[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 106 (Friday, July 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1342]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. RICK LARSEN

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 13, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2354) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development and related 
     agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and 
     for other purposes:

  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the 
Fortenberry amendment to increase funding for the NNSA Defense Nuclear 
Nonproliferation program.
  This amendment, which I cosponsored, provides a $35 million increase 
to the nonproliferation account. Unfortunately, this increase 
represents only a small percentage of the $463 million in cuts to 
nonproliferation in the bill.
  Nonproliferation efforts are vital to our national security. These 
programs ensure that loose nuclear material is secured and prevent 
nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of hostile countries or 
terrorists. To implement drastic budget cuts does very real damage to 
the progress we are making toward these goals.
  Just last year at the Nuclear Summit, President Obama gained the 
agreement from several countries to work with the U.S. in securing 
nuclear weapons-grade material. Through the NNSA Global Threat 
Reduction Initiative, we will work with nations like Poland, Ghana, 
Nigeria, Kazakhstan and others to remove highly enriched uranium and to 
convert their reactors.
  There is no question: taking these steps is very much in the national 
security of the U.S. There are those who would do anything to gain and 
use this material to do significant harm to our troops and our country.
  I am supportive of this amendment, but it represents only a step 
toward the resources that are necessary for this important program.