officials at the national nuclear security administration, or nnsa, say the scientists do simulations using something called a z-machine. it emits the world's most powerful x-rays, and recreates conditions similar to a nuclear explosion without an actual detonation. the test examined the reaction of plutonium inside the weapons. scientists in the u.s. have been carrying them out since 2010. the most recent ones happened between last october and december. that's raised concern here in japan among survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings and their supporters. >> translator: america secretly carried out these tests, and they announced it a few months later. the united states is looking down on us. i wonder if they have a conscience. >> translator: i regret united states' action. nuclear armed nations should not only say they want a world free of nuclear weapons, but work toward it, as well. >>> an atomic bomb survivor from the s. action may prompt northat korea to hold another nuclear test out of a sense of rivalry. nnsa representatives argue that it's safe, while maintaining a moratorium o

and nnsa are going to fix this problem moving forward in a meaningful way.we're going to make them wish they had. so this is not going away. we are -- does ranking member have any more comments? we are about to be called for votes. i want to thank our witnesses for their time and their energy and their attention, and we appreciate you. we will go into recess now for a post and bring our second panel backup after votes. thank you. [inaudible conversations] >> i don't think so, but if they do they wouldn't care. i'd like to call the hearing of the armed services subcommittee on strategic forces back to order, and apologize for the>> k delay. i think our panelists for hanging around, and look forward to your comments but i do wantte to thank you for your time and energy in preparing for this hearing. i know it takes a lot of time op and effort, and but, you know, it is important to us. so thank you for that. what i would like to do, your full statements have been inbmitted for the record. jim and i both read and.hat. kee ranking them and i both reai them but i

officials at the national nuclear security administration or nnsa say the scientists do simulations using something called a z-machine. it emits the world's most powerful x-rays and recreates conditions similar to a nuclear explosion without an actual detonation. the test examined the reaction of plutonium inside the weapons. scientists say the u.s. have been carrying them out since 2010. the most recent ones happened between last october and december. that raised concern here in japan among survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings and their supporters. >> translator: america secretly carried out these tests, and they announced it a few months later. the united states is looking down on us. i wonder if they have a conscience. >> translator: i regret united states' action. nuclear armed nations should not only say they want a world free of nuclear weapons but work toward it, as well. >>> an atomic bomb survivor from hiroshima expressed concern that the u.s. action may prompt no h >>> north korean scientists carried out their third nuclear test last month. the u.n. approved a new package of sa

the conferees expect that the nuclear weapons council not only certify as required by law that the nnsa budget as it is submitted to congress but that the nuclear weapons council also take an active role in shaping and reviewing the nsa budget as it is prepared for submission in scomb arft negotiated with the office of management and budget during the budget review process. isn't it the, the nuclear weapons council in which you and others sit on taking an active role in shaping the budget proposal? it is really clear to me, colleagues, that the nuclear security administration and the department of energy, their role is much like a defense contractor, a boeing or lockheed. they are producing a weapons system that you have to have and utilize and you should be involved in how they manage that and the amount of money that is spent on it, i believe, or at least i think that is healthy for america. you feel good about what n.w.c. is and are we on track here to raise it up as we intend it to give it more power? >> senator, i do feel good about where we are today in terms of insight and influe

during the past decade, nnsa has shown repeated failures in managing and planning projects. the result is costly overruns, deferrals and in some cases security lapses. these failures are not only a threat to our national security, they pose threats to the safety of the scientists, engineers and other workers employed at the national labs. i cosponsored an amendment to the 2013 defense authorization act with senator kyl to form an advisory panel and to take a look at this, to make bipartisan recommendations to improve the governance and structure of the nnsa. it is vital that necessary reforms will be completed. the third udall amendment to lay the foundation is for future hardrock mining reform in the 113th congress. i have just filed this amendment so it does not yet have a number. we should correct a long-standing fiscal loophole and establish a royalty on hardrock minerals mined on federal lands. since 1872, the federal government has literally been giving away our gold, silver, uranium and other hardrock minerals. handing over these public resources for free, a royalty i