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Differences Between House and Senate FY 2018 NDAA on Major Nuclear Provisions

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A. Treaties:

  1. Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty

House: Sections 1243 and 1244: Authorizes $25 million to establish a program of record to develop a conventional road-mobile ground-launched cruise missile system that, if tested or deployed, would violate the INF Treaty.

Senate: Section 1635: Authorizes $65 million to establish a program of record for research and development of a dual-capable road-mobile ground-launched missile system that, if tested or deployed, would violate the INF Treaty. This section also requires a report to be issued by the Secretary of Defense within 120 days of enactment before any appropriations are authorized.

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House: Section 1245: If Russia remains in violation of INF Treaty, Article VI of the INF Treaty (which prohibits production or flight-testing of any INF-range missiles) is no longer binding law of the United States.

Senate: No similar provision.

  1. Open Skies Treaty

House: Section 1235 (a): Restricts funding for implementation of the Open Skies Treaty until the President submits a plan that includes objectives for all planned U.S. flights under the treaty for a fiscal year.

Senate: No similar provision.

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House: Section 1235 (b): Prohibits funding to modify United States aircraft technology under the Open Skies Treaty.

Senate: No similar provision.

  1. New Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty (New START)

House: Section 1246: Prevents funding to extend New START beyond 2021 unless Russia has verifiably come back into compliance with the INF Treaty.

Senate: No similar provision.

  1. Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)

House: Section 1270A: Restricts funding for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), except for the International Monitoring System (IMS).

Senate: No similar provision.

B. General Nuclear:

  1. Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD)

House: Section 1671: Prohibits funding to retain the option for, or develop, a mobile variant of GBSD.

Senate: No similar provision.

C. Non-Proliferation:

  1. HEU to LEU Reactors

House: Section 3116: Authorizes $5 million for research and development to develop an advanced naval nuclear fuel system based on low-enriched uranium.

Senate: No similar provision.

  1. Nuclear Security Cooperation with Russia

House: Section 3117: Restricts funding to work with Russia on nuclear security, unless the Secretary of Energy, with the concurrence of the Secretaries of State and Defense, certifies that a nuclear-related threat has arisen in Russia.

Senate: No similar provision.

  1. Non-Proliferation Program Budgetary Differences (in Thousands of Dollars) Bold=Lower

Program House Senate
International Nuclear Security 46,339 66,339
Radiological Security 146,340 166,340
Nuclear Smuggling Detection 139,429 204,429
Nuclear Material Removal 37,925 32,925
Nonproliferation and Arms Control 129,703 200,000
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation R&D 451,095 446,095
Low Enriched Uranium R&D for Naval Reactors 5,000 0

D. Missile Defense:

  1. Ground-based Midcourse Defense

House: Section 1699 F: Authorizes the increase of Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) interceptors by up to 28.

Senate: Section 1653: Similar provision, but this section takes an additional step by mandating that the Secretary of Defense deploys 14 additional interceptors by December 31, 2021 “as soon as technically feasible.”