Washington, D.C.— Today Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO), Ranking Member Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Strategic Forces Subcommittee Chairman Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Terry Everett (R-AL) announced the nominations for membership on the Congressional Commission on United States Strategic Posture. 

            The National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2008 established a congressionally-appointed, bipartisan commission to examine U.S. strategic posture and the appropriate role of nuclear weapons.  The review will include an assessment of the role of nonproliferation programs and missile defenses in U.S. strategic policies.  Its recommendations are due to Congress and the President by December 1, 2008. 

“Our committee worked together in a bipartisan way to authorize this commission because we believe it will help promote a bipartisan consensus on strategic weapons issues, including nuclear weapons policy,” said Chairman Skelton.

            “A sound strategic posture and a healthy nuclear complex are vital to America’s national security.  These distinguished individuals are well-equipped to study these key issues.  We look forward to receiving their recommendations on how we can improve our strategic posture and ensure the long-term sustainability of our nuclear complex,” said Ranking Member Hunter.  

            “We need this commission to get our nuclear policy back on track.  For too long we have missed the forest for the trees, and I am hopeful this commission will encourage a vital national discussion that is both open and transparent about the appropriate role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy,” said Subcommittee Chairman Tauscher, who authored the initial provision in the House in 2007.  Tauscher added, “These commissioners are uniformly and exceptionally well-qualified to conduct the analysis we called for.”

            “It is clear that our strategic posture is at a critical juncture, and I am pleased to have this distinguished panel of experts provide an outside examination of these issues.  This Congressional Commission on United States Strategic Posture will play an important role in shaping our future strategic policies, and I look forward to hearing the results of their studies and their recommendations on the way forward,” said Subcommittee Ranking Member Everett.
 
The following individuals have been nominated to the Commission by the House Armed Services Committee:

• William Perry, Commission Chairman, former Secretary of Defense;

• John Foster, Director Emeritus of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory;

• Lee Hamilton, former Congressman and Vice Chair of the 9/11 Commission;

• Keith Payne, CEO and President, National Institute for Public Policy;

• Ellen Williams, University of Maryland Distinguished Professor; and

• Harry Cartland, former physicist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

The following individuals have been nominated to the Commission by the Senate Armed Services Committee:

• James Schlesinger, Commission Vice Chairman, former Secretary of Energy and Secretary of Defense;

• John Glenn, former Senator and NASA astronaut; 

• Fred Ikle, former Director, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency;

• Morton Halperin, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs;

• James Woolsey, former Director, Central Intelligence Agency; and

• Bruce Tarter, former Director, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Brief biographies for the six House-nominated commissioners are attached. 

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