Ike Skelton, Chairman
House Armed Services Committee
Rep. John Spratt
Opening Statement
Hearing on the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States Report
May 6, 2009
“Good afternoon. Chairman Skelton is unable to be here, but I am pleased to have the opportunity to chair this important hearing in his place.
“Led by the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, which is ably chaired by Ellen Tauscher, this committee has a long tradition of attention to the United States’ strategic posture, and nuclear weapons policy in particular.
“The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 called for establishment of this commission – a congressionally-appointed, bipartisan commission to analyze and make recommendations on U.S. strategic posture.
“I am pleased to welcome the commission chairman and vice chairman – Bill Perry and Jim Schlesinger – to this hearing. You deserve a lot of credit for leading the impressive but diverse group Congress appointed.
“In the interim report you released last December, I agreed with your broad definition of strategic posture, and the priority you placed on dealing with the most urgent post-Cold War threat – what you termed in that report ‘catastrophic terrorism.’
“You went on to write, and I quote, that ‘a terror group cannot make a nuclear bomb from scratch, so the best defense against this threat is to prevent terror groups from acquiring a nuclear bomb or the fissile material from which they could perhaps make a bomb.’
“I have been making this argument since the demise of the Soviet Union, and I commend you for emphasizing it in your interim report.
“I have not yet had the chance to read your final report in its entirety, but I can see that it similarly places our most pressing strategic challenges in the right context.
“My friend and colleague Ellen Tauscher really was the driving force behind the legislation that established this commission, so I want to now yield to her for any opening remarks she has.”
House Armed Services Committee
Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher
Opening Statement
Hearing on the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States Report
May 6, 2009
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and good afternoon. This hearing will cover important ground.
“Led by the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, which I have the privilege of chairing, the House Armed Services Committee has long called for a vigorous and open debate on the future direction of the U.S. strategic posture and a fresh examination of our nuclear weapons policy.
“In the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which the House approved almost exactly two years ago, we created a congressionally-appointed, bipartisan commission to analyze and make recommendations on the U.S. strategic posture.
“The commission was designed to both foster and frame a debate on these critical issues. It was also designed to help forge a consensus on U.S. nuclear weapons policy that has been lacking for too long.
“It was with great pride and anticipation that, just fourteen months ago, this committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee announced the names of the twelve individuals who agreed to serve on the commission.
“I see several of the commissioners here, and I want to thank you all for your service. I am delighted to welcome the commission chairman and vice chairman – Dr. William Perry and Dr. James Schlesinger – to this hearing. Both of you brought a great wealth of experience and expertise and your service could not be more important or timely.
“As the commission noted in both its interim and final reports, what the U.S. does with its nuclear weapons, and how it does it, is linked to our ability to dissuade other nations from pursuing nuclear weapons, and to our efforts to stem the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
“Of course, other nations will continue to make their own decisions about whether to pursue nuclear weapons for many reasons.
“As the Commission has noted, as long as there are nuclear weapons, the United States must maintain a strong, safe, secure and reliable nuclear deterrent.
“But as you also have said, how we manage and maintain our nuclear arsenal directly impacts how credible we can be when pressing for non-proliferation.
“We have committed under Article Six of the Non-Proliferation Treaty to work in good faith toward nuclear disarmament. Both President Obama and Russian President Medvedev have recently reaffirmed that pledge.
“So the question we basically put before the Strategic Posture Commission was how do we craft a nuclear weapons strategy that balances these fundamental challenges?
“How do we maintain an effective and credible deterrent while trying to reduce our nuclear arsenal and persuade other nations not to pursue nuclear weapons?
“Each of you has spoken eloquently about this need for balance in your testimony, and the commission’s final report reflects that challenge as well.
“Dr. Schlesinger, I appreciate your emphasis on the stabilizing effect and non-proliferation benefits that accrue from the extended deterrence we provide our allies.
“Dr. Perry, I am grateful for your forceful observations about the urgency of our efforts to stem the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Let me recite a part of your testimony:
… all commissioners accept the view that the U.S. must support programs that both lead and hedge; that is, programs that move in two parallel paths – one path that protects our security by maintaining deterrence, and the other which protects our security by reducing the danger of nuclear weapons.
“That is the heart of the matter. I want to commend you for your leadership in steering the commission to consensus.
“Thank you again for your work and for being here today. I agree with you, Dr. Perry, that we are at a moment of both opportunity and urgency, and I look forward to a good discussion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”
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