sense of congress regarding justification for CONTINUING THE EXTREMELY LOW FREQUENCY (ELF) COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.

SEC. 1161. sense of congress regarding justification for CONTINUING THE EXTREMELY LOW FREQUENCY (ELF) COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. (a) Findings.—The Congress makes the following findings: (1) There is a need to re-evaluate all defense spending in light of the changed circumstances of the post-Cold War era and budget and fiscal constraints. (2) The Extremely Low Frequency Communications System (ELF System) was originally designed to play a role in the strategic deterrence mission against the former Soviet Union. (3) The threat of nuclear war has greatly diminished since the collapse of the Soviet Union. (4) The ELF System is increasingly in use for communications with attack submarines in addition to ballistic missile submarines. (5) There have been questions raised about the effects of ELF operations on human health and the environment and ongoing studies of those effects are due to be concluded during 1994. (b) Evaluation and Report by Secretary of Defense.—The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees, before consideration by Congress of the fiscal year 1995 defense budget, a report containing the results of an evaluation of the benefits and costs of continued operation of the Extremely Low Frequency Communications System and the benefits and costs 107 STAT. 1764of any alternatives to that system. The report shall be based upon an evaluation conducted by the Secretary after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that the bases at which the Extremely Low Frequency Communication System is located, having been considered for closure or realignment in the 1993 base closure process, should again be considered for closure or realignment in the round of military base closures to take place in 1995.