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FY 2009 Omnibus Funding Bill: National Nuclear Security Administration

MAR 04, 2009

The Senate is now considering H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Funding Bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) wants to complete work on this bill by tomorrow so that it can be sent to President Barack Obama for his signature before current funding expires on Friday, March 6. While the Senate has considered a number of amendments to the bill, including those which would have reduced its funding levels, none have been successful.

H.R. 1105 contains funding for various programs of the National Nuclear Security Administration, a semi-autonomous agency of the Department of Energy. Information on NNSA’s programs can be found in the Joint Explanatory Statement for Division C - Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009 which is available here. All figures are taken from the table on pdf page 284 of this document. Readers interested in specific programs, including funding amounts, should consult pdf pages 86-95. There is important language regarding a U.S. Nuclear Weapons Strategy for the 21st Century, Directed Stockpile Work (Life Extension, Reliable Replacement Warhead), Campaigns (Science Campaigns, and Inertial Confinement Fusion Ignition and High Yield, Advanced Simulation and Computing, and Readiness), as well as defense nuclear nonproliferation, and Naval Reactors.

National Nuclear Security Administration:

The FY 2008 enacted budget was $8,810.3 million.
The Bush Administration’s FY 2009 request was $9,097.3 million.
The omnibus bill recommends $9,129.6 million. This is an increase of $319.3 million or 3.6 percent over FY 2008.

Weapons Activities:

The FY 2008 budget was $6,297.5 million. The Bush Administration’s FY 2009 request was $6,618.1 million. The omnibus bill recommends $6,380.0 million. This is an increase of $82.5 million or 1.3 percent.

Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation:

The FY 2008 enacted budget was $1,336.0 million.
The Bush Administration’s FY 2009 request was $1,247.1 million.
The omnibus bill recommends $1,482.4 million. This is an increase of $146.4 million or 11.0 percent over FY 2008.

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