Markey Introduces SANE Act to Cut Bloated Nuclear Weapons Budget

Statement

Today, Congressman Edward J. Markey took to the House floor to decry the wasteful spending in America's nuclear weapons programs and to introduce legislation that would cut $100 billion over the next ten years from America's bloated nuclear weapons budget. The Smarter Approach to Nuclear Expenditures (SANE) Act of 2012 cuts specific nuclear weapons and related programs and makes our nuclear weapons forces the right size for the 21st century.

"It is insane that Republicans are proposing to block the automatic defense cuts mandated by the debt deal while America's nuclear weapons budget teems with billions in wasteful spending," said Rep. Markey, senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and founder of the Nonproliferation Task Force. "It is insane to spend hundreds of billions on new nuclear bombs and delivery systems to fight a long-past Cold War while ignoring our 21st century security needs and seeking to cut Medicare, Medicaid and social programs that millions of Americans depend on. The SANE Act will cut spending on outdated, wasteful nuclear weapons and related programs over the next ten years and will strengthen our long-term economic and national security."

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