Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

Nonproliferation Update: Comparison of House and Senate Defense Authorization Bills for FY 2005

June 28, 2004

For more information contact: Robert Gard, rgard@armscontrolcenter.org

Below is a summary of language relevant to U.S. nonproliferation programs contained in the House and Senate versions of the Defense Authorization Bill for FY 2005. A table comparing the Senate and House versions is also presented.

SENATE BILL (S. 2400)

1. Dept. of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program Authorization

$409.2 million (Equal to the Administration request)

2. Waiver Authority on Spending on Chemical Weapons Destruction

Permanent authority to waive spending restrictions on an annual basis. (Sec. 1203)

3. CTR Expansion

Removes $50 million limitation on the President's authority to use prior-year, unobligated CTR funds for projects and activities outside the former Soviet Union. (Sec. 3131)

4. Department of Energy Nonproliferation Programs

$1.35 billion
(Equal to the Administration request; includes $25 million increase for nonproliferation and verification research and development and $25 million decrease for fissile materials disposition.)

5. Additional Provisions

Requires the Secretary of Defense to notify Congress 30 days before obligating and expending CTR funds for purposes outside designated program areas and provides the Secretary limited authority to exceed spending authorized for each specific program. (Sec. 1202)
Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide all CTR budget and program information in the CTR annual report and the Defense Department's budget justification materials. (Sec. 1204)
Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to undertake a "global cleanout" program to accelerate efforts to remove and secure nuclear materials and equipment from vulnerable research reactors and other facilities around the world. (Sec. 3132)

HOUSE BILL (H.R. 4200)

1. Cooperative Threat Reduction Program Authorization

$409.2 million (Equal to the Administration request)

2. Waiver Authority on Spending on Chemical Weapons Destruction in Russia

One Year Extension (Sec. 1303)

3. CTR Expansion

Does not authorize use of CTR funds for projects outside the former Soviet Union.

4. Department of Energy Nonproliferation Programs

$1.34 billion
(Cuts $10.5 million from the International Nuclear Materials Protection and Cooperation program for security enhancements at the MinAtom Weapons complex due to insufficient access.)

5. Additional Provisions
Counterproliferation matters relating to countries of the former Soviet Union

Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to carry out the Silk Road Initiative, a program to promote non-weapons-related employment opportunities in the United States and in Silk Road nations for scientists, engineers, and technicians formerly engaged in developing and producing weapons of mass destruction in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. (Sec. 1421)
Establishes the Teller-Kurchatov nonproliferation international exchange fellowships for one Russian scientist and one U.S. scientist per year. (Sec. 1422)
Requires a report from the Secretary of Defense on the collaborative measures that the United States and Russia could take to reduce the risks of an accidental or unauthorized launch of a nuclear ballistic missile. (Sec. 1423)

Comparison of House and Senate Defense Authorization Bills for FY 2005
	Senate Bill (S. 2400)	House Bill (H.R. 4200)
Cooperative Threat Reduction Program Authorization (DOE)	409.2 million (equal to Administration request)	409.2 million (equal to Administration request)
Waiver Authority on spending on Chemical Weapons Destruction	Permanent authority to waive spending restrictions on an annual basis (Sec. 1203)	One year extension (Sec. 1303
CTR Expansion	Removes $50 million limitation on the President's authority to use prior-year, unobligated CTR funds for projects and activities outside the former Soviet Union. (Sec. 3131)	Does not authorize use of CTR funds for projects outside the former USSR
Department of Energy Non-proliferation programs	$1.35 billion (equal to the administration request) Includes $25 million increase for non-proliferation and verification research and development and $25 million decrease for fissile materials disposition.	$1.34 billion Cuts $10.5 million from the International Nuclear Materials Protection and Cooperation program for security enhancements at the MinAtom Weapons complex in Russia due to insufficient access.
Additional Provisions	Requires the Secretary of Defense to notify Congress 30 days before obligating and expending CTR funds for purposes outside designated program areas and provides the Secretary limited authority to exceed spending authorized for each specific program. (Sec. 1202)Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide all CTR budget and program information in the CTR annual report and the Defense Department's budget justification materials. (Sec. 1204)Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to undertake a "global cleanout" program to accelerate efforts to remove and secure nuclear materials and equipment from vulnerable research reactors and other facilities around the world. (Sec. 3132)	Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to carry out the Silk Road Initiative, a program to promote non-weapons related employment opportunities in the United States and in the Silk Road nations for scientists, engineers, and technicians formerly engaged in developing and producing weapons of mass destruction Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. (Sec. 1421)Establishes the Teller-Kurchatov non-proliferation international exchange fellowships for one Russian scientist and one U.S. scientist per year (Sec. 1422)Requires a report from the Secretary of Defense on the collaborative measures that the United States and Russia could take to reduce the risks of an accidental or unauthorized launch of a nuclear ballistic missile (Sec. 1423)