Sec. 1655. ASSESSMENT OF GLOBAL NUCLEAR ENVIRONMENT

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## SEC. 1655 ASSESSMENT OF GLOBAL NUCLEAR ENVIRONMENT ###

(a)Assessment Required The Director of Net Assessment of the Department of Defense, in coordination with the Commander of the United States Strategic Command, shall conduct an assessment of the global environment with respect to nuclear weapons and the role of the nuclear forces, policy, and strategy of the United States in that environment. ###

(b)Objectives The objectives of the assessment required by subsection

(a)are to inform the long-term planning of the Department of Defense and policies relating to regional nuclear crises and operations that may involve the escalation of nuclear competition among countries. ###

(c)Requirements ####

(1)In general In conducting the assessment required by subsection (a), the Director shall develop and analyze a range of contingencies and scenarios, including crises that may emerge from nuclear competition during the 10- to 20-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act that involve the following: #####

(A)The United States and one other country that possesses a nuclear weapon. #####

(B)The United States and multiple such countries. #####

(C)Two other such countries. #####

(D)Three or more other such countries. #####

(E)Regional and cross-regional geography, including contingencies and scenarios in Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia, and contingencies and scenarios that transcend regions. #####

(F)The long-term geopolitical and military-technical competition as it relates to nuclear weapons and strategic warfare. ####

(2)Analysis of competitive discontinuities In analyzing the long-term geopolitical and military-technical competition as it relates to nuclear weapons and strategic warfare under paragraph (1)(F), the Director shall identify— #####

(A)prospective discontinuities in that competition; and #####

(B)strategies and capabilities the United States could adopt to improve its competitive position following such discontinuities. ###

(d)Staffing In conducting the assessment required by subsection (a), the Director shall engage the best talent available, with particular emphasis on engaging individuals and independent entities with demonstrated expertise in strategy and net assessment methodology. ###

(e)Report Required Not later than November 15, 2016, the Director shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the assessment required by subsection (a).