Posted on 14-6-2004

Zero Funding for New Nuclear Weapons
From the Union for Concerned Scientists

In bold defiance of the White House wish list for new nuclear weapons,
Rep. David Hobson (R-Ohio), chairman of the House energy and water
appropriations subcommittee, today eliminated all funding for new U.S.
nuclear weapons programs. The committee cut all the money for advanced
concepts research, the robust nuclear earth penetrator, the modern pit
facility, and enhanced test readiness.

"Rep. Hobson simply said no: no to new nuclear weapon designs, no to
resumed nuclear testing, no to producing new nuclear weapons," said
Stephen Young, Senior Analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "The
Bush administration's push for new nuclear weapons has come up against a
brick wall in the House."

The move to cut the nuclear weapons budget signals growing bipartisan
opposition to the administration's nuclear weapons programs. It follows a
close vote two weeks ago where the entire House came within a few votes of
eliminating funding for the nuclear earth penetrator.

Last year appropriators cut or restricted funds for the same nuclear
weapons programs, noting that it was premature to go forward without the
administration's overdue report on the planned size and structure of the
U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. The administration belatedly delivered the
report last week, claiming it plans to substantially reduce the stockpile.

Hobson also cut one-third of the funding for construction of a proposed
plant to turn excess warhead plutonium into fuel for nuclear reactors.
"The plutonium fuel plan was going nowhere fast," said Dr. Edwin Lyman,
Senior Scientist at UCS. "Rep. Hobson is wisely taking money away from
this pork barrel project and shifting to programs that will effectively
address the nuclear terrorism threat."

On Tuesday, June 15 the Senate will vote on an amendment offered by Sens.
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) to eliminate funds for
programs to develop new nuclear weapons capabilities, including the
proposed nuclear bunker buster.