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White House an Republicans at odds over Nuclear Security Provisions

GOP, White House Clash over Nuclear Security Provisions in Defense Bill National Jurnal, By Douglas P. Guarino 20 May 14, As annual defense authorization legislation nears the House floor, the Obama administration and House Republicans continue to clash over key nuclear weapons and nonproliferation issues.

In a statement of administration policy released Monday evening, the White House says it “strongly objects” to bill language that would prevent the Energy Department from continuing to conduct nuclear security work in Russia until the Ukraine crisis — and concerns about potential Russian violations of various arms control treaties — are resolved.

The work includes efforts to secure buildings in Russia where sensitive nuclear materials are stored, among other projects. “Cooperation with Russia remains an essential element to the global effort to address the threat posed by nuclear terrorism,” the statement says, echoing sentiments of U.S. Undersecretary of State Rose Gottemoeller. The State Department official said earlier this month that stopping such collaboration would be tantamount to shooting “ourselves in the foot.”

According to the White House, “Critical bilateral nuclear nonproliferation activities are continuing in a number of key areas, and nuclear security is of paramount importance.”

Similarly, the administration “strongly objects to the significant reduction of funds” the House bill seeks to make to the Energy Department’s Second Line of Defense program, which aims to prevent the smuggling of dangerous nuclear materials across borders.

Congressional Democrats and nuclear watchdog groups, meanwhile, have complained that the Obama administration has not been requesting enough funds for the program in recent years………http://www.nationaljournal.com/global-security-newswire/gop-white-house-clash-over-nuclear-security-provisions-in-defense-bill-20140520

May 21, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general