Deputy Energy Secretary Sherwood-Randall Highlights a Top Budget Priority in Texas
WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, Deputy Secretary Sherwood-Randall traveled to Amarillo, Texas to visit the Pantex Plant, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) site charged with maintaining the safety, security and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, a critical component of President Obama’s National Security Strategy.
“The National Nuclear Security Administration is critical to our national security and stockpile stewardship,” said Deputy Secretary Sherwood-Randall. “President Obama’s budget request supports our continued commitment to maintaining a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent, reducing global stocks of weapons-usable nuclear materials, and strengthening our efforts to prevent WMD proliferation.”
As reflected in the FY 16 budget, the Department of Energy advances the President’s vision to maintain a safe, secure, and reliable nuclear weapons stockpile in the absence of nuclear testing and manage the research, development, and production activities and associated infrastructure modernization needed to meet national nuclear security requirements.
The FY 2016 budget proposes $12.6 billion for NNSA, $1.2 billion above FY 2015, to invest in our nuclear security, reducing the threats of nuclear proliferation, and supporting the safe and reliable operation of our nuclear Navy. The Budget fully funds the weapons modernization works as recommended by the Principals’ Committee and endorsed in last year’s Budget Request and invests in infrastructure across the nuclear security enterprise.
Work performed at Pantex includes support of the nuclear weapons life extension programs; nuclear weapons dismantlement; the development, testing and fabrication of high explosive components; and interim storage and surveillance of plutonium pits.
Yesterday, Deputy Secretary Sherwood-Randall participated in a meeting of National Petroleum Council Steering Committee on Artic Research, where she discussed American interests in the Arctic in the context of the upcoming American chairmanship of the Arctic Council.
To view the FY2016 Energy Department Fact Sheet, Click Here.
To view the FY2016 Energy Department Budget Documents, Click here.
