Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012

Floor Speech

The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2354) making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and for other purposes:

* Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the Fortenberry amendment to increase funding for the NNSA Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation program.

* This amendment, which I cosponsored, provides a $35 million increase to the nonproliferation account. Unfortunately, this increase represents only a small percentage of the $463 million in cuts to nonproliferation in the bill.

* Nonproliferation efforts are vital to our national security. These programs ensure that loose nuclear material is secured and prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of hostile countries or terrorists. To implement drastic budget cuts does very real damage to the progress we are making toward these goals.

* Just last year at the Nuclear Summit, President Obama gained the agreement from several countries to work with the U.S. in securing nuclear weapons-grade material. Through the NNSA Global Threat Reduction Initiative, we will work with nations like Poland, Ghana, Nigeria, Kazakhstan and others to remove highly enriched uranium and to convert their reactors.

* There is no question: taking these steps is very much in the national security of the U.S. There are those who would do anything to gain and use this material to do significant harm to our troops and our country.

* I am supportive of this amendment, but it represents only a step toward the resources that are necessary for this important program.

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