[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 21, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H4782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        AMERICA'S DEFENSE POLICY

  (Mr. FORTENBERRY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, we just heard an extensive debate about 
the future of America's defense policy. I want to commend the chairman 
for including an important amendment that I offered that does address a 
serious, serious issue.
  It is very hard to react to something that has not happened yet. 
Frankly, we are in a race between collaboration or catastrophe in 
regards to nuclear security and the threat of nuclear proliferation 
around the world. This technology is spreading very, very rapidly.
  With the Department's effort at cost savings and reorganization, it 
is important that our nonproliferation efforts not slip, not become a 
second priority. It may be easy to do that because, again, when things 
don't happen, it appears that we are secure. This is one of the most 
grave difficulties facing not only the United States, but all of 
humanity.
  So I am very grateful that in this bill we now have an effort to 
demand that the Department explain its important reorganization efforts 
and how it is going to address the future of nonproliferation issues as 
we work toward nuclear security, robust force strength, and deterrence. 
Nonproliferation goes hand-in-hand with those important national 
security elements.

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