. The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 9 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 238 the following new item: 239. National security space programs: major force program and budget assessment. .