Ronny Jackson: “The National Nuclear Security Administration's Pantex plant in Amarillo, Texas, is one of our Nation's most valuable and…”

“The National Nuclear Security Administration's Pantex plant in Amarillo, Texas, is one of our Nation's most valuable and vital military assets as it is our strategic force's only nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility. The saying within the military's nuclear enterprise is ``all roads lead to Pantex'' because this site in my district is a mandatory stop for every single nuclear weapon within our inventory. This amendment will prohibit the Biden administration from halting construction of the much-needed High Explosive Synthesis, Formulation, and Production Facility at Pantex. This major construction project will enhance our nuclear deterrence capability by allowing the NNSA to modernize and scale its high explosive production capabilities to meet pressing and urgent stockpile requirements. Right now, we rely on a single, external vendor for large-scale synthesis, formulation, and blending for high explosive products. There have been repeated issues with this vendor, including lack of prioritization and even late deliveries. This presents a single point of failure in the nuclear enterprise which jeopardizes our nuclear weapons production. Once this new facility is constructed at Pantex, NNSA will be able to meet all long-term high explosive material needs for the weapons stockpile while successfully mitigating nearly all risks associated with production.…”