Congressman Mike Turner, Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces announced his intention to introduce an updated version of the New START Implementation Act following the release of the President’s budget next week:
“President Obama made a lot of promises to convince the Senate that it was safe to ratify the New START treaty. Without specific and detailed promises to modernize the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, delivery vehicles, and infrastructure, there is no doubt that the New START treaty would not have been approved.
“However, it is now clear based on actions within the Administration and announcements to the Congress, like the intention to delay the development of the next generation ballistic missile submarine and the delay in the first production unit of the B-61-12 bomb, that the President isn’t keeping his word. It is now clear he will submit a budget next week that would be a significant reversal from the stated commitment, per his own section 1251 plan, to request at least $7.9 billion for the NNSA for FY13. He may also walk away from his direct pledge to build the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement (CMRR) facility at Los Alamos; this facility is key to the United States continuing its nuclear weapons enterprise.
“The ratification of the New START treaty was a package deal, and President Obama is now changing the terms of the Senate’s ratification of the treaty. Congress cannot allow the President to walk away from his promises, nor can we afford to continue to reduce our nuclear forces to reach treaty mandated levels without the robust modernization of the remaining U.S. nuclear weapons forces the President promised.”
The following is a sampling of the President’s
promises to modernize the U.S. nuclear deterrent:
- The 2010 Nuclear Posture Review stated—
o “In order to sustain a safe, secure, and effective U.S. nuclear stockpile as long as nuclear weapons exist, the United States must possess a modern physical infrastructure – comprised of the national security laboratories and a complex of supporting facilities.”
o “These investments are essential to facilitating reductions while sustaining deterrence under New START and beyond.”
o The Administration will fully fund the ongoing LEP for the W-76 submarine-based warhead for a fiscal year (FY) 2017 completion, and the full scope LEP study and follow-on activities for the B-61 bomb to ensure first production begins in FY2017.
o “In order to sustain a safe, secure, and effective U.S. nuclear stockpile as long as nuclear weapons exist, the United States must possess a modern physical infrastructure – comprised of the national security laboratories and a complex of supporting facilities.”
o “Funding the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement Project at Los Alamos National Laboratory to replace the existing 50-year old Chemistry and Metallurgy Research facility in 2021.”
o “Developing a new Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to come on line for production operations in 2021.”
- The President certified in his February 2, 2011 Message to the Senate “I intend to (a) modernize or replace the triad of strategic nuclear delivery systems: a heavy bomber and air- launched cruise missile, an ICBM, and a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) and SLBM; and (b) maintain the United States rocket motor industrial base.”
- The Senate required of the President, prior to the entry into force of the New START Treaty, that the President “shall certify to the Senate that the President intends to accelerate to the extent possible the design and engineering phase of the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement (CMRR) building and the Uranium Processing Facility (UPF); and request full funding, including on a multi-year basis as appropriate, for the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement building and the Uranium Processing Facility upon completion of the design and engineering phase for such facilities.”
o The President did so in his message of February 2, 2011 when he stated “I intend to (a) accelerate, to the extent possible, the design and engineering phase of the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement (CMRR) building and the Uranium Processing Facility (UPF); and (b) request full funding, including on a multi-year basis as appropriate, for the CMRR building and the UPF upon completion of the design and engineering phase for such facilities.”
o The President’s 1251 plan states that CMRR and UPF will complete construction by 2021 and will achieve full operational functionality by 2024.
- President Obama pledged in a December 2010 letter to several Senators, “I recognize that nuclear modernization requires investment for the long-term…that is my commitment to the Congress – that my administration will pursue these programs and capabilities for as long as I am president.”
- While the Administration has not yet shared with Congress the terms of reference of the so-called NPR Implementation Strategy, the only publicly available statements by the Administration, including language from the NPR, suggest the review is only considering reductions.
o When asked at a hearing if New START allowed the United States “to maintain a nuclear arsenal that is more than is needed to guarantee an adequate deterrent,” the head of US Strategic Command, General Kevin P. Chilton, said “I do not agree that it is more than is needed. I think the arsenal that we have is exactly what is needed today to provide the deterrent.”
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