Pete Domenici: “I rise today to discuss a recent report released by The Russia Task Force entitled ``A Report Card on the Department of…”

“I rise today to discuss a recent report released by The Russia Task Force entitled ``A Report Card on the Department of Energy's Nonproliferation Programs with Russia.'' This bipartisan Task Force was co-chaired by Lloyd Cutler and Howard Baker. The report concludes that proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or weapons-usable material is ``the most urgent unmet national security threat for the United States today.'' This conclusion restates similar conclusions of other reports and analyses done over the past several years. The book Avoiding Nuclear Anarchy published in 1996 drew a similar conclusion. A January 2000 Center for Strategic and International Study report, ``Managing the Global Nuclear Materials Threat'' provided a concise analysis and numerous policy recommendations of this ``most devastating security threat.'' The U.S. response has not been and still is not commensurate to the threat. The Cooperative Threat Reduction programs have achieved much and contributed greatly to U.S. security. Still there is always room for innovative approaches to remaining issues and faster progress. The Department of Energy programs--from Materials Protection, Control and Accounting to the Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention--have also enhanced U.S. security. But their work is not even close to complete, and a ``clear and present danger'' looms.”