07.12.16

Hoeven Organizes Letter Calling on DoD to Reaffirm Commitment to Modernizing the Nation's Nuclear Triad

Fourteen Senators Sign onto Bipartisan Letter

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today released a bipartisan letter he organized calling on Secretary of Defense Ash Carter to reaffirm the department’s commitment to modernize the nation’s nuclear triad. The bipartisan letter signed by 14 senators follows several statements indicating the Obama administration is backing away from support for the nuclear modernization program.

“The three legs of the nuclear triad combine to form a very effective deterrent,” Hoeven said. “The three legs – land-based missiles, bombers and nuclear submarines – are aging and must be modernized to ensure this interlocking triad continues its decades-long record of protecting the nation.”

“We are grateful for your past support in the effort to modernize the triad, and we hope you can reassure us of the Department’s support for the ongoing modernization agenda,” Hoeven and the senators wrote. “We look forward to your response and to continuing to work with you to ensure the United States retains a safe, reliable and effective deterrent for the foreseeable future.”

In addition to Hoeven, signatories of the letter include: Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Joe Donnelly (D-Indiana), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), David Vitter (R-La.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Deb Fischer R-Neb.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.).

The complete text of the letter can be found here.

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