Sec. 1616. Limitations on availability of funds for the Defense Meteorological Satellite program
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None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2016 for the Defense Meteorological Satellite program or for the launch of Defense Meteorological Satellite program satellite #20 (in this section referred to as DMSP20 ) may be obligated or expended until the date on which the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff jointly submit to the congressional defense committees the certification described in subsection (b).
Of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2015 for the Defense Meteorological Satellite program or the launch of DMSP20 that remain available for obligation as of the date of the enactment of this Act, not more than 50 percent may be obligated or expended until the date on which the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff jointly submit to the congressional defense committees the certification described in subsection (b).
The certification described in this subsection is a certification that— the Joint Requirements Oversight Council has conducted a recent review and certification of the space-based environmental monitoring requirements while taking into consideration the changes in international allied plans and the feedback of the military departments and Defense Agencies (as defined in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code); relying on civil and international contributions to meet space-based environmental monitoring requirements is insufficient or is a risk to national security and launching DMSP20 will meet those requirements; launching DMSP20 is the most affordable solution to meeting requirements validated by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council; and nonmaterial solutions within the Department of Defense, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are incapable of meeting the cloud characterization and theater weather requirements validated by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council.
If the Secretary and the Chairman determine that a material solution is required to meet the cloud characterization and theater weather requirements validated by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, the Secretary and the Chairman shall jointly submit to the congressional defense committees a cost and capability assessment that compares the cost of meeting those requirements with DMSP20 and with an alternate material solution that includes electro-optical infrared weather imaging or other comparable solutions.