Wayne Allard: “I would like to briefly point out some of the things we had in the Defense authorization bill as it applied to a number…”

“I would like to briefly point out some of the things we had in the Defense authorization bill as it applied to a number of areas affecting nuclear weapons. The section that dealt with the developing low-yield nuclear weapon--section 3131 of the Defense authorization bill--repeals the ban on research and development of low-yield nuclear weapons. But that same section also includes a provision which states that nothing in this repeal should be ``construed as authorizing the testing, acquisition, or deployment of a low-yield nuclear weapon.'' Also included in that same provision is a section that limits DOE from beginning phase 3. Phase 3 is the full-scale engineering development or any subsequent phase of a low-yield nuclear weapon ``unless specifically authorized by the Congress.'' Finally, also in that same section 3131, a report is to be submitted to determine if the repeal of the ban on research and development of low-yield nuclear weapons will affect the ability of the United States to achieve its nonproliferation objectives.”