MODIFICATION OF CVN-78 CLASS AIRCRAFT CARRIER PROGRAM.

SEC. 121. MODIFICATION OF CVN-78 CLASS AIRCRAFT CARRIER PROGRAM. (a) Reports on Design and Engineering Changes.—Subsection (f) of section 122 of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Public Law 109-364; 120 Stat. 2104), as added by section 121(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113-66; 127 Stat. 692), is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: “(3) CVN-78 class aircraft carriers change orders.— “(A) As part of each report required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include a description of new design and engineering changes to CVN-78 class aircraft carriers if applicable. “(B) The additional reporting requirement in subparagraph (A) shall include, with respect to CVN-78 class aircraft carriers in each reporting period— “(i) any design or engineering change with an associated cost greater than $5,000,000; “(ii) any program or ship cost increases for each design or engineering change identified in subparagraph (A); and “(iii) any cost reduction achieved. “(C) The Secretary and the Chief of Naval Operations, without delegation, shall jointly certify the design and engineering changes included in each report under paragraph (1), as required by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph. Each certification shall include a determination that each such change— “(i) serves the national security interests of the United States; and “(ii) cannot be deferred to a future ship because of operational necessity, safety, or substantial cost reduction that still meets threshold requirements.” . (b) Conforming amendments.—Such subsection is further amended— (1) by striking the heading and inserting the following new heading: “Requirements for CVN-78 Class Aircraft Carriers”; and (2) in paragraph (1), by striking the heading and inserting the following new heading: “CVN-79 quarterly cost estimate”.