Salud Ortiz Carbajal: “I would like to thank Ranking Member Smith, Chairman Thornberry, and the committee staff for working with me to include…”

“I would like to thank Ranking Member Smith, Chairman Thornberry, and the committee staff for working with me to include language that brings attention to the threat of nuclear proliferation. Currently, nine countries possess over 15,000 nuclear weapons, and the United States plans to spend $1.2 trillion over the next 30 years to upgrade and expand its nuclear stockpile. As we build up our nuclear arsenal, we are increasing the risk of these destructive weapons ending up in the hands of terrorists. The language I included in this bill stresses the importance of addressing this danger and requires the Secretary of Defense to explain how the Department of Defense is responding to this threat. When Secretary Mattis testified before our committee, I asked him about this ongoing threat and he told me that nuclear proliferation has not received enough attention over quite a few years. This amendment is a welcome first step in the development of a robust strategy against nuclear proliferation. {time} 1445”