On the recordMarch 23, 2016
As the only physicist remaining in the United States Congress, I feel a special responsibility to speak out on the importance of strengthening global nuclear security. In just a few days, the United States will host the fourth and final Nuclear Security Summit. World leaders from more than 50 countries will convene in Washington, D.C., to participate in a global dialogue to reinforce our commitment at the highest levels to securing nuclear materials. To date, these summits have been instrumental in achieving critical nuclear security objectives, such as minimizing the use of highly enriched uranium in reactors around the world, and enhancing membership in international organizations like the IAEA. But more remains to be done. It is no secret that rogue regimes and clandestine organizations continue to exhibit the ambition to acquire nuclear materials that can be used to create crude radiological dirty bombs or nuclear weapons. I am, however, optimistic that with our allies and partners around the world, we will continue to develop new and innovative ideas to secure vulnerable nuclear material and make the world a safer place. ____________________
