10 U.S.C. § 493a — Industrial base monitoring for B–21 and Sentinel programs

(a) Designation. Acting through the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, the Secretary of the Air Force must designate a senior official who reports to that Assistant Secretary. The official must monitor the combined industrial base supporting acquisition of—

(1) B–21 aircraft; and

(2) the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system.

(b) Requirements for Monitoring. The designated senior official must—

(1) be allowed to choose assisting staff from Department civilian employees and armed-forces members, who may provide assistance while also serving in another position;

(2) monitor the industrial base’s acquisition of—

(A) materials, technologies, and components connected with nuclear-weapons systems; and

(B) goods purchased on a large scale;

(3) monitor the industrial base’s hiring or contracting of people with critical skills; and

(4) assess whether people with critical skills and knowledge, intellectual property concerning manufacturing processes, and facilities and equipment needed to design, develop, manufacture, repair, and support a program are available and affordable within the B–21 and Sentinel program scopes.

(c) Annual Report. When the President’s budget is submitted under section 1105(a) of title 31 for a fiscal year, the Secretary must send the congressional defense committees^* a report about the status of the combined industrial base described in subsection (a).