Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) said on Friday that he supports the Nuclear Weapon Security and Non-Proliferation Act, which would provide appropriations for the National Nuclear Security Administration.
Frelinghuysen, chairman of the House Appropriations Energy and Water subcommittee, said national security programs have been able to stay operational during the federal government shutdown by using prior-year funding, but the NNSA will run out of funds by the end of the month.
“While most of the Department of Energy’s science and energy laboratories have enough carryover funding to operate through November, the national security laboratories and stockpile production sites of the NNSA are not in that same position,” Frelinghuysen said.
The NNSA secures vulnerable nuclear materials to keep them out of the hands of terrorists and supports the Navy’s nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.
“Funds will be used to keep the doors open so our scientists and engineers can keep our nuclear arsenal at the ready and our nuclear fleet operating efficiently,” Frelinghuysen said.
Frelinghuysen said that without more funding the NNSA would shut down as soon as Oct. 17 and lay off approximately 90 percent of personnel at nuclear weapons sites, some of whom might not return when funding resumes.
“Until we get back to regular order, this bill will provide funding critical to this nation’s security,” Frelinghuysen said.
The bill passed the House on Friday with a vote of 248 to 176.