Background

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are about to vote on the Fiscal Year 2005 Defense Authorization Bill and Energy and Water Appropriation Bills. The Bush Administration has requested $6.85 billion for US nuclear weapons activities such as research, development, testing and production programs, the highest budget for nuclear weapons since the all-time record set under President Reagan under the Cold War.

At a time of war and record deficits, Congress needs your support to cut the nuclear weapons budget and curb the pursuit of new nuclear weapons programs. These programs send a clear "do as I say, not as I do" message to the rest of the world and threaten to undermine the nation's attempts to stem the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

There are many nuclear weapons programs that deserve scrutiny. However, four key programs are likely to be addressed and voted on:

1. The Nuclear "Bunker-Buster"

Eliminate the $27.5 million in funding for the "Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator" (or "bunker-buster") research and development to modify two existing nuclear weapons with explosive powers fifty times that of the bomb used over Hiroshima for destroying deep underground bunkers. Even these large nuclear weapons would be ineffective to the depths that modern bunkers can be built and the collateral damage from such an explosion would kill millions if the bunker was located beneath a major city.

2. Advanced Nuclear Weapons

Eliminate the $9 million in funding for the "Advanced Concepts Initiative" which gives US nuclear weapons labs money to design new mini-nuclear weapons (known as "mini-nukes" or low-yield nuclear weapons) and other new kinds of nuclear warheads. Even the smallest yield nuclear weapon would create heavy collateral damage. Their small size could lead the President to more readily consider their use in future conflicts. Their research, development and potential use encourages other nations to consider them a desirable weapon to own.

3. Modern Pit Facility - New Nuclear Bomb Plant

Eliminate the $29.8 million in funding for the "Modern Pit Facility," a factory that will cost at least $4 billion and could produce 125-450 plutonium pits, the cores of modern nuclear warheads, each year. The United States and Russia are supposed to be reducing their arsenals of nuclear weapons under the "Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty," not building new ones. Replacement warheads are not needed as new studies are finding that existing weapons last much longer than previously expected.

4. Readiness to Test Nuclear Weapons

Take Action | Top

Tell Congress to oppose the President's new nuclear weapons programs and cut the nuclear weapons budget. Your voice is crucial in making a difference!

Tell Congress to oppose new nuclear weapons programs, including the "bunker-buster," "mini-nukes," a new bomb plant to produce new nuclear warheads and steps to enhance our readiness to test nuclear weapons.

Find out who your Senators and Representatives are and write to them using email at http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html

Call your Senators and Representatives at 202-224-3121 (Congressional switchboard).

This is what you can say:

Hello. I'm a constituent of Senator/Representative [NAME] and I'm calling to ask the Senator/Representative to oppose spending on new nuclear weapons and facilities.

I am strongly opposed to a nuclear "bunker-buster" that could kill thousands of innocent civilians and spread dangerous contaminants if buried stockpiles of chemical and/or biological weapons were targeted. The research and development of the "bunker-buster" will also tempt other nations to pursue such weapons.

I am opposed to low-yield nuclear weapons that blur the line between conventional and nuclear weapons, increasing the likelihood they will be used in conflict and encouraging other nations to also view nuclear weapons as usable.

I'm also opposed to US plans to build a new nuclear bomb plant. We don't need it and it sends the wrong message as we work to curb other nations' nuclear programs.

I also oppose enhancing the readiness to test nuclear weapons as tests are not needed to establish the safety and reliability of the arsenal. These funds could be put to good use in helping clean up the environmental contamination left by nuclear weapons.

Please urge the Senator/Representative to oppose spending on new nuclear weapons and facilities. Thank you. Good bye.

Key Members to contact are listed below.

Even if you don't find your Senator(s) or Representative on the Armed Services Committee list below -- he or she will still have a vote on the weapons budget when it comes to the Floor. So, make that call!

And, if your Senator(s) or Representative IS ON the Armed Serv ice s Committee -- make two calls! One to the Member of Congress and one to a family member or friend to get them to call in, too!