REP LIEU VOTES AGAINST FUNDING FOR NEW NUCLEAR WEAPON

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after voting against funding to develop a new low-yield nuclear weapon. The funding, which was included in a minibus spending bill package, appropriated $65 million for developing and producing a low-yield nuclear warhead. The so-called tactical weapon could lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons and increase the risk of grave error.

"Today, I voted against expanding the U.S. nuclear arsenal because I could not vote for final passage of a bill that would make nuclear war easier.Without this provision, I would've gladly voted for this spending bill and I sincerely appreciate Democratic Leadership's hard work to come up with a bill with so many strong provisions. My decision to vote no comes down to my concern that funding the development of low-yield nuclear weapons with no established need or strategy puts us at greater risk for catastrophe."

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