Success: New nuclear weapons defeated in Congress

We cemented a key victory last week when Congress voted to redirect all $33 million that Bush had requested for the Reliable Replacement Warhead, a new nuclear weapon. During the year-long budget process, three of the four key committees in Congress cut the funding for the Reliable Replacement Warhead. The Senate Armed Services Committee was the odd man out, having left $10 million to keep the program alive when it looked at the funding in May.

But Congress made it clear last week that it does not support new nuclear weapons. The House and Senate agreed on a compromise bill that passed both chambers. The final FY 2009 Defense Authorization bill has no funding for the Reliable Replacement Warhead, and actually increases funding for non-proliferation programs.

Thanks to everyone who wrote letters, made calls, and sent emails to Congress because you helped us to stop a new generation of nuclear weapons!