Turner responds to president's Fiscal Year 2011 budget request for defense-related agencies

U.S. Representative Michael R. Turner, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee, today issued the following statement on the Administration's Fiscal Year 2011 budget request for the Department of Defense and Missile Defense related programs:

"As ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, I commend the Administration's decision to increase funding for key strategic forces capabilities in recognition of today's complex and uncertain security landscape.  The $600 million increase in missile defense programs is a welcome indication that the Administration took note of concerns expressed by many of us in Congress that a topline increase was necessary to sustain our homeland missile defense capabilities, fund the new Phased Adaptive Approach for missile defense in Europe, and expand missile defense inventories.  I hope these funding increases also enable better utilization of the skilled American

workforce employed in these important national security programs.

"I am pleased to see an additional $624 million allocated to nuclear weapons activities and $550 million for nuclear nonproliferation at the National Nuclear Security Administration.  The nuclear deterrence triad still plays an important role in reassuring allies and deterring potential adversaries.  Though the administration is pursuing nuclear force reductions, this budget request reflects a realization that-for the foreseeable future-steps will be required to sustain our confidence in our nuclear deterrence capabilities and bolster the underpinning science base.  It appears that the Administration has embraced the Stockpile Management Program established by Congress last year and will fund more extensive life extension programs, warhead safety and security enhancements, and infrastructure modernization.

"However, commitment to the sustainment and modernization of our nation's deterrence capabilities cannot be measured with a single year's

budget request.  I look forward to reviewing the budget details and out year plans in greater depth over the next several weeks and asking Administration officials about the assumptions and analysis that led to these budget decisions.

"While I await details on the administration's commitment to future capabilities, I welcome the overall increase in the Defense Department's budget.  Specifically, I was pleased that the Administration will continue to support the ongoing overseas contingency operations, including funds to execute its strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. To fight the wars of today and tomorrow, the administration's budget  bolsters capabilities in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, helicopters, cybersecurity and electronic warfare."