FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2003
NORTON INTRODUCES NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT BILL
NECESSARY FOR DOMESTIC NEEDS AND TO CONTAIN NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION
Washington, DC--Last night, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes
Norton (D-DC) introduced the Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion
Act of 2003 (NDECA). NDECA will require the United States to disable and
dismantle its nuclear weapons when all other nations possessing nuclear weapons
enact laws to do the same. NDECA further provides that when our nuclear weapons
are dismantled, the resources used to support nuclear weapons programs would
be diverted to our growing human and infrastructure needs, such as housing,
health care, Social Security and the environment. Norton has introduced this
bill every year following a ballot initiative in the District in 1993.
Norton said: “In addition to the economic cost of nuclear
weapons, the weapons continue to be an increasingly destabilizing force in
world affairs. The list lengthens every few months. North Korea, at least
in part in response to stepped up aggressive talk and policies from the U.S.,
is expanding its nuclear capabilities. Following the Iraq War, Iran appears
to be pursuing greater nuclear capability and resisting inspections. India
and Pakistan have moved back from the precipice of several years ago but
each remains poised with nuclear weapons. The United States and the world
community urgently need to redouble their efforts to obtain commitments to
push back the new surge for nuclear proliferation. Our country would be able
to better dissuade other nations who aspire to become nuclear powers if we
ourselves are willing to take greater initiative in dismantling our own nuclear
weapons program. It is noteworthy that the Senate in March ratified the Moscow
Treaty, which provides that by 2012, both the U.S. and Russia reduce their
long-range warheads two-thirds from approximately 6,000 warheads each to
2,200.”
Norton said that with 40 million people still without
health care, Social Security without the benefits for the huge baby boomer
generation, and an economy teetering from the loss of 3 million jobs and
millions more Americans pushed back into poverty during the last three years,
the time has come to begin the transfer of nuclear weapons funds to urgent
domestic needs. In the 56-year period between 1940 to 1996, nuclear weapons
spending exceeded the combined total federal spending for education, training,
employment, and social services; agriculture; natural resources and the environment;
general science, space and technology; community and regional development
(including disaster relief); law enforcement; and energy production and regulation.
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