Vice President Joe Biden recently wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal outlining the Obama administration’s nuclear policy.  In typical Obama administration fashion, he blamed the preceding administration for “the slow but steady decline in support for our nuclear stockpile and infrastructure, and for our highly trained nuclear work force.”  His claim of neglect is simply inaccurate.  President George W. Bush made several attempts to revitalize the nuclear weapons complex and exercise the highly trained work force.  Unfortunately, these efforts were halted by Congress on multiple occasions.  Here are just a few examples:

• In 2005, Congress discontinued funding for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator.
• In the FY08 Defense Appropriations Bill, Congress slashed funding for the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program to $15 million.
• Congress denied DoD any FY2008 funding for “testing, fabrication or deployment” of a conventional Trident ballistic missile program.

The Obama administration will provide “$7 billion for maintaining our nuclear-weapons stockpile and complex, and for related efforts.  This commitment is $600 million more than Congress approved last year.  And over the next five years we intend to boost funding for these important activities by more than $5 billion.  Even in a time of tough budget decisions, these are investments we must make for our security.  We are committed to working with Congress to ensure these budget increases are approved.”  It’s funny.  When President George W. Bush tried this, he was stonewalled by Democrats  in Congress and members of his own party.  The nuclear weapons complex does require additional funds.  I support the administration’s decision to allocate these funds; the Congress needs to approve the request in its entirety.  My colleagues and I have advocated for additional funds, and, more specifically, modernization.  It’s ironic that the president who is talking about ridding the world of nuclear weapons is increasing funding for them.  Of course, this is simply the reality of governing.  Politicians make lofty promises during campaigns–promises that are simply inconsistent with the realities of governing–and, in this case, inconsistent with our national security requirements.