House and Senate conferees amended fiscal 2004 energy and defense authorization bills to reduce funding for research on nuclear weapons such as the "bunker buster," to create funding for studying the environmental impact of nuclear weapons, and to restrict the Energy Department from producing any low-yield nuclear weapons without another resolution from Congress.
"The funding cuts illustrate the frustration held by many members of Congress concerning the U.S. nuclear weapons programs," said David Culp of the Friends Committee on National Legislation. "At the same time the administration is criticizing others for pursuing illicit weapons, it is upgrading its own nuclear weapons complex. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are questioning the wisdom of these ‘do what I say, not what I do’ policies."
World religious leaders called upon the Bush administration in March to take a leading role in nuclear disarmament. This legislation is considered a great victory given the current political climate. FCNL leaders credit the influence of phone calls, faxes, and letters to Congress and encourage continued vigilance.
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