Clinton Proposal to Combat Nuclear Terrorism Signed Into Law

Press Release

Clinton Proposal to Combat Nuclear Terrorism Signed Into Law

Measure Included in the FY 2008 Department of Defense Authorization Act

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that the revised Fiscal Year 2008 Department of Defense Authorization Act signed into law by the President on Monday includes the measure she introduced to help prevent nuclear terrorism. Senator Clinton's amendment requires an annual report on a prioritized plan to eliminate or secure all weapons-usable nuclear material anywhere in the world, including a prioritized list of vulnerable nuclear sites where security upgrades are needed most urgently. It also expresses the sense of Congress that the Administration should seek broad international agreement on minimum standards for the security of nuclear weapons and materials.

"Nuclear terrorism ranks among our most grave national security threats," Senator Clinton said. "This measure will help to ensure the United States takes the steps needed to make us safer and more secure."

Senator Clinton's amendment would require an annual report to Congress that would include a prioritized plan - including measurable milestones, metrics, estimated timetables, and estimated costs of implementation - to eliminate or secure all weapons-usable nuclear material anywhere in the world, and would detail progress in implementing that plan. The report would also include a prioritized list of vulnerable sites around the world with nuclear weapons or weapons-usable nuclear material where security upgrades are needed most urgently. The amendment also establishes that it is U.S. policy to work with the international community to take all possible steps to ensure that nuclear material around the world is eliminated or secured, and expresses the sense of Congress that the president and relevant federal departments and agencies should work with the international community to create specific minimum standards for the security of nuclear weapons and weapons-usable fissile material, that they convince other countries to adopt these standards, and that they assist other countries in meeting and maintaining them.

These provisions were drawn from Senator Clinton's Nuclear Terrorism Prevention Act, which she introduced last year.

Source