Theater Missile Defense Improvement Act of 1998

Summary: Theater Missile Defense Improvement Act of 1998 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY 1998 for defense-wide research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E), as specified, for:  (1) the Joint Composite Tracking Network program; (2) testing, development of the remote launch capability, and production rate enhancements of the Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missile defense system; (3)  Navy Area Defense System testing; (4) SHIELD system element integration; and (5) Israeli Arrow tactical ballistic missile defense system integration with U.S. theater missile defense systems. 
Directs the Secretary of Defense to identify other actions that could be taken to counter threats posed by the development or acquisition by Iran or other nations of medium-range ballistic missiles. 
Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on the use of such funds and additional actions taken under this Act. 
Provides an offsetting reduction in amounts provided under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 for DOD RDT&E, to be achieved through savings from the DOD use of:  (1) advisory and assistance services; and (2) defense federally funded research and development centers.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Theater Missile Defense Improvement 
Act of 1998''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Development of medium-range ballistic missiles by 
        potential adversaries, such as Iran, has proceeded much more 
        rapidly than previously anticipated by the United States 
        Government.
            (2) Existence of such missiles in potentially hostile 
        nations constitutes a serious threat to United States forces, 
        allies, and friends in the Middle East and Persian Gulf region 
        and cannot be adequately countered by currently deployed 
        ballistic missile defense systems.
            (3) It is a matter of high national interest to quickly 
        reduce the vulnerability of United States forces, allies, and 
        friends to these threats.
            (4) Meaningful and cost effective steps to reduce these 
        vulnerabilities are available and should be pursued 
        expeditiously.

SEC. 3. ACCELERATION OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAMS TO COUNTER 
              ENHANCED BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT.

    Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for the Department 
of Defense for fiscal year 1998 for Defense-wide research, development, 
test, and evaluation in the amount of $147,000,000, to be available as 
follows:
            (1) Joint composite tracking network.--$35,000,000 to be 
        available for the Joint Composite Tracking Network program.
            (2) Patriot remote launch capability.--$15,000,000 to be 
        available to accelerate development of the remote launch 
        capability for the Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missile 
        defense system.
            (3) PAC-3 and navy area defense tests.--$40,000,000 to be 
        available to test the capabilities of the Patriot Advanced 
        Capability (PAC-3) missile defense system, and to test the 
        capabilities of the Navy Area Defense System, against missiles 
        with the range of the Iranian ballistic missiles under 
        development.
            (4) Early warning enhancement.--$6,000,000 to be available 
        for improved integration of the various elements of the SHIELD 
        system.
            (5) PAC-3 production rate enhancements.--$41,000,000 to be 
        available for production rate enhancements for the Patriot 
        Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missile defense system.
            (6) Israeli arrow missile defense system.--$10,000,000 to 
        be available to improve interoperability of the Israeli Arrow 
        tactical ballistic missile defense system with United States 
        theater missile defense systems.

SEC. 4. IDENTIFICATION OF OTHER POSSIBLE ACTIONS.

    (a) Identification.--The Secretary of Defense shall identify 
actions in addition to those authorized by section 3 that could be 
taken by the Department of Defense to counter the threats posed to the 
United States and its national security interests by the development or 
acquisition of medium-range ballistic missiles by Iran and other 
nations.
    (b) Specific Actions To Be Taken.--The Secretary specifically shall 
explore--
            (1) additional cooperative measures between the Department 
        of Defense and the Ministry of Defense of Israel to further 
        enhance Israel's ability to defend itself against the threat 
        posed by ballistic missiles deployed by Iran and other nations; 
        and
            (2) actions within the existing Navy Theater Wide Missile 
        Defense System program that could provide additional 
        capabilities useful to addressing the threat posed by medium-
        range ballistic missiles within one to two years.
    (c) Intergovernmental Coordination.--The Secretary shall undertake 
appropriate intergovernmental and interagency coordination that would 
be necessary to the conduct of any of the actions identified pursuant 
to subsection (a).

SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report providing--
            (1) a description of the Secretary's plans for use of funds 
        appropriated pursuant to the authorizations of appropriations 
        in this Act; and
            (2) a description of possible additional actions identified 
        by the Secretary pursuant to section 4(a) and the steps taken 
        or planned (as of the time of the report) to carry out section 
        4(c).

SEC. 6. OFFSETTING REDUCTIONS IN AUTHORIZATIONS.

    The total amount authorized in section 201 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Public Law 105-85) to be 
appropriated for fiscal year 1998 for research, development, test, and 
evaluation for the Department of Defense is hereby reduced by 
$147,000,000, of which--
            (1) $126,000,000 is to be derived from savings from the use 
        of advisory and assistance services by the Department of 
        Defense in accordance with section 8041 of the Department of 
        Defense Appropriations Act, 1998 (Public Law 105-56; 111 Stat. 
        1230); and
            (2) $21,000,000 is to be derived from savings from the use 
        by the Department of Defense of defense federally funded 
        research and development centers in accordance with section 
        8035 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1998 
        (Public Law 105-56; 111 Stat. 1227).

            Passed the House of Representatives March 30, 1998.

            Attest:

                                                ROBIN H. CARLE,

                                                                 Clerk.