John Spratt: “I rise to commend both the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon)…”

“I rise to commend both the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) for reaching agreement on what I think is a good amendment to an amendment. Basically the Nuclear Posture Review raised more questions than it answered; among them, why does it take 10 years to draw down the operationally deployed force; why do we have to maintain a responsive force of the magnitude that was indicated? We may have as many warheads actually deployed in 2012 as we do today. How costly will it be to maintain this force? These are all questions that we need to ask directly, and that is what this amendment will do. It will put these questions back to DOD and get a further addendum or response to clarify NPR on these critical points. Mr. Chairman, I commend the gentlewoman for offering this amendment, and support it fully.”