Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), released the following statement emphasizing the need to protect funding that will help the US secure loose nuclear materials in order to destroy them. The continuing resolution proposes a 24 percent reduction to the President's 2011 budget request for National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation programs. If these cuts go into effect, the United States will be unable to secure and remove massive quantities of highly enriched uranium from countries that are vulnerable to terrorists.
"We can not afford to cut these critical nuclear nonproliferation programs that are increasing our national security and keeping nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists and rogue states.
"This is not just about securing loose nuclear materials and destroying them, this is about securing our security. These cuts will undermine our ability to keep our nation and the world a safer place."