Global Security Newswire

U.S. Senators Robert Casey (D-Penn.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) have established a bipartisan caucus to address the threats of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism, Casey announced yesterday (see GSN, May 6, 2008).

The Senate Caucus on WMD Terrorism plans to hold regular meetings with "leading experts in the field on proposed policy responses to prevent, prepare for, mitigate and respond to acts of WMD terrorism," according to a statement.

“There is no greater national security danger to the American people than the threat of a terrorist group destroying an American city with a nuclear weapon. We know that groups like al-Qaeda possess the motivation, and too many states around the world maintain lax security over the fissile materials essential to a nuclear weapon,” Casey said in the statement. “In forming this caucus, I want to establish a forum to better educate senators on the scope of the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction and the very real policy steps we can take to mitigate this grave challenge.”

"We must ensure the U.S. government continues to make the prevention of, and preparedness for, bioterrorism and other WMD threats a top priority. I am pleased to help form this new Senate caucus to focus on these important national and homeland security issues and make sure we are consistently improving our level of preparedness,” Burr added in the release.

The group's members include Casey, Burr, Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), according to the statement (U.S. Senator Robert Casey release, Feb. 12).