During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last week, Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) spoke about bolstering the United States' defense industry.
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00:00Senator Rosen.
00:03Well, thank you, Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, holding this hearing.
00:06And gentlemen, thank you for your willingness to serve.
00:09I want to move on to small business defense production because, Mr. Cadenazi,
00:13Nevada's home to a growing number of small businesses, manufacturers, technology startups
00:18that have capabilities that could directly support our national security.
00:22These companies are highly innovative, but they face significant challenges
00:26when it comes to breaking into the defense marketplace,
00:28which remains dominated by large incumbent contractors.
00:32The current acquisition system is too slow, too complex, and too risk-adverse
00:37to effectively engage with non-traditional players.
00:40So, Mr. Cadenazi has confirmed, how do you plan to address the systemic barriers
00:45in order to create a more open and competitive environment for small businesses
00:50and emerging technology firms, including those like in my state of Nevada
00:54that have not traditionally played a large role in defense,
00:57and more specifically, what are your priorities for streamlining the acquisition pathways
01:02for these companies, and how can the Department of Defense better leverage innovation
01:06across all 50 states as part of a broader industrial-based strategy?
01:12Senator, thank you for bringing this topic up.
01:15The Small Business Office within the Industrial-Based Policy Office is a critical element
01:20of what the Department counts on us to bring.
01:22Policies, priorities, and a focus on small businesses.
01:26They represent some of the most dynamic and innovative parts of the economy,
01:30particularly in the places that are offering the technology that's the most exciting going forward.
01:34Artificial intelligence, quantum mechanics, machine learning, and advanced manufacturing.
01:38So, this is a major priority for the Department and for me.
01:41Going forward, I want to understand more about what the Industrial-Based Policy Office's programs are doing,
01:47what effect they're having.
01:48Things like Small Business Innovative Research, where we work with the R&E component of the Department,
01:53Project, the APEX Accelerators, which exist across the country, to go ahead and provide access to small businesses to understand the Department.
02:01If confirmed, I'm eager to learn more about those capabilities, what the resourcing is, and what we can do to accelerate the impact over time.
02:08I'm glad to set up a meeting with you and talk about a lot of things happening in Nevada, so thank you.
02:13But I'm going to move on to nuclear testing, building a lot on the National Security, Nuclear Security Administration.
02:19And, of course, I asked a similar, Admiral Papano, I asked a similar line of questioning to Congressman Williams at his confirmation hearing.
02:27And given your potential role as deputy, I'm going to ask you the same questions.
02:32So, as I'm sure you do know, the Nevada National Security Site, NNSS, formerly known as the Nevada Test Site,
02:39we still in Nevada still call it the Test Site, was the primary location for U.S. nuclear testing from 1951 to 1992,
02:47with 100 atmospheric tests and 828 underground tests.
02:53I lived there during those times of the underground test. Trust me, that ground would shake like nobody's business once a month.
02:59This era, unfortunately, left lasting radioactive contamination across millions of acres, exposed countless people to dangerous radiation.
03:08It's an outcome that we must not repeat.
03:12Since the 1992 testing moratorium was signed by President George H.W. Bush,
03:18the NNSA has used subcritical experiments to ensure the safety, reliability and effectiveness of our nuclear stockpile
03:25without the need for explosive testing.
03:28So, for decades, this approach has received annual validation from the heads of National Labs,
03:33U.S. Strategic Command, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy, including throughout the first Trump administration.
03:40Despite this consensus, some have advocated for a return to explosive nuclear testing.
03:47Can you imagine?
03:49Experts warn, such a move can encourage countries like Russia and China to follow suit,
03:54risking a new, dangerous and unnecessary nuclear arms race.
03:58So, Admiral Papano, I'm just going to ask you to answer yes or no, same as I did the Congressman.
04:05If President Trump sought your counsel on restarting explosive nuclear testing, would you advise the resumption of explosive nuclear testing?
04:14Based on what you suggested there, Senator, thank you for the question.
04:17But if confirmed, I would not advocate for nuclear testing based on the amount of data we have from explosive testing,
04:22our extensive monitoring and simulation capability, subcritical testing capabilities, and the annual verification.
04:28The second question I'm going to ask you is, given that the stockpile has been annually certified as safe and effective without explosive testing,
04:36do you see any technical or strategic justification for resuming explosive testing?
04:44Thank you, Senator.
04:45Again, based on the amount of explosive test data that we have, the monitoring simulation capability,
04:50subcritical testing capabilities at the Nevada test site, among other places, and that annual verification,
04:55I do not see a need to return to explosive testing.
04:57I would not advocate for that if confirmed.
04:59Normally, I would ask a longer answer, but I just want to ask you if you will commit to prioritizing ongoing scientific advancements
05:07in stockpile stewardship.
05:08If confirmed, I look forward to enhancing anything we can do, you know, technology-wise
05:15and advancing stockpile stewardship, science-based.
05:18Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
05:20Senator Rosen, I understand that the massive casino hotels back in the day would alert their customers and patrons
05:35as to when a nuclear explosion was going to be had so that they could watch.
05:41Isn't that correct?
05:42Yes, it is.
05:43In fact, there are still some bars and lounges called the Atomic Lounge and other things that are still there.
05:49You're absolutely right, and I would love to lead a congressional delegation to Las Vegas
05:54and come see not only the test site go one mile underground where they do the subcritical testing.
05:58It's amazing.
05:59But also to the Atomic Testing Museum, which gives you all the history of what they did.
06:04It's quite informative.
06:06And the test site going down underground in that tunnel where they do those tests.
06:13It's pretty amazing.
06:15It might be educational, Senator Reid, but the publicity surrounding the congressional delegation trip to Las Vegas would be a negative there.
06:30We'll go straight.
06:31We can land at Nellis Air Force Base, the crown jewel of the Air Force.
06:35Thank you very much.
06:36And we can head right over there, see the remote sensing lab and the Nevada test site.
06:41You never even have to.
06:42We'll put the curtains down.
06:44You don't even have to see the Las Vegas Strip.
06:46Well, don't go overboard.
06:48Bye.
06:49Bye.
06:50Perfect.
06:51Let's go.
06:52Bye.
06:53Bye.
06:54Bye.
06:55Bye.
06:56Bye.
06:57Bye.