Procurement authority for submarine cable laying and repair ships

(a) Contract authority The Secretary of the Navy may enter into a contract for the construction of up to two submarine cable laying and repair ships and associated material. (b) Liability Any contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that— (1) any obligation of the United States to make a payment under the contract is subject to the availability of appropriations for that purpose; and (2) the total liability of the Federal Government for termination of the contract shall be limited to the total amount of funding obligated to the contract at the time of termination.