The nuclear "bunker buster" has been defeated!
The funding issue for the nuclear “bunker buster” was finalized on October 25, 2005. Sen. Domenici (NM) issued a press release announcing that the energy and water appropriations conference committee had agreed to delete funding for the bunker buster.
Defense Appropriations Bill
On September 26, 2005 the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee adopted its annual bill. The defense appropriations bill provides funding for the Defense Department. The administration has requested $4.5 million to begin modifying the B-2 bomber to carry the nuclear "bunker buster." That funding was deleted on September 26, 2005. The House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee took a similar action earlier in the year.
Energy and Water Appropriations Bill
Both the House and Senate have finished writing their respective bills. Rep. David Hobson (OH-7), chair of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, has for the second year in a row deleted all the nuclear bunker buster funds. Sen. Pete Domenici (NM), the Senate subcommittee chair, has again fully funded the weapon, but the energy and water appropriations conference committee eliminated funding for the bunker buster. Funding for the bunker buster has been zeroed out in conference committee the last two years, a sign of the low support that new nuclear weapons have in Congress.
