Rep. Titus Urges Rules Committee to Include Amendments to Ban Explosive Nuclear Testing and Protect Desert National Wildlife Refuge in NDAA

Press Release

Today Representative Dina Titus of Nevada's First Congressional District urged the House Rules Committee to support amendments filed to the National Defense Authorization Act that would block the Trump Administration from conducting an explosive nuclear test, protect the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, and safeguard weapons of mass destruction around the world.

Earlier this month, Congresswoman Titus (NV-1) introduced the PLANET Act to halt the resumption of explosive nuclear weapons testing.

Video of Congresswoman's testimony is available to view and download here.

A transcript of Congresswoman Titus's remarks as prepared for delivery is below:

"I will focus my remarks on three amendments; McAdams #29, Horsford #342, and Titus #646.

"I am proud to join my colleague Rep. McAdams, and you Mr. Chairman, as a cosponsor of amendment #29, which would prohibit explosive nuclear weapons testing.

"Yesterday we marked the 75th anniversary of the Trinity test, the first atomic test to occur in the United States. Years of explosive tests followed which included over 900 tests just north of Las Vegas, where visitors and residents could watch mushroom clouds rise over the desert.

"This effort was critical to the Cold War, yet we came to learn that these explosive tests contributed to cancers and premature deaths of tens of thousands of Americans and our tribal brothers and sisters all across the West and into the Plains States.

"The NNSA itself admitted in 2013 that underground testing in Nevada led to the "release of radioactivity into the environment, particularly the groundwater."

"Fortunately, each year over the last two decades, the Department of Energy has used sophisticated technology to certify that our nuclear stockpile is safe, reliable, and secure without conducting explosive tests.

"Yet, the Trump Administration is reportedly considering asking Nevadans to put themselves in harm's way once again for an unjustified experiment that makes our country less secure.

"The resumption of explosive testing in the U.S. could restart a nuclear arms race with Russia and China. There is simply no technical or geopolitical reason to conduct such a test.

"I urge the Committee to make the Amendment 29 in order for consideration.

"I next want to speak to amendment #342 offered by myself along with Nevada representatives Horsford and Lee.

"This amendment makes critical improvements to language adopted in the Armed Services Committee that significantly alters the management and protection of over 840,000 acres of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge; the largest refuge in the lower 48 states.

"The Refuge was set aside for protection in 1936. Years later, certain Air Force operations were authorized through military land withdrawals. The current withdrawal is set to expire next year.

"During the Committee markup, an amendment was offered and accepted, without any knowledge to the Nevada delegation, that would end the nearly nine decade-long management of these lands and directly threaten the unique flora and fauna of the region, along with the cultural resources of tribes that have lived in this region for centuries.

"Amendment #342 represents a path forward that ensures military readiness, provides for continued management of the Refuge by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and addresses concerns raised by conservationists and sovereign tribal governments about the lack of access to and protection of natural and cultural resources.

"We worked with the Committees of jurisdiction, on both the Majority and Minority side to develop this language and I urge the Committee to make it in order.

"Last, I'd like to speak to Amendment #646 offered by myself along with Rep. Ami Bera to strengthen cooperative threat reduction programs and efforts to prevent, detect, counter, and respond to threats of weapons of mass destruction terrorism.

"Keeping nuclear, radiological, biological, and chemical weapons out of the hands of terrorists requires global cooperation. We cannot do it alone by safeguarding only our own materials. This amendment expresses the importance of diplomatic outreach, threat reduction programs, and export controls to accomplish our national security objective of preventing and countering threats of weapons of mass destruction terrorism. This amendment will help us assess the threat landscape and current risks related to weapons of mass destruction and ensure our strategies and programs advance the mission of reducing this threat and are complementary across the U.S. government. I thank the Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees for working with me on this language.

"With that, I thank you again for allowing me an opportunity to testify, and am happy to answer any of your questions."

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