House Bill Highlights Wasteful Nuclear Programs

NDAA nuclear amendments - The House passed two amendments to the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act offered by Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) that highlight the enormous costs of nuclear weapons programs.

--“I’m glad that Congress took a much needed step towards smarter spending by including my two amendments that promote a more modest and responsible nuclear weapons budget,” Rep. Quigley said. Full press release here: http://1.usa.gov/1ESUkZA

--Rep. Quigley’s first amendment requires the Defense Department to submit a report justifying their plan to buy 1,000 new nuclear-armed cruise missiles at an estimated cost of $9 billion. The second amendment requires the Air Force to submit a cost comparison of extending the life of current Minuteman III ICBMs versus procuring an entirely new missile. The House passed the NDAA on Friday and the bill now heads to the Senate.

Iran and North Korea - Secretary of State John Kerry suggested that the Iran nuclear deal could demonstrate the benefits of negotiations to North Korea regarding its own nuclear program at a joint press conference with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday.

--"Your economy can do better, your country can do better, and you can enter into good standing with the rest of the global community by recognizing that there is a verifiable, irreversible, denuclearization for weaponization, even as you can have a peaceful nuclear power program," Secretary Kerry said. Full transcript here: http://1.usa.gov/1ebh0in

--See Also: “Kerry Threatens Tougher Sanctions on ‘Grisly’ North Korean Regime,” by Sangwon Yoon and Sam Kim for Bloomberg Business. http://bloom.bg/1LdL6fS

Tweet - @USNPT: Here we go, the final week of #NPT2015 is about to begin!! We're making progress, but it is going to be a busy week! http://1.usa.gov/1HpY4bT

Trident whistleblower - In an 18-page report released online, Royal Navy sailor William McNeilly raised concerns regarding the safety and security of Britain’s Trident nuclear missile submarines. The report describes a “complete lack of concern for security” regarding the British nuclear deterrent, reports Adam Withnall for The Independent.

--“If airport security and nuclear weapon security were both compared to prisons,” McNeilly writes, “the airport would be Alcatraz and base security would be house arrest.” http://ind.pn/1PtN6GE

Tweet - @ArmsControlNow :Missed #ArmsControl15: video of keynote speaker @ColinKahl on the #IranDeal is available. http://bit.ly/ArmsControl15

Pakistan’s nukes for sale? - As the U.S. and Iran move closer to a comprehensive nuclear deal that would allow them to retain limited enrichment capability, Saudi Arabia has indicated that it would acquire similar nuclear technology. Now, anonymous American officials have suggested that Saudi Arabia has already purchased nuclear weaponry or technology from Pakistan, reports Yasmin Kaye for

--Lt. Gen Khalid Kidwai, a Pakistani military officer who worked on the country’s nuclear program, denied that Pakistan had ever transferred materials or technology to Saudi Arabia. Full story here: http://bit.ly/1LdAgGT

U.S.-Gulf summit - In an effort to reassure Gulf allies as the Iran talks move forward, last week’s summit between President Obama and Gulf Arab leaders reinforced security cooperation and arms sales between the the U.S. and its Gulf Allies, Howard LaFranchi reports for The Christian Science Monitor.

--In addition to promising improved intelligence and maritime cooperation, the US committed to helping the Gulf states implement a regional missile defense system, LaFranchi reports. Full story here: http://bit.ly/1LdGNBf

Quick Hits:

--“Iran Prepared for all Scenarios in Nuclear Talks: Negotiator,” by Shadia Nasralla fo Reuters. http://reut.rs/1FtGtzD

--“Russia Threatens to Build More Nuclear Weapons,” by Zachary Keck for The National Interest. http://bit.ly/1FjU5dy

--“Why Russia Fears an Iran Nuclear Deal,” by Elena Holodny for Business Insider. http://read.bi/1PtXEWo

--“Peace Activists Who Vandalized Y-12 Released From Prison,” for WBIR news. http://on.wbir.com/1EPZR2Y

Events:

--“Deterrent Options for the Future,” remarks by Linton Brooks, former NNSA Administrator, at the Huessy Congressional breakfast series. May 19th from 8:00-9:00am at the Capitol Hill Club. http://conta.cc/1DKftpf

--"Does A Modern Deterrent Matter? The Case of Ballistic Missile Defense and Nuclear Forces,” remarks by Frank Miller, Scowcroft Group, at the Huessy Congressional Breakfast Seminar Series. May 22nd from 8:00-9:00 am the Capitol Hill Club. http://conta.cc/1FfEoXT

--”Europe and the Iran Nuclear Deal,” with French Ambassador Gerard Aud, British Ambassador Peter Westmacott, and German Ambassador Peter Wittig at the Atlantic Council. May 26th at 10:00am. http://bit.ly/1Hq0wPI

--P5+1 and Iran continue negotiations on an agreement on Iran's nuclear program. May 20, Vienna.