Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces subcommittee, commented today on the Department of Defense’s release of the results of its Nuclear Enterprise Review, saying, “The commitments made today by Secretary Hagel to finally bring our nuclear forces the attention and resources they so sorely need is a very positive step. As other nuclear powers around the world have continued to grow and modernize their nuclear forces, the U.S. has taken a 25 year nuclear hiatus. I welcome Secretary Hagel's commitment to put U.S. nuclear forces—and the sailors and airmen who operate them—at the top of our defense priority list.”

Rogers also expressed caution that the new focus must be reinforced with long-term action and investment, saying, “We’ve seen commitments to reinvigorate our nuclear forces before. Unfortunately, those efforts were not sustained or fully implemented. As Chairman of the Strategic Forces subcommittee, I will ensure we do not lose focus again; my subcommittee will work with Secretary Hagel to make sure this review is different. Our airmen and sailors who work this mission everyday deserve nothing less.”

Rogers also highlighted the continued dysfunction and deficiencies in the other part of the nation’s nuclear enterprise within the Department of Energy, saying, “While this is a welcome focus from the Secretary of Defense, the Department of Energy’s nuclear enterprise continues to suffer from chronic mismanagement, dysfunction and bureaucracy. We cannot fix the pointy-end of the spear and let the handle continue to rot. I hope the Administration will undertake a similar bottom-to-top review of the Department of Energy’s nuclear enterprise and develop a long-term plan to get it the attention and resources it needs to delivery for the military.”

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