Approps bill boosts spending on industrial base analysis

House and Senate appropriators have agreed to allocate nearly $50 million in fiscal year 2019 for industrial base analysis and sustainment.

Conferees settled on a total of $48.9 million for the industrial base line, up from the $10.4 million sought by the Pentagon. The House bill approved the Pentagon's request, while the Senate bill provided $63.9 million for the line item.

According to the conference joint explanatory statement, the bill includes $15 million for "large scale classified electron beam welding" and $10 million for "risk reduction for tungsten defense products." It also sets aside $10 million to "expand manufacturing capability for cold rolled aluminum."

The legislation marks $15 million for a national security technology accelerator, though it notes the program is included under the defense-wide manufacturing science and technology line item.

The Pentagon is slated to soon release a long-anticipated industrial base report produced as the result of an executive order last year.