Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/2140

 PUBLIC LAW 109–364—OCT. 17, 2006

120 STAT. 2109

(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The requirement in paragraph (1) shall become effective with the budget request for the year of procurement of the first ship referred to in subsection (a). SEC.

127.

MULTIYEAR PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY TILTROTOR AIRCRAFT PROGRAM.

FOR

V–22

The Secretary of the Navy, in accordance with section 2306b of title 10, United States Code, and acting as executive agent for the Secretary of the Air Force and the commander of the United States Special Operations Command, may enter into a multiyear contract, beginning with the fiscal year 2008 program year, for procurement of V–22 tiltrotor aircraft. SEC. 128. ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR FUTURE SURFACE COMBATANTS.

10 USC 7291 note.

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: (1) Securing and maintaining access to affordable and plentiful sources of energy is a vital national security interest for the United States. (2) The Nation’s dependence upon foreign oil is a threat to national security due to the inherently volatile nature of the global oil market and the political instability of some of the world’s largest oil producing states. (3) Given the recent increase in the cost of crude oil, which cannot realistically be expected to improve over the long term, other energy sources must be seriously considered. (4) Alternate propulsion sources such as nuclear power offer many advantages over conventional power for major surface combatant ships of the Navy, including— (A) virtually unlimited high-speed endurance; (B) elimination of vulnerable refueling; and (C) reduction in the requirement for replenishment vessels and the need to protect those vessels. (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—In light of the findings in subsection (a), it is the sense of Congress that the Navy should make greater use of alternative technologies, including expanded application of integrated power systems, fuel cells, and nuclear power, for propulsion of future major surface combatant ships. (c) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of the Navy shall include integrated power systems, fuel cells, and nuclear power as propulsion alternatives to be evaluated within the analysis of alternatives for future major surface combatant ships. SEC. 129. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE SIZE OF THE ATTACK SUBMARINE FORCE.

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: (1) The United States Navy must be large enough, agile enough, and lethal enough to deter any threat and defeat any foe. (2) The proliferation of modern nuclear and nonnuclear submarines in the navies of nations around the globe will make undersea superiority a more significant challenge in the future. (3) The unique combination of firepower, stealth, sensors, and communications equipment contained in a modern attack submarine make the attack submarine a critical component of the Armed Forces of the United States.

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