H. R. 7776—538 
SEC. 1607. APPLIED RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO 
SUPPORT SPACE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief 
of Space Operations, in coordination with the Chief Technology 
and Innovation Office of the Space Force, may carry out applied 
research and educational activities to support space technology 
development. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—Activities carried out under subsection (a) shall 
support the applied research, development, and demonstration 
needs of the Space Force, including by addressing and facilitating 
the advancement of capabilities related to— 
(1) space domain awareness; 
(2) positioning, navigation, and timing; 
(3) communications; 
(4) hypersonics; 
(5) cybersecurity; and 
(6) any other matter the Secretary of the Air Force con-
siders relevant. 
(c) EDUCATION AND TRAINING.—Activities carried out under sub-
section (a) shall— 
(1) promote education and training for students so as to 
support the future national security space workforce of the 
United States; and 
(2) explore opportunities for international collaboration. 
(d) TERMINATION.—The authority provided by this section shall 
expire on December 31, 2027. 
SEC. 1608. REVIEW OF SPACE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY EXEMPTION 
FROM JOINT CAPABILITIES INTEGRATION AND DEVELOP-
MENT SYSTEM. 
(a) REVIEW.—Not later than March 31, 2023, the Secretary 
of Defense shall complete a review regarding whether the Space 
Development Agency should be exempt from the Joint Capabilities 
Integration and Development System. 
(b) RECOMMENDATION.—Not later than 30 days after the date 
on which the review under subsection (a) is completed, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees 
a recommendation as to whether the exemption described in such 
subsection should apply to the Space Development Agency. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
on which the recommendation is submitted under subsection (b), 
the Secretary of the Air Force and the Director of the Space Develop-
ment Agency shall implement the recommendation. 
SEC. 1609. UPDATE TO PLAN TO MANAGE INTEGRATED TACTICAL 
WARNING AND ATTACK ASSESSMENT SYSTEM AND MULTI- 
DOMAIN SENSORS. 
(a) UPDATE REQUIRED.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall 
update the plan that was developed pursuant to section 1669 of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public 
Law 115–91). 
(b) COORDINATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES.—In developing the 
update required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) coordinate with the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary 
of the Navy, the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, the
H. R. 7776—539 
Director of the National Reconnaissance Office, and the Director 
of the Space Development Agency; and 
(2) solicit comments on the plan, if any, from the Com-
mander of United States Strategic Command, the Commander 
of United States Northern Command, and the Commander 
of United States Space Command. 
(c) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 90 days after 
the update required by subsection (a) is complete, the Secretary 
of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense commit-
tees— 
(1) the plan updated pursuant to subsection (a); and 
(2) the comments from the Commander of United States 
Strategic Command, the Commander of United States Northern 
Command, and the Commander of United States Space Com-
mand, if any, solicited under subsection (b)(2). 
SEC. 1610. REPORT ON SPACE DEBRIS. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 120 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees the portion of the 
report on the risks posed by man-made space debris in low-Earth 
orbit described in the explanatory statement accompanying the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public 
Law 117–81) that pertains to the Department of Defense. The 
portion of the report shall include— 
(1) an explanation of such risks to defense and national 
security space assets; 
(2) recommendations with respect to the remediation of 
such risks to defense and national security assets; and 
(3) outlines of plans to reduce the incident of such space 
debris to defense and national security assets. 
(b) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ 
means— 
(1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives; and 
(2) the Committee on Armed Services and Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
Subtitle B—Defense Intelligence and 
Intelligence-Related Activities 
SEC. 1621. CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF CLANDESTINE ACTIVITIES 
THAT SUPPORT OPERATIONAL PREPARATION OF THE 
ENVIRONMENT. 
Section 127f of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections 
(f) and (g), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(e) QUARTERLY BRIEFING.—On a quarterly basis, the Assistant 
Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity 
Conflict, in coordination with elements of the Department of Defense 
that the Assistant Secretary determines appropriate, shall provide 
to the congressional defense committees a briefing outlining the
H. R. 7776—540 
clandestine activities carried out pursuant to subsection (a) during 
the period covered by the briefing, including— 
‘‘(1) an update on such activities carried out in each 
geographic combatant command and a description of how such 
activities support the respective theater campaign plan; 
‘‘(2) an overview of the authorities and legal issues, 
including limitations, relating to such activities; and 
‘‘(3) any other matters the Assistant Secretary considers 
appropriate.’’. 
Subtitle C—Nuclear Forces 
SEC. 1631. BIANNUAL BRIEFING ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND RELATED 
ACTIVITIES. 
Chapter 24 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after section 492a the following new section (and con-
forming the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
accordingly): 
‘‘SEC. 492b. BIANNUAL BRIEFING ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND 
RELATED ACTIVITIES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—On or about May 1 and November 1 of 
each year, the officials specified in subsection (b) shall provide 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives a briefing on matters relating to nuclear weapons 
policies, operations, technology development, and other similar 
topics as requested by such committees. 
‘‘(b) OFFICIALS SPECIFIED.—The officials specified in this sub-
section are the following: 
‘‘(1) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition. 
‘‘(2) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chem-
ical, and Biological Defense Programs. 
‘‘(3) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy. 
‘‘(4) The Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs of 
the National Nuclear Security Administration. 
‘‘(5) The Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy of the 
Joint Staff. 
‘‘(6) The Director for Capability and Resource Integration 
for the United States Strategic Command. 
‘‘(c) DELEGATION.—An official specified in subsection (b) may 
delegate the authority to provide a briefing under subsection (a) 
to a member of the Senior Executive Service who reports to the 
official. 
‘‘(d) TERMINATION.—The requirement to provide a briefing 
under subsection (a) shall terminate on January 1, 2028.’’. 
SEC. 1632. INDUSTRIAL BASE MONITORING FOR B–21 AND SENTINEL 
PROGRAMS. 
Chapter 24 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after section 493 the following new section (and con-
forming the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
accordingly): 
‘‘§ 493a. Industrial base monitoring for B–21 and Sentinel 
programs 
‘‘(a) DESIGNATION.—The Secretary of the Air Force, acting 
through the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition,
H. R. 7776—541 
Technology, and Logistics, shall designate a senior official, who 
shall report to the Assistant Secretary, to monitor the combined 
industrial base supporting the acquisition of— 
‘‘(1) B–21 aircraft; and 
‘‘(2) the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile weapon 
system. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR MONITORING.—In monitoring the com-
bined industrial base described in subsection (a), the senior official 
designated under such subsection shall— 
‘‘(1) have the authority to select staff to assist the senior 
official from among civilian employees of the Department and 
members of the armed forces, who may provide such assistance 
concurrently while serving in another position; 
‘‘(2) monitor the acquisition by the combined industrial 
base of— 
‘‘(A) materials, technologies, and components associ-
ated with nuclear weapons systems; and 
‘‘(B) commodities purchased on a large scale; 
‘‘(3) monitor the hiring or contracting by the combined 
industrial base of personnel with critical skills; and 
‘‘(4) assess whether personnel with critical skills and knowl-
edge, intellectual property on manufacturing processes, and 
facilities and equipment necessary to design, develop, manufac-
ture, repair, and support a program are available and affordable 
within the scopes of the B–21 aircraft program and the Sentinel 
intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system program. 
‘‘(c) ANNUAL REPORT.—At the same time as the submission 
of the budget of the President pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 
31 for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a report with respect to the status of the com-
bined industrial base described in subsection (a).’’. 
SEC. 1633. IMPROVEMENTS TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS COUNCIL. 
(a) RESPONSIBILITIES.—Subsection (d) of section 179 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (9), by inserting ‘‘, in coordination with 
the Joint Requirements Oversight Council,’’ after ‘‘capabilities, 
and’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (10), (11), and (12) as 
paragraphs (11), (12), and (13), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new para-
graph (10): 
‘‘(10) With respect to nuclear warheads— 
‘‘(A) reviewing military requirements, performance 
requirements, and planned delivery schedules to evaluate 
whether such requirements and schedules create significant 
risks to cost, schedules, or other matters regarding produc-
tion, surveillance, research, and other programs relating 
to nuclear weapons within the National Nuclear Security 
Administration; and 
‘‘(B) if any such risk exists, proposing and analyzing 
adjustments to such requirements and schedules.’’; and 
(4) by striking paragraph (13), as so redesignated, and 
inserting the following new paragraph (13): 
‘‘(13) Coordinating risk management efforts between the 
Department of Defense and the National Nuclear Security 
Administration relating to the nuclear weapons stockpile, the
H. R. 7776—542 
nuclear security enterprise (as defined in section 4002 of the 
Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2501)), and the delivery 
platforms for nuclear weapons, including with respect to identi-
fying and analyzing risks and proposing actions to mitigate 
risks.’’. 
(b) PLANS
AND BUDGET.—Subsection (f) of such section is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(f) BUDGET AND FUNDING MATTERS.—(1) The Council shall 
annually review the plans and budget of the National Nuclear 
Security Administration and assess whether such plans and budget 
meet the current and projected requirements relating to nuclear 
weapons. 
‘‘(2)(A) The Council shall review each budget request trans-
mitted by the Secretary of Energy to the Council under section 
4717 of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2757) and make 
a determination under subparagraph (B) regarding the adequacy 
of each such request. Not later than 30 days after making such 
a determination, the Council shall notify the congressional defense 
committees that such a determination has been made. 
‘‘(B)(i) If the Council determines that a budget request for 
a fiscal year transmitted to the Council under section 4717 of 
the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2757) is inadequate, 
in whole or in part, to implement the objectives of the Department 
of Defense with respect to nuclear weapons for that fiscal year, 
the Council shall submit to the Secretary of Energy a written 
description of funding levels and specific initiatives that would, 
in the determination of the Council, make the budget request ade-
quate to implement those objectives. 
‘‘(ii) If the Council determines that a budget request for a 
fiscal year transmitted to the Council under section 4717 of the 
Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2757) is adequate to imple-
ment the objectives described in clause (i) for that fiscal year, 
the Council shall submit to the Secretary of Energy a written 
statement confirming the adequacy of the request. 
‘‘(iii) The Council shall maintain a record of each description 
submitted under clause (i) and each statement submitted under 
clause (ii). 
‘‘(3) Not later than 30 days after the President submits to 
Congress the budget for a fiscal year under section 1105(a) of 
title 31, the Council shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a report containing the following: 
‘‘(A) The results of the assessment conducted under para-
graph (1) with respect to that budget. 
‘‘(B) An evaluation of— 
‘‘(i) whether the funding requested for the National 
Nuclear Security Administration in such budget— 
‘‘(I) enables the Administrator for Nuclear Security 
to meet requirements relating to nuclear weapons for 
such fiscal year; and 
‘‘(II) is adequate to implement the objectives of 
the Department of Defense with respect to nuclear 
weapons for that fiscal year; and 
‘‘(ii) whether the plans and budget reviewed under 
paragraph (1) will enable the Administrator to meet— 
‘‘(I) the requirements to produce war reserve pluto-
nium pits under section 4219(a) of such Act (50 U.S.C. 
2538a(a)); and
H. R. 7776—543 
‘‘(II) any other requirements under Federal law. 
‘‘(C) If the evaluation under subparagraph (B)(ii) deter-
mines that the plans and budget reviewed under paragraph 
(1) will not enable the Administrator to meet the requirements 
to produce war reserve plutonium pits under section 4219(a) 
of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2538a(a))— 
‘‘(i) an explanation for why the plans and budget will 
not enable the Administrator to meet such requirements; 
and 
‘‘(ii) proposed alternative plans, budget, or require-
ments by the Council to meet such requirements. 
‘‘(4) If a member of the Council does not concur in any assess-
ment or evaluation under this subsection, the report or other 
information required to be submitted to the congressional defense 
committees regarding such assessment or evaluation shall include 
a written explanation from the non-concurring member describing 
the reasons for the member’s nonconcurrence. 
‘‘(5)(A) Not later than 30 days after the President submits 
to Congress the budget for a fiscal year under section 1105(a) 
of title 31, the Commander of the United States Strategic Command 
shall submit to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff an assess-
ment of— 
‘‘(i) whether such budget allows the Federal Govern-
ment to meet the nuclear stockpile and stockpile steward-
ship program requirements during the fiscal year covered 
by the budget and the four subsequent fiscal years; and 
‘‘(ii) if the Commander determines that such budget 
does not allow the Federal Government to meet such 
requirements, a description of the steps being taken to 
meet such requirements. 
‘‘(B) Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Chair-
man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff receives the assessment of the 
Commander of the United States Strategic Command under 
subparagraph (A), the Chairman shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees— 
‘‘(i) such assessment as it was submitted to the Chairman; 
and 
‘‘(ii) any comments of the Chairman. 
‘‘(6) In this subsection, the term ‘budget’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 231(f) of this title.’’. 
(c) MODIFICATION OF BUDGET REVIEW BY NUCLEAR WEAPONS 
COUNCIL.—Section 4717 of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 
U.S.C. 2757) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) REVIEW.—The Council shall review each budget request 
transmitted to the Council under paragraph (1) in accordance 
with section 179(f) of title 10, United States Code.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)(A)— 
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking 
‘‘paragraph 
(2)(B)(i)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘section 
179(f)(2)(B)(i) of title 10, United States Code,’’; and 
(ii) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘the description under 
paragraph (2)(B)(i)’’ and inserting ‘‘that description’’; 
and 
(2) in subsection (b)—
H. R. 7776—544 
(A) by striking ‘‘COUNCIL.—’’ in the heading and all 
that follows through ‘‘At the time’’ and inserting 
‘‘COUNCIL.—At the time’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (2). 
(d) UPDATES ON MEETINGS.—Section 179(g)(1)(A) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘and the members 
who attended each meeting’’ before the semicolon. 
(e) REPEAL OF TERMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS COUNCIL 
CERTIFICATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Section 1061(c) of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public 
Law 114–328; 10 U.S.C. 111 note) is amended by striking paragraph 
(10). 
SEC. 1634. PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR NUCLEAR 
FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 24 of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following new section (and 
conforming the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
accordingly): 
‘‘§ 499c. Portfolio management framework for nuclear forces 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than January 1, 2024, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall— 
‘‘(1) implement a portfolio management framework for 
nuclear forces of the United States that— 
‘‘(A) specifies the portfolio of nuclear forces covered 
by the framework; 
‘‘(B) establishes a portfolio governance structure for 
such forces that takes advantage of, or is modeled on, 
an existing portfolio governance structure, such as the Dep-
uty’s Management Action Group described in Department 
of Defense Directive 5105.79; 
‘‘(C) outlines the approach of the Secretary for identi-
fying and managing risk relating to such forces and 
prioritizing the efforts among such forces, including how 
the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary of 
Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, will coordinate 
such identification, management, and prioritization with 
the Administrator for Nuclear Security using the coordina-
tion processes of the Nuclear Weapons Council; and 
‘‘(D) incorporates the findings and recommendations 
identified by the Comptroller General of the United States 
in the report titled ‘Nuclear Enterprise: DOD and NNSA 
Could Further Enhance How They Manage Risk and 
Prioritize Efforts’ (GAO–22–104061) and dated January 
2022; and 
‘‘(2) complete a comprehensive assessment of the portfolio 
management capabilities required to identify and manage risk 
in the portfolio of nuclear forces, including how to draw upon 
public and private sector resources and the program manage-
ment expertise within the Defense Acquisition University. 
‘‘(b) ANNUAL BRIEFINGS; NOTIFICATIONS.—(1) In conjunction 
with the submission of the budget of the President to Congress 
pursuant to section 1105 of title 31 for fiscal year 2025 and each 
fiscal year thereafter through the date specified in subsection (c), 
the Secretary shall provide to the congressional defense committees 
a briefing on identifying and managing risk relating to nuclear
H. R. 7776—545 
forces and prioritizing the efforts among such forces, including, 
with respect to the period covered by the briefing— 
‘‘(A) the current and projected operational requirements 
for nuclear forces that were used for such identification, 
management, and prioritization; 
‘‘(B) key areas of risk identified; and 
‘‘(C) a description of the actions proposed or carried out 
to mitigate such risk. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may provide the briefings under paragraph 
(1) in classified form. 
‘‘(3) If a House of Congress adopts a bill authorizing or appro-
priating funds that, as determined by the Secretary, provides funds 
in an amount that will result in a significant delay in the nuclear 
certification or delivery of nuclear forces, the Secretary shall notify 
the congressional defense committees of the determination. 
‘‘(c) TERMINATION.—The requirements of this section shall 
terminate 90 days after the date on which the Secretary certifies 
to the congressional defense committees that each of the following 
have achieved full operational capability: 
‘‘(1) The LGM–35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic mis-
sile weapon system. 
‘‘(2) The Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine pro-
gram. 
‘‘(3) The long-range standoff weapon program. 
‘‘(4) The B–21 Raider bomber aircraft program. 
‘‘(5) The F–35A dual-capable aircraft program. 
‘‘(d) NUCLEAR FORCES DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘nuclear forces’ includes, at a minimum— 
‘‘(1) nuclear weapons; 
‘‘(2) the delivery platforms and systems for nuclear 
weapons; 
‘‘(3) nuclear command, control, and communications sys-
tems; and 
‘‘(4) the infrastructure and facilities of the Department 
of Defense and the National Nuclear Security Administration 
that support nuclear weapons, the delivery platforms and sys-
tems for nuclear weapons, and nuclear command, control, and 
communications systems, including with respect to personnel, 
construction, operation, and maintenance.’’. 
(b) INITIAL BRIEFING.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than June 1, 2023, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense 
committees a briefing on the progress of the Secretary to— 
(A) develop the portfolio management framework for 
nuclear forces under section 499c of title 10, United States 
Code, as added by subsection (a); and 
(B) complete the assessment described in subsection 
(a)(2) of such section. 
(2) FORM.—The Secretary may provide the briefing under 
paragraph (1) in classified form. 
SEC. 1635. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO REPORT ON NUCLEAR 
WEAPONS STOCKPILE. 
Section 492a(a)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘2024’’ and inserting ‘‘2029’’.
H. R. 7776—546 
SEC. 1636. MODIFICATION AND EXTENSION OF ANNUAL ASSESSMENT 
OF CYBER RESILIENCE OF NUCLEAR COMMAND AND CON-
TROL SYSTEM. 
(a) QUARTERLY BRIEFINGS.—Subsection (d) of section 499 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(d) QUARTERLY BRIEFINGS.—(1) Not less than once every 
quarter, the Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Vice Chairman 
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall jointly provide to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate— 
‘‘(A) a briefing on any intrusion or anomaly in the nuclear 
command, control, and communications system that was identi-
fied during the previous quarter, including— 
‘‘(i) an assessment of any known, suspected, or poten-
tial impacts of such intrusions and anomalies to the mission 
effectiveness of military capabilities as of the date of the 
briefing; and 
‘‘(ii) with respect to cyber intrusions of contractor net-
works known or suspected to have resulted in the loss 
or compromise of design information regarding the nuclear 
command, control, and communications system; or 
‘‘(B) if no such intrusion or anomaly occurred with respect 
to the quarter to be covered by that briefing, a notification 
of such lack of intrusions and anomalies. 
‘‘(2) In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) The term ‘anomaly’ means a malicious, suspicious 
or abnormal cyber incident that potentially threatens the 
national security or interests of the United States, or that 
is likely to result in demonstrable harm to the national security 
of the United States. 
‘‘(B) The term ‘intrusion’ means an unauthorized and mali-
cious cyber incident that compromises a nuclear command, 
control, and communications system by breaking the security 
of such a system or causing it to enter into an insecure state.’’. 
(b) EXTENSION.—Subsection (e) of such section is amended by 
striking ‘‘December 31, 2027’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2032’’. 
(c) CONFORMING REPEAL.—Section 171a of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (h); and 
(2) by redesignating subsections (i) through (l) as sub-
sections (h) through (k), respectively. 
SEC. 1637. MODIFICATION OF REPORTS ON NUCLEAR POSTURE 
REVIEW IMPLEMENTATION. 
Section 491(c) of title 10, United States Code is amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘2010’’; 
(2) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘2012 through 2021’’ and inserting 
‘‘2022 through 2031’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘2010’’ and inserting ‘‘a’’; and 
(3) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following 
new paragraph (1.): 
‘‘(1) ensure that the report required by section 492a of 
this title is transmitted to Congress, if so required under such 
section;’’.