William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry: “I share the desire of the gentlewoman from California that we become more energy independent, but it would be a great…”

“I share the desire of the gentlewoman from California that we become more energy independent, but it would be a great mistake to take further funds away from our nuclear weapons program. What the gentleman from New York may not realize is our existing nuclear weapons are 18 years old and aging. They were designed to last about 12 years. We have decided as a country that we are not going to conduct nuclear tests, but some way we have to make sure these weapons continue to be safe, reliable, and secure. If we do not have the funds to conduct surveillance and to conduct scientific tests, to see whether these weapons will continue to be reliable, the only option for us is to go back to nuclear testing. I am afraid amendments like this which would reduce the funds available to just make sure what we have now is safe, secure, and reliable drives us inexorably back towards nuclear testing which is not an option I suggest the gentleman would like. I oppose the amendment; and I suggest my colleagues do likewise.”