Global Security Newswire

Two U.S. lawmakers last week created a bipartisan caucus to address nuclear terror threats to the United States (see GSN, April 2).

Representatives Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) established the Congressional Caucus on Nuclear Security to "identify the most urgent vulnerabilities and take immediate action to improve nuclear safeguards, secure fissile materials, and prevent the misuse of sensitive nuclear materials and technologies," according to a press release issued Thursday.

"Nuclear terrorism is a threat so serious in its consequences that we often shrink from contemplating it," Schiff said in the release.   "But ignoring the problem will not make it go away -- in fact, ignoring the possibility of terrorists getting hold of nuclear material or a device makes that awful prospect more likely to happen.  This caucus is going to confront the problem head-on.  We will work to raise awareness and work to implement changes in our national security policy so we never have to deal with the terrifying consequences of a nuclear event."

"The horrific consequences of a nuclear weapon explosion in America are unfathomable," Fortenberry added in the statement.  "Yet, it is becoming easier to access the technical information and materials necessary to do devastating harm.  It is my hope that this new working group will add momentum to nuclear threat reduction" (U.S. Representative Adam Schiff release, May 1).