Representative Heinrich Statement on OMB Sandia National Laboratory Memo

Press Release

Representative Heinrich Statement on OMB Sandia National Laboratory Memo

U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich (NM-1), today issued the following statement regarding a recent Office of Management and Budget memo requesting consideration of moving the jurisdiction of our nation's nuclear weapons programs from the Department of Energy to the Department of Defense:

"I have grave concerns about any plan to move our nuclear weapons programs from the Department of Energy into the Department of Defense.

"Everything must be done to preserve the diverse portfolio of work being done at Sandia both nuclear and otherwise. The comprehensive expansion of Sandia's portfolio has yielded tremendous advances and discoveries in alternative energy programs, research and development and nanotechnology, just to name a few. A move away from the DoE could put all of these nonweapons programs in jeopardy, and I will do all I can to prevent that from happening.

"We must also ensure that the longstanding tradition of civilian control over our nuclear weapons program continues.

"Further, such a move could pose a serious threat to the tens-of-thousands of good-paying, economy-boosting jobs in the First District that are associated with Sandia.

"I will fight alongside the rest of the New Mexico delegation to stop any effort to move our nuclear weapons program away from DoE."

Source