SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING DEFENSE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.

SEC. 212. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING DEFENSE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. (a) Failure To Comply With Funding Objective.—It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense has failed to comply with the funding objective for the Defense Science and Technology Program, especially the Air Force Science and Technology Program, as stated in section 214(a) of the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105–261; 112 Stat. 1948), thus jeopardizing the stability of the defense technology base and increasing the risk of failure to maintain technological superiority in future weapon systems. (b) Funding Objective.—It is further the sense of Congress that, for each of the fiscal years 2001 through 2009, it should be an objective of the Secretary of Defense to increase the budget for the Defense Science and Technology Program, including the science and technology program within each military department, for the fiscal year over the budget for that program for the preceding fiscal year by a percent that is at least two percent above the rate of inflation as determined by the Office of Management and Budget. (c) Certification.—If the proposed budget for a fiscal year covered by subsection (b) fails to comply with the objective set forth in that subsection— (1) the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress— (A) the certification of the Secretary that the budget does not jeopardize the stability of the defense technology base or increase the risk of failure to maintain technological superiority in future weapon systems; or (B) a statement of the Secretary explaining why the Secretary is unable to submit such certification; and (2) the Defense Science Board shall, not more than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary submits the certification or statement under paragraph (1), submit to the Secretary and Congress a report assessing the effect such failure to comply is likely to have on defense technology and the national defense.