Defense authorization conferees meet
ECA Staff | 9/24/2019
The Senate and House conferees met Thursday to begin resolving differences between the two chambers' versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020. Among the differences between the bills
include the Senate's higher authorized funding levels for DOE's national security programs and the House's skepticism about the viability of producing 80 plutonium pits per year. There were some similarities between the bills, including language to clarify how the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) should interface with DOE. Neither bill would authorize funding for Yucca Mountain licensing activities.
After the House passed the NDAA in July, President Donald Trump issued a veto threat over the bill's lower authorized funding levels, specifically its reductions for plutonium sustainment and nuclear warhead modernization. The Senate bill generally met most of the
President's requested funding levels.
The NDAA has passed in Congress for 58 consecutive fiscal years, with the FY 2019 bill marking the earliest the NDAA passed in over 40 years.
BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
House passes temporary funding bill; Senate vote next week
Roll Call | 9/19/2019
The House passed a stopgap spending bill that would continue government funding until Nov. 21, after spending the last few days arguing over aid to farmers caught up in the U.S.-China trade war.
The 301-123 tally saw just three Democrats vote ‘no’ and 76 Republicans supporting the measure. The strong bipartisan showing bodes well for quick Senate passage of the continuing resolution next week.
NUCLEAR SECURITY
Groups threaten to sue over nuclear weapons work at US labs
Washington Post | 9/19/2019
Nuclear watchdog groups say they will sue if the U.S. government doesn’t conduct a nationwide programmatic environmental review of its plans to expand production of key components for
the nation’s nuclear arsenal.
Federal officials have set a deadline of 2030 for ramped-up production of plutonium pits. The work will be split between Los Alamos National Laboratory in northern New Mexico and the Savannah River Site in South Carolina.
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