Turner Introduces Bill to Hold the Administration Accountable for New START Modernization Promises
Issue Position
Congressman Mike Turner (OH-3), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, introduced the Maintaining the President's Commitment to our Nuclear Deterrent and National Security Act of 2012 (H.R. 4178). The 50-page bill cites the President's promises surrounding nuclear modernization and would codify those commitments into law.
"The long-term health and credibility of our nuclear deterrent depends on this bill, as does our national security. During the Senate's consideration of the New START Treaty, the President made many promises to achieve support for Senate ratification. With the President's FY13 budget request, it is now apparent that those promises have been broken. This bill will correct that and ensure the promises are kept," said Turner.
If enacted, the bill would directly link reductions in U.S. nuclear forces with successful execution of the President's nuclear modernization plan. It would require construction of key new plutonium and uranium facilities, prevent asymmetries between the sizes of U.S. and Russian nuclear forces, and codify the President's promise of full funding for modernization of the nuclear stockpile. Further, the bill would refuse funding for implementing the results of the President's ongoing nuclear employment strategy review to allow ample time for Congress to consider it. Reports in the media have stated that the President's review could recommend unilateral reductions of up to 80 percent of U.S. nuclear forces.
"This legislation is important not only to modernize our nuclear force, but also the infrastructure that supports it. But Congress must also fix the agency responsible for that infrastructure; the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). It is clear that NNSA is broken and unable to carry out its mission. It appears to be unable to provide the warheads and infrastructure the military needs, despite receiving billions of dollars from the budget of the Department of Defense. One of the key reasons the Administration is failing to meet its promises is that our nuclear weapons enterprise is broken," added Turner.
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