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WASHINGTON – Proper funding and resources for nuclear weapons facilities must be a priority for the Department of Energy, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn told the Secretary of Energy, Spencer Abraham. Abraham appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee to discuss atomic energy defense activities at the Department of Energy (DOE). Cornyn, a member of the panel’s Strategic subcommittee, told Abraham that he was glad to see progress on creating a Modern Pit Facility (MPF), but also asked what could be done to speed up a process scheduled to take 15-17 years to complete."I think most Americans would be shocked to learn that we currently do not have the certified capability to produce such an important part of our nuclear arsenal,” Cornyn told the Secretary of Energy. “But I’m eager to work with you to ensure that our weapons facilities receive the proper funding and resources to carry out their important missions. And I’m especially glad to see that we are moving forward with the Modern Pit Facility.” Currently, the United States is the only nuclear power that does not have a manufacturing capability to produce a certified nuclear pit. Without certified pits, it is not possible to build a nuclear weapon, or as important to the efficacy and safety of the nuclear weapons program, replace older pits in existing weapons. Last month, Cornyn met with Linton S. Brooks, the acting administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to support the many benefits of locating the proposed MPF at Pantex in Texas. “Pantex is the most cost-effective site in the nuclear weapons program, and every operation is designed to protect human health and safety,” Cornyn wrote in a letter to Brooks. “I strongly believe DOE should designate Pantex as the new home for the Modern Pit Facility.” Cornyn also reiterated to Sec. Abraham that the Facilities and Infrastructure Recapitalization Program (FIRP) has been successful in halting the growth of the nearly $1 billion maintenance backlog at American nuclear weapons facilities. Cornyn cautioned, however, that the remaining backlog may grow if the program funds current and future maintenance continues to decline."It’s critical that we maintain the upkeep of our facilities to ensure the weapons complex isn’t in poor shape when the FIRP ends.” the Strategic subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee has within its jurisdiction the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration and Department of Defense intelligence programs. 30 -