WASHINGTON, D.C.— House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) released the following statement this morning regarding the start of a 47-nation nuclear non-proliferation summit being held here this week:

 

“The efforts of terrorist organizations like al Qaeda to obtain nuclear capabilities are among the most serious threats facing our nation today.  The House Armed Services Committee has a strong record of supporting critical nuclear nonproliferation efforts to address these threats, and I am pleased to see the Obama Administration prioritizing these efforts as well. 

 

“I am very optimistic that this historic summit – coming on the heels of the Nuclear Posture Review and the signing of the New START Treaty – will improve the security of nuclear materials around the world and prevent the smuggling of these materials to those who seek to do us harm.

 

“It is encouraging to see such an unprecedented number of the world’s leaders come together to focus on the nonproliferation of nuclear capabilities, a key piece of this administration’s Nuclear Posture Review. Without global cooperation, we cannot be successful in preventing nuclear terrorism. President Obama’s objective at this conference is further evidence of the strong grasp that this administration has on keeping our nation safe, finally bringing our nuclear policy out of the Cold War era and into the 21 st century.”

 

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