May 29, 2014

HOUSE DEMS PUSH FOR NATO NUCLEAR COST SHARING

By ExchangeMonitor

A pair of House Democrats are seeking to have NATO member states foot part of the bill for “sustaining and forward-deploying” nuclear weapons in Europe. Reps. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) filed an amendment that will be considered by the House Rules Committee today for debate on the House Floor as lawmakers take up the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act. The amendment would require written certification from the Administration that a “proportional share” of the cost of nuclear weapons deployed in Europe is being assumed by NATO allies and it would also require the President to submit a request to the North Atlantic Council for “consideration of expenses regarding the deployment of nuclear weapons.” The costs would include the refurbishment of the B61nuclear bomb, which is deployed in Europe as part of the United States’ extended nuclear deterrent.

The NATO nuclear cost-sharing amendment is one of a handful of proposed amendments that deal with nuclear issues. A separate amendment drafted by Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) would prevent the Administration from using funds to implement the New START Treaty as long as Russia is occupying Ukrainian territory and in violation of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty and the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. Another amendment filed late by Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) would create an Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation to serve as the “principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense on nuclear security and nonproliferation.”

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