Analysis of Senate Appropriations Committee Action on the FY08 Defense Appropriations Bill

The Center’s Chris Hellman released his Analysis of Senate Appropriations Committee Action on the FY 2008 Defense Appropriations Bill (H.R. 3222) today.

The Senate Appropriations Committee completed its markup of the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Appropriations bill on September 12. The bill includes $459.3 billion for the Department of Defense, $3.5 billion below the Bush Administration's request ($463.1 billion) and $39.7 billion above current levels (excluding supplemental appropriations bills). The full Senate may begin consideration of the legislation the week of October 1. The House completed consideration of its version of the legislation (H.R. 3222) on August 5.

Included below are some highlights relating to nuclear weapons and nonproliferation issues.

Modifying Trident Submarines to Carry Conventional Warheads - Cuts entire administration request of $174.5 million, but includes $125 million to develop a new Prompt Global Strike capability.

Missile Defense - Provides $8.5 billion for missile defense, $310 million below the request, including an $85 million cut from the $310 million requested for the third missile defense site in Europe. Includes no funding for a Space Test Bed.

Cooperative Threat Reduction (Nunn-Lugar) - Provides $448 million, $100 million above the request and $76 million above current funding levels.

Chemical Weapons Destruction - Provides $1.52 billion for the Army's chemical munitions destruction program, $62 million above the amount requested by the Administration.

The complete analysis can be found here.