{"id":84801,"date":"2020-07-20T22:37:54","date_gmt":"2020-07-20T22:37:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/07\/20\/house-democrats-block-funding-for-nuclear-weapons-tests\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:37:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:37:47","slug":"house-democrats-block-funding-for-nuclear-weapons-tests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/07\/20\/house-democrats-block-funding-for-nuclear-weapons-tests\/","title":{"rendered":"House Democrats vote to block funding for nuclear weapons tests"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 No funding would be available for live nuclear weapons testing under an amendment the House adopted to its version of the annual defense policy bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The amendment from Rep. Ben McAdams, D-Utah, was adopted, 227-179, in a mostly party-line vote. The House is expected to vote Tuesday to pass the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The amendment marks the second rebuke of the Trump administration amid reports<\/a> it\u2019s mulling a resumption of nuclear weapons testing<\/a> for the first time since 1992. The House Appropriations Committee passed<\/a> a similar ban earlier this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The amendment\u2019s adoption will likely make it harder for House Republicans to vote for the House\u2019s FY21 NDAA, and it creates a roadblock for negotiations to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Senate Armed Services Committee\u2019s version of the NDAA set aside $10 million to speed up preparations in case the U.S. decides to resume nuclear testing. Since 1992, the U.S. has relied on simulations and non-explosive testing to assess the health and capabilities of the nuclear arsenal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExplosive nuclear testing is not necessary to ensure our stockpile remains safe and nothing in this amendment would change that,\u201d McAdams said in a floor speech ahead of the vote. \u201cExplosive nuclear testing causes irreparable harm to human health and to our environment. and jeopardizes the U.S. leadership role on nuclear nonproliferation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t