Washington, D.C.  – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) and Strategic Forces Subcommittee Chairman Jim Langevin (D-RI) released the following joint statement regarding today’s release of the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), required by the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act:

“The Obama Administration’s Nuclear Posture Review balances the role of our nuclear deterrent forces with the goals of preventing nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism.  Following the path first outlined by President Obama in his speech in Prague last year, the NPR responsibly reduces the role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy and opens the door to stronger action against rogue states and those who would fail to protect nuclear technology and materials. This new approach recognizes that we live in a complicated world that demands immediate action to protect us from the threat of nuclear terrorism, such as locking down loose nuclear materials in concert with other nations.

“The NPR sets a framework to protect our security today and to deter future threats. The NPR is grounded in the strength of our nuclear deterrent, and we are pleased that the NPR retains a nuclear ‘triad’ of intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and heavy bombers.  We are also pleased that the review concluded that maintaining the safety, security, and effectiveness of our nuclear weapons, especially at lower numbers, requires increased investment to modernize aging infrastructure and to halt the erosion of the scientific and technical talent at our nation's national security laboratories and plants.

“The House Armed Services Committee will discuss these issues further next week during a Full Committee hearing on U.S. nuclear weapons policy and force structure on Wednesday, April 14, followed by a Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing on the Ballistic Missile Defense Review and the FY11 budget request for missile defense programs on Thursday, April 15.”    

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