The House Armed Services Committee will mark up its version of a must-pass policy bill Thursday that includes a clause on the relationship between the Pantex Plant and the nearby Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport in Texas.
A provision of the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which will undergo an amendment session Thursday, instructs the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to brief the House Armed Services panel on the issue.
“The committee understands that changes in NNSA’s security posture and operational tempo continue to evolve and appreciates NNSA’s ongoing engagement with local officials to consider options to keep pace with these changes and further enhance the strong partnership between the Amarillo community and the Pantex Plant,” according to the bill text.
NNSA is directed to brief the committee no later than Nov. 1
House Armed Services wants to learn about “options to improve security and operational flexibility of NNSA activities at AMA [Amarillo Municipal Airport], including the potential relocation of NNSA operations within the AMA boundary,” according to the bill’s text. “The briefing shall also include an assessment of whether additional authorities, if any, are necessary in connection with the options under consideration, as well as a discussion of any interagency coordination or approval that may be required.”
The text of the early version of the bill put forward by the chair, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.). does not go into detail on the matter. There are airspace restrictions on drones around Pantex and Texas Tech University.
Pantex is authorized to assemble new and modified nuclear weapons.
On another DOE weapons complex issue, the NDAA bill would authorize the Office of Environmental Management to spend up to about $7.2 billion on Defense Environmental Cleanup. Last month the House Appropriations Committee advanced a proposed Energy & Water Development budget bill that would provide $6.5 billion for this funding tranche.
The hearing, which will be carried online via the committee’s website, is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.