Discussion · House of Representatives
Mark Takano Democrat
“I am marking the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The Trump administration let an agreement with Russia that limited nuclear weapons expire. I want Congress and the President to lead efforts to reduce nuclear weapons again.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. August 6, 81 years ago--which will happen in a couple of weeks--the first instance of a nuclear weapon being deployed against a civilian population occurred. My cousin, Kikue Takagi, survived the bombing because she was sick and stayed home instead of being at the city center at ground zero with her middle school classmates. The vast majority of her middle school classmates perished that morning. She is a ``hibakusha’’; ``survivor’’ of the atomic bombing. The U.S. and Russia had the New START Treaty which limited the number of nuclear warheads in both of their respective arsenals. This year the Trump administration allowed it to expire, dealing a major blow to arms control efforts. We must not allow negligence or indifference to lead to a disaster in the absence of diplomatic safeguards. Mr. Speaker, I call on Congress, the President, and all of us to return to leadership in reversing the arms control race.”
Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. August 6, 81 years ago--which will happen in a couple of weeks--the first instance of a nuclear weapon being deployed against a civilian population occurred. My cousin, Kikue Takagi, survived the bombing because she was sick and stayed home instead of being at the city center at ground zero with her middle school classmates. The vast majority of her middle school classmates perished that morning. She is a ``hibakusha’’; ``survivor’’ of the atomic bombing. The U.S. and Russia had the New START Treaty which limited the number of nuclear warheads in both of their respective arsenals. This year the Trump administration allowed it to expire, dealing a major blow to arms control efforts. We must not allow negligence or indifference to lead to a disaster in the absence of diplomatic safeguards. Mr. Speaker, I call on Congress, the President, and all of us to return to leadership in reversing the arms control race.