Washington, July 21 (RHC)-- A new report by a U.S. congressional watchdog highlights the growing price of maintaining the Pentagon’s nuclear command, control and communications systems. 

The Congressional Budget Office says the cost of operating, upgrading and maintaining U.S. nuclear command is expected to reach $117 billion over the coming decade -- a $23 billion increase compared to an estimate made just two years ago.

The report was released as Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders proposed amendments that would cut the U.S. military budget by 10%, compared to the record $886 billion budget National Defense Authorization Act approved by the U.S. House of Representatives last week.