Overall, our activities focused on countering the U.S. government's aggressive nuclear and biological weapons policies - here at the Livermore Lab and throughout the Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear weapons complex.
In 2007/2008, Tri-Valley CAREs has served as an effective "watchdog," monitoring the DOE and, in particular, Livermore Lab activities. Our ability to influence policy is often visible. These pages contain numerous examples.
My testimony will focus on three areas that are central to the subcommittee's interests and to this hearing: (1) The Dept. of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) preferred alternative for "Complex Transformation"; (2) A stockpile management alternative that will better assure the safety and reliability of the existing nuclear weapons arsenal at lower cost, reduced scientific risk and superior nonproliferation benefit; and (3) Specific alternatives for the future of nuclear materials and sites in the nuclear weapons complex.
The Budget requests $6.618 B for Weapons Activity within the Dept. of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). That is an increase of $320 M (5.1%) over the 2008 appropriation. However, bottom line adjustments to the 2008 appropriation reduce the 2008 total by $120 M. Thus, in the program-by-program comparisons, the budget shows Weapons Activities increasing by only $200 M or 3.1%. If the bottom line adjustments were spread throughout the programs (as they will have to be in the operating plan) the 2008 spending plan would appear to be $120 M smaller and the program-by-program increases, noted below for 2009 in comparison to 2008, would, on average, be larger.