Senator has introduced legislation that would save $100 billion over ten years through nuclear spending reductions

 
Washington (October 31, 2017) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, called Trump administration plans to “modernize” America’s nuclear weapons arsenal a budgetary boondoggle in light of a new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CB0) that the 30-year cost of updating all three legs of the nuclear triad is $1.2 trillion. Senator Markey and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) have introduced the Smarter Approach to Nuclear Expenditures (SANE) Act, which would save $100 billion over ten years. The legislation calls for the cancellation of a new nuclear air-launched cruise missile and a new generation of intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as other commonsense steps to reduce costs and dial back dependence on unnecessary and dangerous nuclear weapons systems.
 
“The Trump administration’s nuclear modernization effort is nothing more than a budgetary boondoggle,” said Senator Markey. “The nuclear triad is not a luxury real estate development, and plans to gold plate all three of its legs are excessive, redundant, and dangerous. Instead of wasting taxpayer money on new nuclear weapons that could trigger a global nuclear arms race, the United States should exercise international leadership by cutting unnecessary and destabilizing nuclear weapons systems. In the 21st century, our national security would be better served by funding education, not annihilation.”
 
In March, Senator Markey introduced legislation that would limit funding for a new nuclear-armed air-launched missile, also called the Long-Range Standoff Weapon (LRSO).
 

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