To reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons, stop their spread, and build peace in regions of conflict where nuclear weapons exists, Ploughshares Fund is working to stop an emerging nuclear arms race, support and extend arms control treaties, and prevent nuclear war. This is why we are currently focused on opposing new nuclear weapons, supporting extension of New START, and adopting a No First Use policy. These three objectives are also on the agenda of the House Armed Services Committee Chairman, Rep. Adam Smith — an agenda we whole heartedly support.
Rep. Adam Smith’s chairmanship of the House Armed Services Committee is one of the reasons we are entering a powerful moment for creating more rational US nuclear policy. The other two are support from the American public, and the upcoming elections.
On Thursday, October 24, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, Chairman Adam Smith of the House Armed Services Committee will deliver the keynote talk at a special briefing we are hosting on the future of US nuclear policy. Look for his talk in the news, and we will be sure to keep you updated. He will outline his vision for US nuclear policy, including his funding priorities and how these will affect nuclear force structure and future modernization.
Following his remarks, national security experts Kennette Benedict, senior advisor to and former publisher of The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists and current Ploughshares Fund board member, Kelly Magsamen, vice president for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress, and Mieke Eoyang, vice president for the National Security Program at Third Way will evaluate the prospects for a new nuclear policy, touching on current debates and the impact of various 2020 election scenarios. Joe Cirincione, president of Ploughshares Fund, will chair the panel.
Through the budget process, legislation, and in the presidential campaigns, Ploughshares Fund, our network of grantees and other organizations and legislators are working to create a more rational nuclear policy. We are excited to coordinate with Representative Smith’s office to push for significant policy changes over the next two years, and to keep moving towards a world where nuclear weapons can never be used again.
Press Release | For media inquiries, contact Director of Communications & Marketing Delfin Vigil: dvigil@ploughshares.org.