TEMPORARY REDUCTION IN MINIMUM NUMBER OF OPERATIONAL AIRCRAFT CARRIERS.

SEC. 1023. TEMPORARY REDUCTION IN MINIMUM NUMBER OF OPERATIONAL AIRCRAFT CARRIERS.(a) Temporary Waiver.—Notwithstanding section 5062(b) of title 10, United States Code, during the period beginning on the date of the inactivation of the U.S.S. Enterprise (CVN–65) scheduled, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, for fiscal year 2013 and ending on the date of the commissioning into active service of the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford (CVN–78), the number of operational aircraft carriers in the naval combat forces of the Navy may be 10.(b) Evaluation and Report.—(1) Evaluation.—During fiscal year 2012, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in coordination with the commanders of the combatant commands, shall evaluate the required postures and capabilities of each of the combatant commands to assess the level of increased risk that could result due to a temporary reduction in the total number of operational aircraft carriers following the inactivation of the U.S.S. Enterprise (CVN–65).(2) Report to congress.—Together with the budget materials submitted to Congress by the Secretary of Defense in support of the President’s budget for fiscal year 2013, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing the findings of the evaluation conducted pursuant to paragraph (1), and the basis for each such finding.