Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment would increase the Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation program by $97 million. To offset this increase, my amendment funds the nuclear weapons activities program at $460 million above its FY 2018 appropriation. That is right, Mr. Chairman.

This amendment returns the nonproliferation account to its FY 2018 enacted level of funding, and still provides the nuclear weapons activities program nearly a half a billion-dollar increase.

I would say this amendment is a simple trade off: support for nuclear proliferation at the expense of nuclear clear weapons. But the numbers reveal this amendment offers us not so much as a tradeoff as it does a win-win solution by making nonproliferation whole again while sacrificing relatively little in terms of nuclear weapons spending. That is because this underlying bill includes more than $180 million above what the President is requesting for nuclear weapons activities in FY 2019 and $557 million above the FY 2018 appropriation. That makes this a win-win amendment, Mr. Chairman.

Both of these accounts fund nonproliferation and stockpile reduction programs that I think we can all support. But I fear we are underfunding nonproliferation in a manner inconsistent with our stated security priorities.

In the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, the administration stated: ``Nuclear terrorism remains among the most significant threats to the security of the United States, our allies, and partners.''

The National Nuclear Security Administration's Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation program works globally to prevent state and non-state actors from developing nuclear weapons or acquiring weapons-usable nuclear or radiological materials, equipment, technology, and expertise. This includes programs for nuclear material removal, international nuclear security, nuclear smuggling detection deterrence, international nuclear safeguards, and nuclear detonation detection. It also includes the Nuclear Counterterrorism and Incident Response program. However, the administration's rhetorical concern for nuclear terrorism is, sadly, not matched by its budget request or the funding level provided in this bill.

Additionally, I am concerned that the current funding level does not help us lay the groundwork for the immense nonproliferation challenge now posed by a possible denuclearization agreement all of us hope will occur on the Korean Peninsula.

The administration's Nuclear Posture Review declared, ``North Korea's illicit nuclear program must be completely, verifiably, and irreversibly eliminated.'' I share that goal. If you want to ensure that inspectors for the International Atomic Energy Agency have the training and expertise they need to implement a complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization program for North Korea, then you must support the Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation program and you do not want to see it cut by $97 million.

Additionally, there are nuclear weapons programs funded in this bill that are unnecessary, such as funding for the development of low-yield nuclear weapons and an uncertain plan for the expansion of plutonium pit production. Eliminating both of these programs would help return the nonproliferation program to its 2018 level.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time is left on my side.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CONNOLLY. Will the gentleman yield?

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chairman, I do have a list of projects totalling between $100 million and $190 million that could be funded with this $97 million.

I would also just add, and then I will yield back, given the fact that the President ripped up the Iran nuclear agreement that was working, we are going to have to spend a lot more money in Iran. And given the fact that we are having a summit with North Korea, hopefully, we are going to have to spend a lot more money in North Korea.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source