House Votes to Block Funding for US Nuclear Test
Bill contrasts with Senate version, which funded a test
Jason Ditz
In a 227-179 vote Monday, the House passed an amendment to the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) specifically forbidding any spending to carry out a nuclear weapons test. President Trump is reportedly keen to conduct such a test.
The vote passed heavily on party lines, and will set up a fight to reconcile this NDAA with the Senate version, as the Senate’s version has an amendment from Sen. Cotton (R-AK) that set aside $10 million specially to reduce the time required to conduct the test.
The US hasn’t conducted a test in decades, but President Trump sees a quick test as leverage to try to get his way on nuclear arms limitation talks, which have been stalled on US demands that China agree to participate.
A nuclear test is likely to fuel a strong international backlash, and provoke other nations to test. It will also make it difficult for the US to criticize other nations for their own nuclear development, when they are flagrantly ignoring international norms.
The vote passed heavily on party lines, and will set up a fight to reconcile this NDAA with the Senate version, as the Senate’s version has an amendment from Sen. Cotton (R-AK) that set aside $10 million specially to reduce the time required to conduct the test.
The US hasn’t conducted a test in decades, but President Trump sees a quick test as leverage to try to get his way on nuclear arms limitation talks, which have been stalled on US demands that China agree to participate.
A nuclear test is likely to fuel a strong international backlash, and provoke other nations to test. It will also make it difficult for the US to criticize other nations for their own nuclear development, when they are flagrantly ignoring international norms.
posted by Satish Sharma at
06:52
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