Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), who today served as Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee's Strategic Forces Subcommittee, made the following statement at the opening of the subcommittee's hearing on the National Nuclear Security Administration's management of its National Security Laboratories:

"I would like to welcome the directors of our national laboratories and express my appreciation to all the men and women who work across the entire nuclear weapons enterprise – without them we could not maintain a strong and effective nuclear deterrent.

"There is little disagreement that the nuclear weapons complex must be modernized. A November 17, 2010 White House Fact Sheet underscored the commitment of the president to ensure the modernization of our nuclear infrastructure by increasing funding by $4.1 billion over the next five years (FY12-16) for NNSA Weapons Activities. This included funding necessary to complete construction of uranium processing and plutonium handling facilities. 

"Unfortunately, due to a combination of congressional funding cuts and re-ordered administration priorities, today we are some 34 percent (or $1.4 billion) below that stated commitment to add $4.1 billion.

"According to the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, General Kehler, 'fiscal uncertainly remains a primary concern across the budget, and some programs have the potential to accrue additional risk in subsequent years if projected efficiencies in the nuclear weapons complex are not realized or if FY14 appropriations are significantly less than the FY14 budget request.' 

"I will be anxious to hear how these funding shortfalls impact the laboratories, and whether the Lab Directors believe they can carry out their primary missions of certifying the stockpile, extending the life of our aging nuclear weapons, and building a truly responsive nuclear infrastructure.

"I look forward to their testimony. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.