WASHINGTON, DC – In testimony before the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Administrator Thomas P. D'Agostino today said the FY2011 Budget Request is an important investment in the modern, sustainable infrastructure required to support the full range of NNSA's nuclear security missions.

Last month, the Administration requested $11.2 billion for NNSA in FY2011, an increase of 13.4 percent over FY2010. Administrator D'Agostino outlined the important role NNSA plays in implementing the President's nuclear security agenda, including maintaining the nation's nuclear stockpile without testing, powering the nuclear Navy, preventing nuclear proliferation, and providing the nation with critical nuclear counterterrorism and emergency response capabilities.

The following are excerpts of Administrator D'Agostino's opening remarks as prepared for delivery:

ON THE PRESIDENT'S NUCLEAR SECURITY AGENDA: "Our request describes NNSA's crucial role in implementing the President's nuclear security vision and his call to secure all vulnerable nuclear material around the world within four years. The $2.7 billion request for nonproliferation includes key programs related to the Presidents' agenda."

ON THE FULL RANGE OF NUCLEAR SECURITY MISSIONS: "Mr. Chairman, investing now in a modern, sustainable Nuclear Security Enterprise is the right thing to do; the investment will support the full range of nuclear security missions to ensure future U.S. security. The range of missions includes stockpile stewardship, nonproliferation, counterterrorism and emergency response, nuclear forensics, and Naval nuclear propulsion."

ON BEING EFFECTIVE STEWARDS OF TAX DOLLARS: "With the increased resources you provide us comes our increased responsibility to be effective stewards of the taxpayer's money and to ensure the NNSA is an efficient and cost effective enterprise. We take this responsibility very seriously. Take, for example, the costs associated with our physical security posture. As you are well aware, each year, the costs of these efforts have risen significantly. We have initiated a Zero-Based Security Review to implement greater efficiencies and to drive down costs while sustaining security capabilities."

ON EXCELLENCE IN PROGRAM MANAGEMENT: "We emphasize performance and financial accountability at all levels of our operations. In 2009, our programs met or exceeded 95% of their performance objectives. And, over the past two years, NNSA successfully executed consecutive, large funding increases in several nonproliferation programs while reducing the percentage of carryover, uncosted, uncommitted balances. Importantly for the Committee's consideration, we have the people and processes in place to initiate immediately the increased mission work included in this budget request."

ON THE BROADER BENEFITS OF INVESTING IN NUCLEAR SECURITY: "Mr. Chairman, we will ensure that our stockpile, our infrastructure, and our missions, are melded into a comprehensive, forward-looking strategy that protects America and its allies. The investments in nuclear security are now providing the tools to tackle a broad array of nuclear security challenges. Now, we must continue to cultivate the talents of our people to use those tools effectively, because, people are the key to our success."