Dear Senator/Representative,

I am writing to urge you to withhold funding in fiscal year 2014 for the B61 bomb Life Extension Program (LEP).

A recent review projected that this program will cost $10.4 billion and be delayed for another three years. Four hundred B61s are reportedly planned for refurbishment, at roughly $25 million per bomb.

The Cold War has been over for more than two decades, and yet we are still spending billions of dollars every year on thousands of weapons that are outdated and do not keep us safe. There are smart cuts to be made in nuclear weapons spending that would not only save billions and reduce the deficit, but would reduce the nuclear threat to the US and the world.

The current plans for this Life Extension Program also involve changing many characteristics of the B61 bomb and adding new military capabilities. As Utahns and downwinders, we have a responsibility to take a stand against any actions that might require future US nuclear weapons testing.

There may alternatives to the planned B61 LEP that are simpler and more budget-friendly, but these alternatives have not been sufficiently examined. Currently these B61 bombs are stationed in Europe, and some NATO members, such as Germany, have called for the B61 to be removed from their country. Tactical B61 bombs might not be deployed a decade from now, when the proposed rebuilding program would be complete.

Congress has time to sufficiently evaluate the need for a $10.4 billion B61 LEP. A delay of at least one year would relieve budget pressure and increase clarity about the future need for the B61 before the United States makes major investments in retaining it. I urge you to support withholding the funds for the B61 LEP in FY 2014, while urging for more examination of the expense and necessity of the current plans.

Please let me know what you intend to do on this issue.

Sincerely,