Turner Amendment Accepted as Committee Votes to Send a Strong Message to the Administration
The House Armed Services Committee voted to send a strong message to the Administration that it believes the recently-released Nuclear Posture Review weakens the national security of the United States by eliminating options to defend against a catastrophic nuclear, biological, chemical, or conventional attack against the United States.
The committee adopted an amendment offered by Mike Turner to address concerns about the declaratory policy included in the Nuclear Posture Review.Specifically, members raised concerns that the changes included in the Nuclear Posture Review would take options off the table in defending the United States and our allies.
“My amendment is aimed directly at attackers, aggressors and adversaries of this country. I do not think the American people expect that we are going to restrict our response to attackers, aggressors, or adversaries regardless of the weapons or means they use against us. The American people expect that we would respond with any means possible,” U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) argued during an intense committee debate.
“The United States must remain committed to ensuring all options are on the table to respond to a rogue biological or chemical attack against the United States or our allies and partners,” said U.S. Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.). “The committee is sending a strong message to the Administration that we have grave concerns about the changes it is making to America’s nuclear policies.”