[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 29, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11119-S11120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SENATE TASK FORCE ON PLUTONIUM DISPOSITION

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, the end of the Cold War served to greatly 
reduce the threat of global instability, but the world is far from 
being a safe place today. Challenges to continued world peace--from 
increased terrorist activities to display of nuclear weapon 
capabilities by new countries--seem to occur weekly. To date, we have 
not had to face the dreaded combination of terrorists with nuclear 
arms, but that possibility must be considered as we evaluate new 
terrorist threats.
  Designs for crude nuclear weapons, potentially more powerful than the 
Hiroshima bomb, are readily available today. The only hurdle for 
terrorists to overcome is acquisition of the plutonium or highly 
enriched uranium needed to build the weapon.
  Senator Pete Domenici, my colleague from New Mexico, has grappled 
with these issues for many years. He led the Senate's efforts through 
the U.S./Russian Agreement on Highly Enriched Uranium to secure 500 
tons of this material from Russia, enough for perhaps 20,000 bombs.
  More recently, Senator Domenici has focused his attention on 50 tons 
of weapons-grade plutonium that Russia has declared to be surplus; 
that's enough material for almost 10,000 nuclear weapons. He has led 
efforts to ensure that this surplus plutonium won't present us with a 
future threat.
  His trips to Russia, first last July with Senator Thompson and 
Senator Grams, and then more recently to the Moscow Summit, focus on 
this issue. Through those trips, Senator Domenici is well known to the 
leadership of the Russian weapon programs. His proposals for rapid 
progress on this surplus plutonium have been thoroughly studied 
throughout the world, from Japan to France.
  Senator Domenici discussed his proposals with President Clinton in 
late July and encouraged that plutonium disposition be a focus of this 
past Summit. The protocol on plutonium disposition at the Moscow Summit 
is an

[[Page S11120]]

important first step, but it is only the first step.
  We have to go far beyond just signing the protocol to secure the 
benefits that it can provide--to ensure that the material is never 
rebuilt into weapons or found in the hands of terrorists or rogue 
states. Furthermore, the Senate needs to advise the Administration on 
the detailed agreements that will enable real progress.
  Today, I'm appointing a Senate Task Force on Plutonium Disposition to 
provide this input from the Senate to the Administration. I'm pleased 
that Senator Domenici has agreed to chair this task force, to continue 
his leadership on this vital topic.
  Also serving on the task force will be Senator Richard Lugar of 
Indiana, Senator Frank Murkowski of Alaska, Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, 
Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico and 
Senator Patty Murray of Washington. Each of these Members brings 
knowledge and concern that will be valuable in guiding the Senate on 
this issue.
  As agreements are finalized, the Senate may be called upon to approve 
programs or provide resources; we will depend on this task force to 
provide information for informed debates on these subjects.
  Disposition of the current 50 tons of Russian excess weapons-grade 
plutonium is an important national goal. We have a golden window of 
opportunity to rid the world of materials for thousands of nuclear 
weapons. We must seize this moment.

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