Minibus Budgets

 

Earlier this month, House and Senate negotiators announced a deal on their first minibus (Note: not the type in the picture), a $147.5 billion package that contains the fiscal 2019 Energy-Water, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs and Legislative Branch spending bills. As expected, President Trump signed into law this first "minibus" appropriations package for FY2019 on September 21, which combines the Energy and Water, Veterans Affairs-Military Construction, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Bills. Congress and the White House must still agree on nine more bills for FY2019.

 

Congressional leaders' goal is to move nine of the 12 annual spending bills by the end of the month in bundled packages, known as minibuses. Congressional leaders see minibuses as the best way to move bills quickly with limited floor time before the end of the fiscal year. Dubbed the "minibus" strategy, this choice to combine separate spending bills into a few, larger packages have been at the center of Congress's efforts to keep the government funded this year.

packaging spending legislation in a few small bills rather than one larger "omnibus" bill.  

 

Based upon the recently approved minibus funding, the only large site across the DOE Complex with negative funding when compared to the FY19 Requested funds is SRS. The FY19 Congressional Requested funds coming from DOE to Congress were $1,656,180. However, when the final vote was taken and the bill signed, SRS only received $1,551,014 that is $105 million below the DOE requested funds. Planned programs and missions will be impacted due to this shortfall.

 

What hurts most is not having a stable, adequate budget that SRS can depend on. Ideally, the "Requested" numbers are the adequate and stable budget numbers the site needs.   SRS continues to get the "short end of the funding stick" when compared across the DOE complex. SRS is one of, if not the most, successful DOE sites when it comes to waste tank closures, canister production, and nuclear material processing.

 

We understand DOE at both the local and HQ level is doing its part but we are losing the funding battle somewhere between the DOE-CFO, OMB and Congressional levels. The continual budget "short falls" are very frustrating at the community level. The next step is to continue the education process with our Congressional delegation on the importance of all of SRS missions and see if we can garner their support for a stable, adequate budget that SRS needs and DOE requests.

 

Looking into the future, SRS budget concerns include the expected increases needed to support the pensions of SRS retirees over the next 5-7 years. There is not a separate line item in the budget to cover this expense, which will range from $100 million to over $300 million. These funds come out of the operating budgets. Pension payments and Environmental Management (EM) priorities are competing for the same budget dollars. Both DOE and our Congressional delegation need to take action soon to minimize this impending impact on the SRS missions.

  

Looking into the future, SRS budget concerns include the expected increases needed to support the pensions of SRS retirees over the next 5 to 7 years. There is not a separate line item in the budget to cover this expense, which will range from $100 million to over $300 million. These funds come out of the operating budgets. Pension payments and Environmental Management (EM) priorities are competing for the same budget dollars. Both DOE and our Congressional delegation need to take action soon to minimize this impending impact on the SRS missions.

The Cyber X Factor of the Savannah River Site

 

As reported last month, the SRS region is ideally positioned and equipped to assist in the national security missions and the defense of the energy grid and other critical energy infrastructure assets due to unique assets, and is an ideal place to form a cybersecurity collaboration between the Department of Defense (DOD) and DOE.   Local regional synergies, available collaborative opportunities, and a growing local workforce currently exist and are expanding mainly due to the U.S. Army Cyber Command transfer to Fort Gordon in Augusta, GA which brings with it unparalleled technological, political and economic influence to the region. This partnership will promote the mutual exchange of information and resources to improve the security and resilience for both DOE and DOD.

 

SRS brings a strong security ingress/egress and has significant landmass to host numerous cyber-related exercises and demonstration projects. The local region brings a stable economy that allows for a high quality of life and a low cost of living within a vibrant community.

 

We are beginning a socialization effort to make policy makers, national security leaders, cybersecurity technology providers, and critical infrastructure owner/operators aware of this unprecedented opportunity. We have hopes these decision makers will immediately investigate the untapped resources that exist in the SRS region and capitalize on these opportunities, which will benefit the Nation from an economic, energy sector, and national security perspective.

 

Come Explore Nuclear Science!

Nuclear Science Week, October 15 - 19, 2018, is an international, broadly observed week-long celebration that focuses on all aspects of nuclear science. Events during the week provide learning and social opportunities that celebrate contributions, innovation and careers associated with nuclear science. This year's   Big Event will be hosted by the Smithsonian-affiliated National Museum for Nuclear Science and History in Albuquerque, NM.

Locally, more than 10 organizations are collaborating to conduct events in the SRSCRO region. This year everyone can participate. The week kicks off with a costume ball hosted by CNTA young professionals. Activities for students and educators are spread across two states and include Education Days, STEM Career Connections and facility tours at Savannah River Site and Plant Vogtle. Family friendly events include Savannah River Site Museum exhibits and Atoms in the Alley - a family-friendly block party with food, music and vendors to wrap up the week on Saturday, October 20 in downtown Aiken.

Find out all the details at www.celebrateNSW.org.