Reps. Quigley and Polis Move to Cut $23.7 Million in Wasteful Nuclear Bomb Funding

WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05) and Jared Polis (CO-02) offered an amendment to cut $23.7 million above what the Department of Energy (DOE) requested for the B61 nuclear bomb and apply the savings toward deficit reduction. The funds allocated in the FY14 Energy & Water Appropriations Bill were above the 45 percent increase requested by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to upgrade the B61.

Reps. Quigley and Polis each spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday during debate of the amendment.

"At a time when we are slashing funds for disease research at the NIH, failing to fund our crumbling infrastructure, and under investing in our children's education, we are increasing funding to a keep hundreds of nuclear bombs in operation that we will never use," said Rep. Quigley. "The Cold War is over….This amendment is a tiny, thoughtful cut to an outsized nuclear budget for weapons that do little to keep us safe." For video and transcript of Rep. Quigley's speech, please click here.

"The B61 Missile Program is a relic of our Cold War policy. Unfortunately, this year's Energy and Water spending bill increased funding for this program despite the fact that the agency did not request this money and does not need it," said Rep. Polis. "That is why I was pleased to offer an amendment with Representative Quigley, which reduces funding for the B61 missile program by $23.7 million in line with the agency's budget request, and puts those savings towards deficit reduction." For video of Rep. Polis' speech, please click here.

Rep. Quigley has continually advocated for overhauling unlimited defense spending and has previously offered legislation to cut unnecessary spending on the DDG-51 Destroyer. He is also the author of Reinventing Government: The Federal Budget, a report which offers 60 recommendations to save $2 trillion over the next 10 years.

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