Steven Holt: “The direction in which the administration has been leading our Nation on nuclear weapons is becoming increasingly…”

“The direction in which the administration has been leading our Nation on nuclear weapons is becoming increasingly dangerous. That is why I wrote to President Bush in April, a letter co-signed by 33 of my colleagues here, to underscore our concern that our Nation's leaders not adopt a mindset of viewing nuclear weapons as just an extension of the continuum of conventional military options available to the United States. It is important that we maintain the nuclear distinction. I rise to support this motion because it gives us the opportunity to invoke at least one cautionary restraint on this dangerous path. Both the House and Senate versions of this bill eliminate the Spratt-Furse ban that has been in place since 1993. And this Senate language, especially, would allow Pandora's box to be opened to allow, in effect, unfettered research into low-yield nuclear weapons. We should be stepping away from using tactical nuclear weapons, not moving in that direction.”