WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and co-chair of the Congressional Bipartisan Task Force on Nonproliferation, responded to the final report from the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism released today:

Rep. Markey said, "The Commission's report is an urgent call to action that should trigger strong, coordinated steps to improve our country's ability to prevent proliferation and thwart terrorist attacks using nuclear and biological weapons.  As the report notes, we must make it harder for terrorists to get their hands on weapons of mass destruction - the deadliest weapons on Earth - and we need to better prepare our communities to respond to any possible attacks."

The Commission's recommendations reflect several initiatives that Rep. Markey has championed for many years such as ending government-backed loan guarantees for nuclear energy, declaring a moratorium on commercial reprocessing of spent fuel and strengthening global nonproliferation efforts. <The full report is available here: http://www.preventwmd.gov/report/>

"An increase in nuclear power plant construction would escalate the risk of nuclear bomb-making materials and know-how ending up in the wrong hands, with potentially catastrophic consequences for our country.  Instead of financial subsidies for nuclear plants, we should invest in alternative energy projects that are less likely to become prime terrorism targets or a source of dirty bomb materials," said Rep. Markey.

Rep. Markey has been a leader in Congress on nuclear nonproliferation issues for more than 30 years and recently authored the Markey-Clinton Nuclear Facility and Materials Security Act, H.R. 6816, which would protect nuclear facilities from terrorist attacks and help secure dirty bomb materials.

Rep. Markey has also been a leading advocate for the Department of Homeland Security's Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS), the only federal program that helps first responders, medical personnel, emergency management workers and local stakeholders coordinate their responses in the case of a terrorist attack using nuclear or biological weapons, public health crisis or natural disaster.

"Following the deadly terrorist attacks in India last week, the Commission's warnings underscore the need to intensify our efforts to stop the spread of nuclear and biological materials.  I look forward to continuing to work on these pressing issues," Rep. Markey said.

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