Success! Nine percent increase in nuclear nonproliferation funding

Apr 12, 2011

Congress early Tuesday morning, April 12, filed the Continuing Resolution for the remainder of fiscal year 2011. The bill provides a $190 million (9 percent) increase for the nuclear nonproliferation program over fiscal year 2010. The conference committee adopted the higher funding level proposed by Senate Democrats, minus $5 million cut for a 0.2 percent across the board reduction for all non-defense programs.

The final funding level represents a significant victory for supporters of this critical anti-terror program in a tough budget climate.

The increase in the nuclear nonproliferation program is primarily to lock down bomb-grade nuclear material within four years, a priority of the Obama administration. The program is operated by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the Energy Department. NNSA secured 800 bombs worth of material in 2010. The budget demonstrates bipartisan support for securing nuclear weapons material.

Amounts in millions of dollars:

FY 2010, Enacted 2,131

FY 2011, Administration Request 2,687

FY 2011, House-passed H.R. 1 2,085

FY 2011, Senate Democratic Amendment 2,327

FY 2011, Final Continuing Resolution 2,321

Comparison with FY 2010:

FY 2011, Administration Request +556 (+26%)

FY 2011, House-passed H.R. 1 -46 (-2%)

FY 2011, Senate Democratic Amendment +195 (+9%)

FY 2011, Final Continuing Resolution +190 (+9%)

Notes: H.R. 1 and the final Continuing Resolution have a $45 million rescission of prior year balances, which are not included. The final Continuing Resolution provided $2,326 million for nuclear nonproliferation. In addition, all non-defense accounts were cut by a 0.2 percent across the board reduction. For the nonproliferation program, that cut is $5 million for a net increase of $2,231 million.

The final Continuing Resolution is available on the House Rules Committee website at http://rules.house.gov/singlepages.aspx?NewsID=235. For information on NNSA's program to secure nuclear weapons material, see http://nnsa.energy.gov/mediaroom/factsheets/reducingthreats.