REPORT REGARDING TRIDENT SUBMARINE CONSTRUCTION RATE

SEC. 156. REPORT REGARDING TRIDENT SUBMARINE CONSTRUCTION RATE (a) Report Requirement.—The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a written report, in both a classified and unclassified version, evaluating the practicality and desirability of reducing the rate at which Trident submarines are procured. (b) Preparation and Content.—In preparing the report required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider alternative construction rates for the Trident submarine, each of which shall provide for a construction rate slower than one ship per year. The Secretary shall include in the report with respect to each such alternative rate— (1) an evaluation of the effect of the alternative rate on— (A) the availability and capability of the Trident submarine to perform the mission assigned to it; and (B) the level and stability of the work force in the naval shipbuilding industry; and (2) a discussion of the practicality and desirability of accelerating the procurement of other vessels for the Navy with funds saved by using the alternative rate. (c) Time for Submission.—The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted concurrently with the submission of the budget for fiscal year 1991 to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code.