Roy Cooper: “I thank my friend and colleague from Washington State for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the work of the…”

“I thank my friend and colleague from Washington State for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the work of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee. I would particularly like to thank Chairman Rogers for his friendship and bipartisan leadership, as well as to thank all of the members of the subcommittee. I support the many provisions in the bill that strengthen our national security. The bill, for example, maintains a safe, secure and reliable nuclear arsenal while improving the effective oversight of the National Nuclear Security Administration's cost assessments, efforts and planning. The bill supports nuclear nonproliferation efforts, including an increase of $23 million to reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism and the spread of nuclear weapons. The bill increases funding for regional missile defense assets to protect our deployed forces and allies, including important cooperation with Israel against short- and medium-range missile threats. The bill authorizes defense environmental cleanup activities; and, finally, the bill supports investments in military and space assets. However, I also should report that I do have reservations about several provisions in the bill that, in my opinion, undermine national security and waste taxpayer dollars. For example, the bill blocks prudent nuclear weapons reductions, including New START reductions, which would strengthen strategic stability.…”