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United States I: Nuclear Weapon Research Survives First Round of Budget Negotiations By David Ruppe The attempts were made at a subcommittee markup session of the fiscal 2004 defense authorization bill introduced by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.). The full committee is scheduled to consider the language next week. The Strategic Forces Subcommittee, consisting of eight Republicans and six Democrats, rejected an amendment offered by Representative Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) to prohibit fiscal 2004 funds from being used for research and development of new nuclear weapons. The language would have restricted how $6 million requested by the administration for an “Advanced Concepts Initiative” would have been spent. The committee also rejected a proposal by Tauscher and Representative John Spratt (D-S.C.) to require the president to provide at least 18 months advance notice to Congress before conducting a test. The amendment also would have required the administration to explain why a test was necessary, including why other means of evaluation were insufficient, and an assessment of the geopolitical and strategic consequences of resuming the test. Language contained in the bill, but defeated last year, would shorten the projected test preparation time from the current 32 months to 18 months. Spratt also unsuccessfully attempted to modify controversial language in the bill to repeal a 1994 law he co-authored prohibiting research and development on nuclear weapons with yields below five kilotons. The Bush administration has argued that the repeal is needed to explore the possibility of developing low-yield nuclear weapons to destroy chemical and biological facilities and for striking deeply buried, hardened bunkers. Spratt offered a proposal would have barred development but not research. He withdrew the amendment after receiving an assurance to work with committee members to find other compromise language. The committee did pass, though, an amendment offered by Representative Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) that would withhold 60 percent of money authorized for enhancing nuclear testing readiness until the Pentagon provides a report required by the defense authorization bill last year. Kathryn Crandall, an arms control analyst with the nongovernmental organization British American Security Information Council, says the outcome of the markup could signal an uphill battle for Democrats interested in blocking the legislation. “The outcome and debate of the subcommittee’s markup is certainly indicative of formidable challenges that the Democrats will face in the House and in the Senate,” she said.
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