I am very relieved that the House of Representatives recently cut most of the money requested for research on new nuclear weapons in the energy and water appropriations bill. I urge you to act with similar conscience and actively support amendments to cut the funding for new nuclear weapons in the Senate version of the energy and water appropriations bill (S 1424). New nuclear weapons research would likely lead to further proliferation and undermine U.S. security.
The fact that the U.S., an unrivaled global military power, continues to rely on nuclear weapons for its security, reinforces the idea that these weapons can lead to national security. How can the U.S. demand that Iran, North Korea, and others disarm if the U.S. is continuing to develop its arsenal? If the U.S. wants lasting peace and security, new nuclear weapons research is not the answer.