AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF ALTERNATIVE MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS IN EUROPE.

SEC. 235. AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF ALTERNATIVE MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS IN EUROPE.(a) Authorization of Funds for Alternative European Missile Defense Systems.—Of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for fiscal years 2009 and 2010 for the Missile Defense Agency for the purpose of developing missile defenses in Europe, $309,000,000 shall be available for research, development, test, and evaluation, procurement, or deployment of alternative missile defense systems or their subsystems designed to protect Europe, and the United States in the case of long-range missile threats, from the threats posed by current and future Iranian ballistic missiles of all ranges, if the Secretary of Defense submits to the congressional defense committees a report certifying that such systems are expected to be—(1) consistent with the direction from the North Atlantic Council to address ballistic missile threats to Europe and the 123 STAT. 2235 United States in a prioritized manner that includes consideration of the imminence of the threat and the level of acceptable risk;(2) operationally-effective and cost-effective in providing protection for Europe, and the United States in the case of long-range missile threats, against current and future Iranian ballistic missile threats; and(3) interoperable, to the extent practical, with other components of missile defense and complementary to the missile defense strategy of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.(b) Construction.—Except as provided in subsection (a), nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting or preventing the Secretary of Defense from pursuing the development or deployment of operationally-effective and cost-effective ballistic missile defense systems in Europe.(c) Independent Assessment.—(1) In general.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall enter into a contract with a federally funded research and development center to conduct an independent assessment evaluating the operational-effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the alternative missile defense architecture announced by the President on September 17, 2009.(2) Report.—Not later than June 1, 2010, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the independent assessment conducted under paragraph (1).