John Spratt: “the devastation wreaked by terrorists on September 11, 2001 was horrendous. But had the terrorists used nuclear weapons…”

“the devastation wreaked by terrorists on September 11, 2001 was horrendous. But had the terrorists used nuclear weapons, the death and destruction would have been even worse. The one essential element terrorists lack in making nuclear weapons is fissile materials, and we should make every effort to ensure that they do not obtain them. Only days before September 11, smugglers were apprehended in Turkey trying to move weapons-grade uranium out of Russia. This was not the first instance, and there is no doubt that terrorists and their sponsors are trying. There is however, reason to doubt that we are doing all that we should to keep such materials and nuclear know-how out of their hands. The Department of Energy shares the non-proliferation campaign with the Department of Defense and focuses on its particular realm of expertise: nuclear materials. Despite the gravity of this mission, this bill follows President Bush's request, and without explanation, cuts the DOE budget for stopping the spread of nuclear materials.”