Congress Takes Steps to Reduce Threat of Nuclear Terrorism

In its final report, the 9/11 Commission warned that the number one threat facing the United States was terrorists detonating a crude nuclear device on our soil. I am working hard to ensure that our government has the tools it needs to prevent this from happening. That’s why I fought to have Congress increase funding for two programs that address the global threat of nuclear proliferation at the U.S. Department of Energy in a funding proposal considered earlier this year.  The International Nuclear Material Protection and Cooperation program, which helps to secure weapons-grade nuclear material in the former Soviet states was cut by $9.5 million in the President’s budget.  Instead, Congress provided a $50 million increase for this year.  The Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI), which secures highly enriched uranium around the world, received an additional $18.5 million from Congress over last year’s level.  These programs are vital to preventing a nuclear 9/11 in the United States and around the world.

Last year, I succeeded in passing an amendment in the House that would increase funding for the GTRI program by $27.8 million (see related article here).  This year’s funding levels is another step forward in protecting the world from the threat of nuclear terrorism.    I will continue to follow the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, which called for a "maximum effort" to be applied to secure weapons of mass destruction (WMD).  I am committed to providing sufficient funding for those programs that effectively protect us from one of the gravest threats to our national security. 

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