JOIN US AT OUR VIRTUAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Center will host our 2021 annual conference, “Arms Control in a Divided America,” on November 2, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. ET. Speakers include Members of Congress and arms control experts, featuring Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Sen. Chris Van Hollen; Amb. Susan F. Burk, Former Special Representative of the President; Dr. Alex Wellerstein, Stevens Institute of Technology; Amb. Steven Pifer, Stanford University; and more! The full schedule will be announced soon. Register for free and join us!
FIRST LOOK AT THE 2022 CYCLE
Join Council for a Livable World’s national security and political experts November 8 at 5:30 p.m. ET as we look ahead to the 2022 election cycle exactly one year out from Election Day. Our experts, including Executive Director John Tierney, Political Director Geoff Wilson and Senior Fellow John Isaacs, will give a brief overview of the political landscape, then take your questions about the year ahead and the chances of critical national security and nuclear threat reduction legislation passing Congress in the future. Register for free and join us!
A NOTE OF CAUTION ON THE U.S.-RUSSIA DIALOGUE
It is certainly good news that the United States and Russia are talking about arms control again, writes Senior Policy Director John Erath in a new blog post. Although some might argue that it would be better if China were participating as well, the convening of a dialogue to follow up on the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) is overdue. Amid the general relief, however, a note of caution would be appropriate. Both sides are calling the process a “Strategic Stability Dialogue.” This should raise concerns over its ultimate conclusion for two main reasons. Read the blog to learn more about those reasons
DELAYS IN DEFENSE SPENDING BILLS
With Congress focusing on the massive spending and infrastructure bills earlier this month, annual defense bills have been put on the backburner. The full Senate has yet to consider the annual defense authorization bill and neither chamber has passed a defense appropriations bill. That may soon change with Senate leaders preparing Members to submit floor amendments on short notice. Here’s the Center’s breakdown and analysis on the defense authorization bill as passed by the House. Here’s the Center’s new breakdown and analysis of the Senate defense authorization bill as passed out of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
EARLY SIGNS OF TROUBLE WITH THE NUCLEAR POSTURE REVIEW
Bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control (NWAC) Working Group Co-Chairs Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA), and Sen. Merkley (D-OR) have led a group of lawmakers in requesting an update on the administration’s Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. But early reports out of the NPR suggest that the promises of candidate Joe Biden in response to a Council for a Livable World questionnaire are not faring well, including his skepticism about new nuclear weapons and his advocacy of reducing the role of nuclear weapons in our national security.
IRAN TALKS STALLED BUT HOPE REMAINS
There has been no sign as to when nuclear talks with Iran may recommence, but just last week, the coordinator of the JCPOA, Enrique Mora, traveled to Tehran to urge the resumption of nuclear negotiations. In a sign of greater international pressure, IAEA Director General Mariano Grossi will travel to Tehran in the coming days. Talks have stalled for four months now and the Biden administration has been signaling that they are “prepared to turn to other options if Iran doesn’t change course.”
Research Analyst Samuel Hickey argued in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists that “failure to revive the nuclear deal could remove the possibility of applying the verification tools gained to other proliferation challenges like North Korea or the next nuclear threshold state. The loss of these techniques would undermine efforts to improve the global nonproliferation regime.”
Fortunately, the Biden administration has not given up hope, although they are frustrated. “It goes to how catastrophic a decision it was to unilaterally withdraw,” U.S. Iran envoy Rob Malley said of Trump’s decision to quit the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. “We are now talking to Iran about the issues of the JCPOA rather than decisions that go beyond it. And that is one of the legacies that we are dealing with now.”
CENTER WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS
The Center is happy to announce the appointment of five new members to its board: former administration and Congressional staffer Mark Appleton; Just Security co-editor-in-chief Dr. Tess Bridgeman; the Center for Policy Research’s Dr. Togzhan Kassenova; At the Brink’s Lisa Perry; and attorney and former Center policy analyst Greg Terryn. Read their bios
COUNCIL MAKES FIRST 2022 CONGRESSIONAL ENDORSEMENTS
The Council has made its first three endorsements of the 2022 Congressional elections cycle: Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO); Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN-02); and Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ-03). They are the first of many more endorsements coming over the next year. As a reminder, the Council is a non-partisan organization, and has endorsed members of both major political parties, as well as Independents, in its nearly 60-year history. Donate to one or all of these three candidates.
MAIL SLOWDOWNS AFFECT DONATION PROCESSING
Due to processing changes made by the U.S. Postal Service, we are receiving mailed donations anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks after they have been postmarked. We continue to process your mailed donations when received. Thank you for your continued support, and be advised there may be a significant delay in receiving acknowledgments of your support. You are always welcome to continue sending checks, make donations online or call us directly at 202.543.4100 so we can process your information over the phone.
YOUR CHANGE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
Want an easy way to give back to the Council? Round up your change to change the world! Every time you make a purchase on the selected debit/credit card you enroll, the system will round up to the next dollar. The change is then donated to the Council collectively once per month. Enroll on our website: follow the prompts to register the debit/credit card you would like to use to participate.
WHAT ELSE
NATO 2030: What the new Strategic Concept should say about nuclear weapons, by former intern Shane Ward
Congress’s role in the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal, by Research Analyst Samuel Hickey
‘Neglected danger’: Nukes not in forefront in speeches at UN, featuring Senior Policy Director John Erath
Biden’s nuclear agenda in trouble as Pentagon hawks attack, featuring Executive Director John Tierney
California biosecurity bill safeguards bioeconomy and public health, by Scientists Working Group member Gregory Koblentz. (Gov. Newsom vetoed the bill in question.)
