Arms Control Association Advisory: New Nuclear Weapons vs. Nonproliferation -- The Choice Before Congress

9/11/2003

From: Christine Kucia of the Arms Control Association, 202-463-8270, ext. 103

News Advisory:

EVENT: New Nuclear Weapons vs. Nonproliferation: The Choice Before Congress

Teleconference Briefing Session with

Dr. Sidney Drell, Professor Emeritus, Stanford Linear Accelerator Laboratory; and Daryl Kimball, Executive Director, Arms Control Association

WHEN: Monday, September 15, 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

One of the most hotly contested national security policy debates in Congress is centered on the Bush administration's controversial proposals for new research on development of new types of "low-yield" nuclear weapons and new nuclear "bunker-buster" capabilities.

On Monday the Senate will begin debate on the Bush administration's funding proposals for new nuclear weapons research, which are part of the 2002 National Security Strategy. Meanwhile, the House and Senate continue to wrangle over differences concerning the Pentagon's related proposal to repeal the 1994 law prohibiting research leading to the development of new, low-yield nuclear weapons.

Dr. Drell -- a theoretical physicist and founding member of JASON, a group of academic scientists who consult for the government on national security issues-will outline the technical challenges and limited military utility of the proposed new nuclear weapons, as well as the impact their development may have on global efforts to curb nuclear proliferation. For more information, see: http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2003(Under)03/drelletal(Under)mar0 3.asp.

Space in the teleconference is limited.

RSVP by 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 15 to Christine Kucia at 202-463-8270, ext. 103.

This event is co-sponsored by the Arms Control Lobbying Collaborative, a project supported by The Ploughshares Fund and the Steven and Michelle Kirsch Foundation. The Arms Control Association is an independent, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to promoting public understanding of and support for effective arms control policies.