Dear Tri-Valley CAREs member,
We are on our way to make “good trouble” in Washington, DC and the timing is… critical!
The White House is seeking a TRILLION DOLLARS for so-called national “defense” in the coming year! Yes, you read that right, for just one year! And its just released Nuclear Weapons Activities budget request is 58% higher than Biden’s bloated prior year budget. This funding level tells the true story of the Administration’s priorities, yet we note conflicting rhetoric.
In January, in response to a question about China-U.S. relations, the President said: “Tremendous amounts of money are being spent on nuclear, and the destructive capability is something that we don’t even want to talk about …. So, we want to see if we can denuclearize, and I think that’s very possible.” The Kremlin replied that it wants to resume the nuclear dialogue “as soon as possible.” But, so far nothing has de-veloped, and the situation in Ukraine has only worsened.
As you well know, we cannot depend on the Administration to make good on its “denuclearization” thetoric. Our trip to DC is timed to impact the release of the first budget request from the new Admin-istration. Congressional committees are just beginning to “mark up” their authorization bills, including the National Defense Authorization Act that enables nuclear weapons programs. We will take a stand and demand that Congress take action to stop the funding for a new arms race!
Here is where you come in. Over the years, you and other members have written letters, made calls to members of Congress and signed petitions. You have come to meetings and demonstrations. You have reached deep into your pocket and contributed. Whenever we have asked for your help, you have responded, every time. Thank you. Your efforts make a difference!
Today, we are asking for support for a particularly essential part of Tri-Valley CAREs’ national work – bringing the voices of our com-munities directly to Washington, DC to tell our decision makers that we have different priorities than the harm this defense budget will bring. We go to DC this year with a great team to represent all of our member-ship in speaking truth to power – to the House, the Senate, key con-gressional committees, and regulatory agencies.
Youth participation is a focus of this year’s Alliance for Nuclear Accountability’s (ANA) DC Days. Your 2025 Tri-Valley CAREs team includes three experienced DC Days participants and three newbies, who are all under 25! (Your team is profiled in the sidebar).
We will be joined by colleagues and youth activists from around the country who are impacted by nuclear weapons sites, nuclear power stations and nuclear waste sites. Together, we will participate in an all-day training and conduct at least 65 meetings with decision-makers over three days. Then, we will spend two days de-briefing our meetings and collaborating on strategic actions for the coming months.
We invite you to participate with us in “DC Days” by helping finan-cially, and we thank you for your contributions in any amount. Your support now helps us make a difference!
In addition, we invite you to take action with Tri-Valley CAREs to amplify our work while we are advocating for a cleaner and safer non-nuclear future in the halls of Congress. (See below for ways to take action!)
Want more information about what we will be demanding in our DC Days meetings? Go to our website where you can read and download a brand new report created for DC Days 2025. Tri-Valley CAREs staff contributed to several sections of the report, including the sections on “Stop New War-heads,” “No New Nuclear Testing,” “Support Rule of Law and Nuclear Dis-armament,” and “Protect the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.”
You can also join us on June 19th at 7:30 pm pacific time for our virtual Tri-Valley CAREs “DC Days Report Out” meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88090868535. Our entire DC Days team will share intel from important meetings, goals that we accomplished, how we are following up, and how you might help. The meeting will also include other Tri-Valley CAREs program and event updates, including details of the upcoming events for the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, happening on Aug. 6th. (See the “Save the Date” flyer on Page 4.)
From our upcoming “DC Days” meetings and beyond, Tri-Valley CAREs is positioned to have real impact in the coming months. But we may fall short if we do not raise enough money. Thank you for your support and for being part of Tri-Valley CAREs!
For peace, justice and a healthy environment,
Scott Yundt
Executive Director
Marylia Kelley
Senior Advisor
P.S. There are many ways to make your tax-deductible contribution!
Online. Go to trivalleycares.org/donate to use your credit card.
Or, call our office to make a donation by credit card over the phone: (925) 443-7148.
Send us a check. Use the return envelope in this mailing – 4049 First St., Suite 243, Livermore Ca 94551.
Make a gift of stock. Donating stock can bring you significant tax benefits. We have an E-trade account and can process your donation simply and quickly.
Make a bequest and include Tri-Valley CAREs in your will. Nuclear weapons leave a lasting toxic legacy in our community. Will you leave a positive legacy?
Meet Your 2025 DC Days Team!
Question: What do you hope to accomplish at DC Days?
Tri-Valley CAREs Executive Director, Scott Yundt
‘In my meetings at DC Days this year, I will make sure members of Congress understand the risks, dangers and expense of the current plutonium pit production plan, while specifically addressing how it is driving pro-posed “Enhanced Plutonium Utilization” at Livermore Lab. I will ask Congress to cut funding for new plutonium pits.”
Tri-Valley CAREs Environmental Program Manager, Anoushka Raj
“DC Days is a rare and meaningful chance to bring the voices of communities impacted by nuclear weapons development straight to the people in power. I’m planning to focus on advocating that Congress fully fund environmental cleanup at Livermore Lab and around the complex.”
Tri-Valley CAREs Board Member, Pam Richard
“This year, I will advocate for cuts to dangerous new nuclear warhead programs, like the W 87-1 for the Sentinel ICBM, which is way over-budget and behind schedule. This warhead program is led by Livermore Lab and must be cut.”
Tri-Valley CAREs Nuclear Policy Analyst, Tanvi Kardile
“I will be asking members of Congress to take action to prevent any resumption of nuclear explosive testing, including co-sponsoring House Resolution 317.”
Tri-Valley CAREs Intern, Dasha Orel
“I want to raise awareness about environmental cleanup of Livermore Lab’s Site 300 being stalled after the 2024 Corral Fire. Cleanup needs to be prioritized over new weapons!”
Tri-Valley CAREs 2024 Legal Intern, Raine Gordon
“I hope to influence members of Congress to take affirmative steps to observe Article 6 of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and support the goals of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.”
Take Action Now to Support Your Team in DC
#1 Call your Representative and Senators!
Amplify the talking points we are bringing to the halls of Congress by reaching out to your own legislators. You can use the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
Tell your Senators and Representative that your friends in Tri-Valley CAREs and the national Alliance for Nuclear Accountability are conducting meetings this week and you want to add your voice on nuclear policy. Always mention that you are a constituent, and it’s common to do so by giving your Zip Code along with your name at the beginning of the call. As a constituent, your message will be elevated. Choose a single ask from below and stick with that one topic. If you see more than one ask on the list that you would like to make, call back the next day.
PRIORITY ASKS & TALKING POINTS FROM OUR DC DAYS REPORT
Stop New Nuclear Warheads: I ask you to terminate the new Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile and its warhead, the W87-1 under development at Livermore Lab. Additionally, cut finding for a new nuclear Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile and warhead, also being designed at Livermore.
Support Rule of Law and Nuclear Disarmament: I ask you to support House Resolution 317 to lead us back from the brink of nuclear war. H.Res 317 supports the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and related steps to a safer future. Please contact Rep. Jim McGovern (MA) to cosponsor.
Stop New Bomb Plants: Please oppose new and expanded plutonium bomb core (pit) production. Congress should cut funding for the budget line called “Plutonium Modernization.”
Cleanup Don’t Build Up: Fully fund cleanup of our toxic nuclear weapons legacy. Dramatically increase well-managed spending on cleanup now to save billions of dollars in the future. Stop paying to babysit waste, increase funding for comprehensive cleanup now rather than prioritizing new nuclear weapon development.
#2 Submit a Written Comment Opposing Plutonium Pit Production!
What: Pursuant to a Court approved settlement, after three years of litigation brought by Tri-Valley CAREs, Nuclear Watch New Mexico and Savannah River Site Watch, the government must now conduct a full “programmatic” environmental review of the potential impacts of its multi-site plutonium pit production program. The agency has begun the process with a “scoping public comment” period to allow public input on the contents of the programmatic analysis. This includes the opportunity to offer alternatives and comment on the plutonium pit support work planned at Livermore Lab and elsewhere.
Where: Written comments can be submitted via email to: [email protected]
When: Due by July 14th
Why: New plutonium pit production will further stoke an international nuclear arms race, put communities at risk in the locations where pit production and the support work take place, and increase the amount of radioactive material in transit on thousands of miles of our highways. All of the newly produced pits will go into new nuclear weapons designs, which could instead reuse existing plutonium pits.
How: Anyone can submit a written comment on the scope of the analysis, environmental issues that should be studied, and potential alternatives for the government to consider. For more detailed talking points and a slide show presentation from our recent workshop on the topic, go to www.trivalleycares.org and click on the top banner “Make a Comment…” Make sure to put in email subject line: “2025-08140 (90 FR 19706) Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Plutonium Pit Production Scoping Public Comment.”