Senator Feinstein Urges Elimination of Funding for a New Generation of Nuclear Weapons

Senator Feinstein Urges Elimination of Funding for a New Generation of Nuclear Weapons
July 10, 2003

Washington DC - U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif) today urged that the Senate approve a House Appropriations Committee measure eliminating funds for research into the development of a new generation of nuclear weapons as part of the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill for FY 2004.

"Like President Bush, I believe the greatest threat facing the United States lies in the global proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and terrorist access to these weapons. But by adopting a new approach to national security in the wake of 9/11 that stresses unilateralism and preemption, and increases U.S. reliance on nuclear weapons, I am deeply concerned that this may actually be encouraging the very proliferation we seek to prevent," Senator Feinstein wrote in a letter to Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Harry Reid (D-NV), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water.

Senator Feinstein urged that the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee take similar action to that by the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday and eliminate the following funds:

$25 million to begin the process of improving our underground nuclear test readiness test site from the current 36 months to 18 months;
$6 million for advanced weapons concepts which provides concept and feasibility studies of possible nuclear weapon modifications and new designs;
$10 million for studying the feasibility of a Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator.

She also urged that the bill prohibit any funding from being used for the research, development, or any subsequent phase, of a low-yield nuclear weapon.

"How we determine the future of United States nuclear weapons policy will go a long way to determining whether we control nuclear proliferation or expand it. That is why I urge you to oppose any funding for the study, development, testing or production of new nuclear weapons which could blur the line between conventional and nuclear weapons and result in increased nuclear proliferation world-wide."

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