Update
February 11, 2009: We did it! Senate cut out the $1
billion for nukes.
As
Senate debates stimulus package, groups demand best
use of dollars and oppose money for nuclear weapons
February
6, 2009: Sending a billion dollars to nuclear weapons
complex does not serve our nation: it does little
to stimulate
the
economy, takes the wrong direction on nukes, and rewards
an irresponsible agency, says coalition.
(WASHINGTON,
DC): "The stimulus package is vitally important
to our economy and to the security of our country,”
says Marie Rietmann, public policy director of Women’s
Action for New Directions (WAND). “We need to
make the best possible use of every dollar. How can
the Senate justify sending a billion new dollars to
an agency that has a bad track record, lacks oversight,
and does little or nothing to advance the new administration’s
agenda for nuclear weapons?”
On
February 5, 2009, a coalition of 22 peace and security
groups submitted a letter to Senators opposing a stimulus
bill provision that would give $1 billion to the National
Nuclear Security Administration. “This one billion
is a hike of 11% in their budget,” says Nick
Roth of the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability. “How
does this make sense at this time? President Obama
has pledged to send resources to real nuclear dangers:
we need to halt the spread of nuclear weapons to rogue
states, ratify a treaty to stop nuclear testing. Instead,
we’re going to send a billion dollars of stimulus
money toward the nuclear weapons complex?”
As
part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(S. 336), the money would be used for “maintenance
and general plant project backlogs, other construction
activities, and various energy projects throughout
the weapons complex.” The House version of this
bill does not have the same provision.
The
groups noted that:
