article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``National Defense Science and Technology Investment Act of 1998''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress of the United States finds the following: (1) To provide for the national security of the United States in the 21st century, the U.S. military must be able to dominate the full range of military operations, from humanitarian assistance to full-scale conflict. The keys to achieving this ``Full Spectrum Dominance,'' as described in the Department of Defense's ``Joint Vision 2010,'' are technological innovation and information superiority. (2) The global spread of advanced technology is transforming the military threats faced by the United States and will challenge our ability to achieve Full Spectrum Dominance. Some of the major technological challenges our military face include information warfare; proliferating weapons of mass destruction; inexpensive, precise, cruise missiles; and increasingly difficult operations in urban environments. (3) The United States is now in a relatively secure interlude in its international relations, but the future security environment is very uncertain. Thus, now is the time to focus our Defense investments on the research and experimentation needed to meet new and undefined threats and achieve Full Spectrum Dominance. (4) The Department of Defense has been the preeminent Federal agency supporting research in engineering, mathematics, and computer science, and a key supporter of research in the physical and environmental sciences. These disciplines remain critical to achieving information superiority and maintaining technological innovation in our military. The Department of Energy has played a critical role in supporting the research needed to limit the spread of weapons of mass destruction. No other organizations, public or private, can be expected to substitute for the role of the Department of Defense and Department of Energy in these research areas. (5) However, the current budget plan for the Defense Science and Technology Program is essentially flat in real terms through fiscal year 2003. The planned budget for nonproliferation science and technology activities at the Department of Energy will decline. (6) These budget plans are not consistent with the vision of Full Spectrum Dominance, the threats or uncertainties on the horizon, or the opportunity presented by the current state of international relations. The planned level of investment could pose a serious threat to our national security in the next 15 years, given the usual time it takes from the start of Defense research to achieving new military capabilities. (7) Consequently, the Congress must act to establish a long-term vision for the Defense Science and Technology Program's funding if the United States is to encourage the research and experimentation needed to seize the current opportunity and begin transforming our military to meet the new threats and achieve Full Spectrum Dominance early in the next century. (8) The Congress must also act to establish a robust long- term vision and funding plan in support of nonproliferation science and technology activities at the Department of Energy. SEC. 3. PURPOSE AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS. (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to create a ten-year budget plan to support the disciplines, research, and concept of operations experimentation that will transform our military and reduce the threat from weapons of mass destruction early in the next century. (b) Funding Requirements.-- (1) Defense science and technology program budget.--For each year from fiscal year 2000 until fiscal year 2008, it shall be an objective of the Secretary of Defense to increase the Defense Science and Technology Program budget by no less than 2.0 percent over inflation greater than the previous fiscal year's budget request. (2) Nonproliferation science and technology activities budget.--For each year from fiscal year 2000 until fiscal year 2008, it shall be an objective of the Secretary of Energy to increase the budget for nonproliferation science and technology activities by no less than 2.0 percent a year over inflation greater than the previous fiscal year's budget request. SEC. 4. GUIDELINES FOR THE DEFENSE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. (a) Synergistic Management of Research and Development.--The Secretary of Defense may allocate a combination of funds from Department of Defense 6.1, 6.2, or 6.3 accounts in supporting any individual project or program of the Defense Science and Technology Program. (b) Relationship of the Defense Science and Technology Program to Commercial Research and Technology.-- (1) In supporting projects within the Defense Science and Technology Program, the Secretary of Defense shall attempt to leverage commercial research, technology, products, and processes for the benefit of the Department of Defense to the maximum extent practicable. (2) Funds made available to the Defense Science and Technology Program must only be used to benefit the Department of Defense, which includes-- (A) the development of defense unique technology; (B) the development of military useful, commercial viable technology; or (C) the adaption of commercial technology, products, or processes for military purposes. (c) Relationship of Defense Science and Technology Program to University Research.--The following shall be key objectives of the Defense Science and Technology Program-- (1) the sustainment of research capabilities in scientific and engineering disciplines critical to the Department of Defense; (2) the education and training of the next generation of scientists and engineers in disciplines relevant to future Defense systems, particularly through the conduct of basic research; and (3) the continued support of the Defense Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research and research programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions. SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Act-- (1) Defense science and technology program.--The term ``Defense Science and Technology Program'' means work funded in Department of Defense accounts 6.1, 6.2, or 6.3; and (2) Nonproliferation science and technology activities.-- The term ``nonproliferation science and technology activities'' means work related to preventing and countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction that is funded by the Department of Energy under the following programs and projects of the Department's Office of Nonproliferation and National Security and Office of Defense Programs; (A) the Verification and Control Technology program within the Office of Nonproliferation and National Security; (B) projects under the ``Technology and Systems Development'' element of the Nuclear Safeguards and Security program within the Office of Nonproliferation and National Security; (C) projects relating to a national capability to assess the credibility of radiological and extortion threats, or to combat nuclear materials trafficking or terrorism, under the Emergency Management program within the Office of Nonproliferation and National Security; (D) projects relating to developing or integrating new technology to respond to emergencies and threats involving the presence, or possible presence, of weapons of mass destruction; radiological emergencies; and related terrorist threats, under the Office of Defense Programs; and (E) program direction costs for the programs and projects funded under subparagraphs (A) through (D).
summary: National Defense Science and Technology Investment Act of 1998 - States that, for each year from FY 2000 until 2008, it shall be an objective of the Secretary of: (1) Defense to increase the Defense Science and Technology Program (DSTP) budget by not less than two percent over inflation over the year before; and (2) Energy to increase the budget for nonproliferation science and technology activities by not less than two percent over inflation over the year before. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to expend funds from Department of Defense (DOD) 6.1, 6.2, or 6.3 accounts in supporting any individual DSTP project or program. Directs the Secretary to attempt to leverage commercial research, technology, products, and processes for the benefit of DOD. Allows funds made available to the DSTP to be used only to benefit DOD. Includes as key DSTP objectives: (1) the sustainment of research capabilities in scientific and engineering disciplines critical to DOD; (2) the education and training of the next generation of scientists and engineers in disciplines relevant to future defense systems; and (3) the continued support of the Defense Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research and research programs at historically black colleges and universities and minority institutions.