Department of Energy National Security Act for Fiscal Year 2004

This bill authorizes funding for the Department of Energy’s national security programs for fiscal year 2004, focusing on the management of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile and environmental cleanup of former nuclear sites. A key provision repeals a decade-old ban on the research and development of "low-yield" nuclear weapons (those with smaller explosive yields), though it still requires specific congressional approval before any such weapon can move into actual production.

For everyday citizens, the bill’s impact is primarily seen in how the government balances national defense with safety and environmental concerns. It directs the government to maintain the ability to resume underground nuclear testing within 18 months if necessary and funds studies for a "Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator" designed to strike deeply buried targets. Additionally, the bill includes measures to improve the processing of health claims for workers who became ill due to radiation exposure at nuclear facilities and expands programs to secure nuclear materials internationally to prevent them from falling into the hands of unauthorized groups.