I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4964 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the rapid acquisition 
of directed energy weapons systems by the Department of Defense, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 15, 2016 
Mr. LAMBORN (for himself and Mr. LANGEVIN) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the 
rapid acquisition of directed energy weapons systems by 
the Department of Defense, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Directed Energy 
Weapon Systems Acquisition Act of 2016’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The Committee on Armed Services of the 
Senate noted in the report accompanying S. 1356 
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(S. Rept. 114–49; 114th Congress) that since 1960, 
the Department of Defense has invested more than 
$6,000,000,000 in directed energy science and tech-
nology initiatives, and that the Committee is con-
cerned that, despite this significant investment, the 
Department’s directed energy initiatives are not 
resourced at levels necessary to transition them to 
full-scale acquisition programs. 
(2) The Defense Science Board Task Force on 
Directed Energy Weapon Systems and Technology 
Applications (the ‘‘Task Force’’) found that ‘‘di-
rected energy offers promise as a transformational 
‘game changer’ in military operations, able to aug-
ment and improve operational capabilities in many 
areas’’. 
(3) Despite this potential, years of investment 
have not resulted in any operational systems with 
high energy laser capability. 
(4) The Task Force believes that the range of 
potential application is sufficient to warrant signifi-
cantly increased attention to the scope and direction 
of efforts to assess, develop, and field appropriate 
laser, microwave, and millimeter wave weapons. 
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SEC. 3. INCLUSION OF DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPON SYS-
TEM PROGRAMS IN THE RAPID ACQUISITION 
AUTHORITY PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 806(c)(1) of the Bob 
Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2003 (Public Law 107–314; 10 U.S.C. 2302 note) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(D)(i) In the case of any supplies and associ-
ated support services that, as determined in writing 
by the Secretary of Defense without delegation, are 
urgently needed to eliminate a deficiency in directed 
energy weapon systems, the Secretary may use the 
procedures developed under this section in order to 
accomplish the rapid acquisition and deployment of 
needed offensive or defensive directed energy weapon 
systems capabilities, supplies, and associated support 
services. 
‘‘(ii) For the purposes of directed energy weap-
on systems acquisition, the Secretary of Defense 
shall consider use of the following procedures: 
‘‘(I) The rapid acquisition authority pro-
vided under this section. 
‘‘(II) Use of other transactions authority 
provided under section 2371 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
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‘‘(III) The acquisition of commercial items 
using simplified acquisition procedures. 
‘‘(IV) The authority for procurement for 
experimental purposes provided under section 
2373 of title 10, United States Code. 
‘‘(iii) In this subparagraph, the term ‘directed 
energy weapon system’ means military action involv-
ing the use of directed energy to incapacitate, dam-
age, or destroy enemy equipment, facilities, or per-
sonnel.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 2373 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘and aero-
nautical supplies’’ and inserting ‘‘, aeronautical sup-
plies, and directed energy weapon systems’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end of the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(c) DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPON SYSTEM DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘directed energy weapon 
system’ means military action involving the use of directed 
energy to incapacitate, damage, or destroy enemy equip-
ment, facilities, or personnel.’’. 
SEC. 4. JOINT DIRECTED ENERGY PROGRAM OFFICE. 
(a) REDESIGNATION.—The High Energy Laser Joint 
Technology Office of the Department of Defense is hereby 
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redesignated as the ‘‘Joint Directed Energy Program Of-
fice’’ (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Office’’). 
(b) STRATEGIC
PLAN
FOR
DEVELOPMENT
AND 
TRANSITION OF DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS CAPABILI-
TIES TOWARD FIELDING.—In addition to the functions 
and duties of the Office in effect on the day before the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Office shall develop 
a strategic plan for development and transition of directed 
energy weapons capabilities toward fielding for the De-
partment, in which the Office may define requirements for 
directed energy capabilities that address the highest pri-
ority warfighting capability gaps of the Department. 
(c) ACCELERATION OF DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSI-
TION OF DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS CAPABILITIES TO-
WARD FIELDING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To the degree practicable, 
the Office shall use the policies of the Department 
that are revised pursuant to this Act and new acqui-
sition and management practices established pursu-
ant to this Act to accelerate the development and 
transition of directed energy capabilities toward 
fielding. 
(2) ENGAGEMENT.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that use of policies and practices described in para-
graph (1) include engagement with defense and pri-
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vate industries, research universities, and unaffili-
ated, nonprofit research institutions. 
Æ 
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