Garamendi Votes Against Bill that would Escalate Modern Nuclear Arms Race and Make Shortsighted Cuts to Alternative Energy

Press Release

Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA) voted against H.R. 2028, the $35.4 billion Fiscal Year 2016 Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The bill passed by a 240-177 vote.

The bill includes $8.7 billion to maintain America's nuclear weapons stockpile, $526 million more than FY 2015. Garamendi fears this increase in spending to support our already bloated nuclear weapons program, particularly in the context of delicate diplomacy with Iran and Russia, could trigger a chain reaction that would accelerate a modern nuclear arms race.

"While I fully support the water and flood protection projects in the bill, I strongly oppose the nuclear weapons appropriations, totaling $8.7 billion -- $526 million more than Fiscal Year 2015," said Congressman Garamendi. "I am extremely concerned that we are well into the first quarter of a nuclear arms race with Russia, China, and other nuclear states. The new warheads and delivery systems present a new and dangerous situation in which the cold war era systems of control fail. America is on the course to spend a trillion dollars on these weapons in the next 20 to 25 years. For this reason, I voted against the bill."

Meanwhile, renewable energy programs are only funded at $1.7 billion, a cut of $279 million compared to FY 2015. The bill also includes language that would weaken the Clean Water Act in some circumstances. Garamendi believes our country invests far too little in clean energy research and American-made alternative energy production.

"By downgrading our nation's investments in next generation alternative energy sources, this bill also makes us less safe by making us even less prepared to respond to the challenges presented by climate change," Garamendi added.

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