[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2017 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2017
To provide multiyear procurement authority for LGM-35A Sentinel
intercontinental ballistic missiles, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 15, 2023
Mr. Romney (for himself, Mrs. Fischer, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Lee, Mr.
Barrasso, Mr. Ricketts, and Mr. Daines) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide multiyear procurement authority for LGM-35A Sentinel
intercontinental ballistic missiles, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Sentinel Nuclear Deterrence Act of
2023''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Nuclear deterrence is a foundation of United States
national security and the security of United States allies.
(2) The nuclear triad provides nuclear deterrence through
land-, sea-, and air-based forces.
(3) The land-based leg of the nuclear triad is represented
by the LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile
weapon system, which was first deployed more than 50 years ago.
(4) In order to modernize the land-based leg of the nuclear
triad, the Air Force will replace the LGM-30G Minuteman III
intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system with the LGM-
35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system.
(5) According to the 2022 United States Nuclear Posture
Review, the People's Republic of China ``has embarked on an
ambitious expansion, modernization, and diversification of its
nuclear forces'' and the Russian Federation continues to
``modernize and expand its nuclear forces''.
(6) The rapid modernization of the land-based leg of the
nuclear triad and deployment of the Sentinel weapon system is
vital to nuclear deterrence and the national security of the
United States and its allies.
(7) The supporting infrastructure of the Sentinel weapon
system will require a complex effort that will involve the
construction or renovation of hundreds of facilities.
(8) The Sentinel Systems Directorate is principally located
at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
(9) Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles will
replace the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles
in missile fields at--
(A) F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming;
(B) Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana; and
(C) Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota.
(10) Other support actions for the Sentinel weapon system
will take place at--
(A) Hill Air Force Base, Utah;
(B) Utah Test and Training Range, Utah;
(C) Camp Guernsey, Wyoming; and
(D) Camp Navajo, Arizona.
SEC. 3. MULTIYEAR PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR LGM-35A SENTINEL
INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILES.
(a) Authority for Multiyear Procurement.--
(1) In general.--Subject to the provisions of section 3501
of title 10, United States Code, described in paragraph (3),
the Secretary of the Air Force may enter into one or more
multiyear contracts for the procurement of not more than 659
LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles.
(2) Procurement in conjunction with existing contracts.--
The missiles authorized to be procured under paragraph (1) may
be procured as additions to existing contracts covering the
Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system
program.
(3) Provisions described.--The provisions of section 3501
of title 10, United States Code, described in this paragraph
are the following:
(A) Subsection (a)(1).
(B) Subsection (f).
(C) Subsection (g), in which the term ``contract
described in subsection (a)'' shall mean a contract
awarded pursuant to the authority provided by this
subsection.
(D) Subsection (i)(1).
(E) Subsection (l)(3).
(b) Authority for Advance Procurement.--The Secretary of the Air
Force may enter into one or more contracts, beginning in fiscal year
2024, for advance procurement associated with the missiles for which
authorization to enter into a multiyear procurement contract is
provided under subsection (a), and for subsystems associated with such
missiles in economic order quantities when cost savings are achievable.
(c) Condition for Out-Year Contract Payments.--A contract entered
into under subsection (a) shall provide that any obligation of the
United States to make a payment under the contract for a fiscal year
after fiscal year 2024 is subject to the availability of appropriations
or funds for that purpose for such later fiscal year.
(d) Mandatory Inclusion of Pre-Priced Option in Certain
Circumstances.--
(1) In general.--If the total base quantity of LGM-35A
Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles to be procured
through all contracts is less than 659, the Secretary of the
Air Force shall ensure that one or more of the contracts
includes a pre-priced option for the procurement of additional
such missiles such that the sum of such base quantity and the
number of such missiles that may be procured through the
exercise of such options is equal to 659 missiles.
(2) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Base quantity.--The term ``base quantity''
means the quantity of LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental
ballistic missiles to be procured under contracts
excluding any quantity of such missiles that may be
procured through the exercise of an option that may be
part of such a contract.
(B) Pre-priced option.--The term ``pre-priced
option'' means a contract option for a contract that,
if exercised, would allow the Secretary of the Air
Force to procure a quantity of LGM-35A Sentinel
intercontinental ballistic missiles at a predetermined
price specified in such contract.
SEC. 4. REPORT ON NATIONAL LAND-BASED DETERRENCE FUND.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the
congressional defense committees a report on the advisability of
creating a National Land-Based Deterrence Fund.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
the following elements:
(1) An assessment of the efficiencies and cost savings that
could be gained if a National Land-Based Deterrence Fund,
similar to the National Sea-Based Deterrence Fund established
by section 2218a of title 10, United States Code, were to be
established by statute.
(2) Recommendations on cost elements of the Sentinel
intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system program to be
included in the fund, including an analysis of potential
efficiencies and cost savings to be gained by including cost
elements involving construction of launch facilities and other
facilities and infrastructure required for the deployment and
operation of the Sentinel weapon system.
SEC. 5. REPORT ON ACTIONS TO HELP STABILIZE AVAILABILITY OF KEY
COMMODITIES FOR CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATED WITH SENTINEL
INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE WEAPON SYSTEM PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Industrial Base Policy and the Secretary of the Air Force shall jointly
submit to the congressional defense committees a report that addresses
how the Department of Defense can take actions to help stabilize the
availability of key commodities, including concrete and steel, for
construction associated with the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic
missile weapon system program.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
the following elements:
(1) A description of different options for achieving the
objective described in subsection (a).
(2) An analysis of the degree to which use of authorities
under title III of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50
U.S.C. 4531 et seq.) or advance procurement authorities for key
commodities could achieve such objective.
SEC. 6. CONGRESSIONAL DEFENSE COMMITTEES DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ``congressional defense committees'' has the
meaning given that term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United
States Code.
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