Garamendi Addresses Congress on Nuclear Weapons Threat

WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, joined Representative Jim McGovern, Representative Don Beyer, Representative Mark DeSaulnier, Representative Barbara Lee, Representative Dina Titus, Representative Chellie Pingree, Representative Rashida Tlaib, and Representative Delia Ramirez, and Representative Bill Foster on the House Floor to discuss the rising threat of nuclear escalation. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Nuclear Weapons Working Arms Control Group, Representative Garamendi called for renewed efforts to prioritize diplomacy, arms control, and de-escalation over the dangerous path of a new arms race.

"Congress must reclaim its role in shaping a rational, responsible nuclear strategy. One that prioritizes diplomacy over escalation, de-escalation over deterrence, and arms control over arms races. The American people deserve a government that works to reduce the risks, not magnify them," said Garamendi.

"We must rebalance our focus toward arms control, recognizing that diplomatic engagement and meaningful treaties are proven tools for reducing global stockpiles and curbing the spread of nuclear weapons. These efforts demand our unwavering commitment; history has shown that reliance on nuclear arsenals as the core of our security is misguided. With nuclear stockpiles increasing worldwide, our collective call for restraint and de-escalation is more crucial than ever." continued Garamendi.

In his remarks, Garamendi highlighted the rising costs of the Air Force's Sentinel program to replace the Minuteman III ICBMs, which has already ballooned to $200 billion, an 81% cost overrun. For the same $200 billion, the National Institute of Health's annual budget for 10 years could be fully funded, or universal pre-K education could be provided for every child in the U.S. for nearly 30 years.

Garamendi has long been and continues to be a strong advocate for ensuring that Congress exercises the necessary oversight to safeguard our country and prevent a nuclear arms race between the U.S., Russia, and China.

A transcript of the speech can be found here.

A video of the speech can be found here.

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