Nuclear weapons

Countries Discuss Outer Space Cooperation

BEIJING -- November 17, 2009 -- China and the United States today released a joint statement at the conclusion of formal talks between President Obama and President Hu Jintao that included agreements on nuclear weapons issues and cooperation in space.

In the statement, the United States and China "reaffirmed their commitment made on 27 June 1998 not to target at each other the strategic nuclear weapons under their respective control." This reverses a decision by the Bush administration, which was first announced in the 2002 Nuclear Posture Review, to target China with U.S. nuclear weapons.    » read more »

Amendment Based on Recommendations of a Government Study is Latest Addition to Feingold's Control Spending Now Act to Slash the Deficit

November 17, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold is hailing Senate passage of his amendment to the military construction appropriations bill to enhance the security of our nuclear arsenal and more effectively use taxpayer dollars.    » read more »

In Letter to Obama, Markey encourages President to Dramatically Alter our Nuclear Weapons Mission

November 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment and the founder of the House Bipartisan Task Force on Nonproliferation, today wrote to President Obama encouraging him to dramatically rethink the way nuclear weapons are used in our country.

Markey urged President Obama to continue his strong leadership on nuclear arms control and nonproliferation with the administration’s forthcoming Nuclear Posture Review, which formally defines the missions and requirements for the U.S. nuclear arsenal.    » read more »

Amendment Based on Recommendations of a Government Study is Latest Addition to Feingold's Control Spending Now Act to Slash the Deficit

November 16, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold offered legislation today to enhance the security of our nuclear arsenal and more effectively use taxpayer dollars. The legislation is part of Feingold’s larger effort to slash the deficit by more than one half trillion dollars with the Control Spending Now Act, which he introduced last month.    » read more »

November 13, 2009 -- The Government of the United States of America and the Government of Japan welcome the renewed international attention and commitment to achieve the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons and confirm their determination to realize such a world.

They welcome, in this context, the recent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Summit on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Disarmament and UNSC Resolutions 1540 and 1887, as well as the resolution of the Government of Japan, co-sponsored by the Government of the United States, to the United Nations General Assembly entitled "Renewed determination towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons."    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) today introduced the Strengthening the Oversight of Nuclear Nonproliferation (SOONN) Act of 2009 to further U.S. and international efforts to prevent the spread of dangerous nuclear materials.

Senator Akaka said: "Nuclear weapon proliferation is among the most critical threats to international security today. This bill will support improvements to U.S. and international efforts to confront this threat."

The SOONN Act calls for a recurring annual report on U.S. nonproliferation activities. This report will detail:

* U.S. spending in support of civilian nuclear programs abroad,
* reductions in the use of highly enriched uranium,    » read more »

WASHINGTON (September 16, 2009) – The Natural Resources Defense Council has announced its support of a bill introduced today by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) that would assist developing countries with meeting their energy needs with alternatives to both proliferation-prone nuclear energy and costly and polluting imported petroleum-based fuels.

Akaka’s bill, the Energy Development Program Implementation Act of 2009, directs the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to present Congress with a plan for working with developing countries to develop sustainable energy policies.    » read more »

Fulfilling the promise of Prague at the L’Aquila Summit

July 8, 2009 -- On April 5, 2009, in Prague, President Obama presented an ambitious three-part strategy to address the international nuclear threat: 1) proposing measures to reduce and eventually eliminate existing nuclear arsenals; 2) strengthening the Non-proliferation Treaty and halting proliferation of nuclear weapons to additional states; and 3) preventing terrorists from acquiring nuclear weapons or materials.

Today, the G8 leaders endorsed that strategy and released a statement that:

Moving Toward a World Without Nuclear Weapons

* Calls on all States to meet in full their arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation commitments,    » read more »

June 4, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), George V. Voinovich (R-OH), and Thomas R. Carper (D-DE) sent a letter today requesting that the Department of State provide an update on its actions and future plans to address proliferation risks with the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Technical Cooperation (TC) Program.

A March 2009 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report identified these risks, which include program funding going to U.S.-designated state sponsors of terrorism including Iran, Syria, Cuba, and Sudan; limited information sharing concerning proposed TC projects; and a lack of formal guidance and accountability in the TC fellows program.    » read more »

June 3, 2009 -- "I welcome Senator McCain’s important statement on President Reagan’s legacy and the need to move toward a world free of nuclear weapons.

"In my speech in Prague, I outlined my agenda for keeping the American people safe from the dangers posed by nuclear weapons, and I am grateful to John McCain for his leadership on these critical issues.

"I have outlined an ambitious strategy for promoting arms control and preventing nuclear terrorism and proliferation, which is already bearing fruit.

"I look forward to working with Senator McCain and the entire Congress to ensure that we accomplish these goals together for the American people and the security of the entire planet.

Source: White House

June 2, 2009 -- Senator Mark Begich released the following statement in response to news that North Korea is preparing to test an advanced missile capable of traveling 4,000 miles, a distance that would put population centers in Alaska and U.S. bases on the Pacific island of Guam within striking distance:

"The latest action by North Korea reinforces the need for us to complete the fielding of the final 14 interceptors at Fort Greely for a total of 40. I made the case yesterday to Defense Secretary Gates on our tour at Greely, and I will continue to push for full funding of this program as we need a fully deployed system to adequately protect Alaska, Hawaii and the rest of the country against rogue nations like North Korea.    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) joined six members of the House Committee on Homeland Security in releasing a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) entitled "Nuclear Forensics: Comprehensive Interagency Plan Needed to Address Human Capital Issues (GAO-09-527R)."    » read more »

May 25, 2009 -- President Obama spoke today with Japanese Prime Minister Aso to review the situation following North Korea's nuclear test.

The President underscored that North Korea's nuclear test was a clear violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions and therefore warranted a collective response by the international community.

The two leaders agreed that continued close bilateral cooperation is imperative, and decided to intensify coordination with the Republic of Korea as well as with China and Russia. They pledged to work closely in the United Nations Security Council to obtain a resolution with concrete measures to curtail North Korea's nuclear and missile activities.    » read more »

May 25, 2009 -- The President spoke to Republic of Korea President Lee Myung-bak this evening to consult and coordinate our reaction to the North Korean nuclear test.

The two Presidents agreed that the test was a reckless violation of international law that compels action in response. They agreed to work closely together to seek and support a strong United Nations Security Council resolution with concrete measures to curtail North Korea's nuclear and missile activities.

President Obama assured President Lee of the unequivocal commitment of the United States to the defense of the Republic of Korea. President Obama expressed his appreciation to President Lee for the decision by the Republic of Korea to join the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI).    » read more »

05/26/2009 -- WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $1 billion in compensation and medical benefits to 9,134 Tennessee residents under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).

The act was created to assist those individuals who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry. Survivors of such individuals may also be eligible for benefits. Since the implementation of the act, the Labor Department has paid 51,331 claimants more than $4.8 billion in compensation and medical benefits nationwide.    » read more »