Success! House Victory on Nuclear Nonproliferation

On July 13, the House approved a floor amendment to the energy and water appropriations bill for fiscal year 2012 to add $35 million to the Energy Department’s Global Threat Reduction Initiative, which will help eliminate vulnerable nuclear material at an accelerated rate.

The amendment was offered by Reps. Jeff Fortenberry (NE) and Loretta Sanchez (CA) and was supported by Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ), the chair of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, and Rep. Pete Visclosky (IN), the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

The $35 million added to sustain vital efforts to secure vulnerable nuclear materials and prevent nuclear terrorism is a significant victory given the current fiscal environment.

The Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee is slated to draft its version of the bill in September. This victory in the House will provide strong political momentum for the Global Threat Reduction Initiative to receive full funding. The subcommittee is chaired by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (CA) and the ranking Republican is Lamar Alexander (TN).