U.S. Import of Safe Medical Isotopes Increases Pressure on Senate to Act
Experts Say LEU Isotopes Blocked By Senate Reduce Risk of Nuke Terror

Washington DC – After depending for decades on medical isotopes produced overseas using dangerous highly enriched uranium (HEU), the United States has for the first time ever imported medical isotopes made with low enriched uranium (LEU), a move that holds potential for reducing the risk of nuclear terrorism, experts say.

The Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quakers) - an FMWG member organization - released this press release on Congressional committee action on the fiscal year 2011 budget for the National Nuclear Security Administration's international weapons of mass destruction security programs. 

Toronto, Ontario – The Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG), a coalition of leading nuclear security experts, is disappointed G-8 leaders’ failed to renew their commitment to address the spread of materials and weapons of mass destruction, and to prevent nuclear terrorism. Leaders instead opted to “evaluate” the geographic expansion and renewed funding commitments for the G-8 Global Partnership.

The audio of the following members of the Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG), a coalition of more than 40 leading experts and NGOs in nuclear security answering questions from media is available online.

Nuclear security experts called the Nuclear Security Summit convened by President Obama a major step toward overcoming the barriers to locking down vulnerable nuclear materials to keep them out of the hands of terrorists, but they warned that the real measure of progress will be accountability in implementing the measures discussed at the summit.

President Barack Obama today endorsed the work of the Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG), a coalition of more than 40 leading experts and NGOs in nuclear security and nonproliferation, for its insights and efforts to educate the public about the importance of securing all nuclear materials worldwide.

WHAT: Journalists covering the Nuclear Security Summit are invited to join an online press
briefing with nuclear security experts.
WHEN: The press briefing will begin 30 MINUTES following the conclusion of President
Obama’s remarks planned for the afternoon of Tuesday, April 13. The press briefing will
continue for 60 minutes and go longer if necessary to accommodate questions.
HOW: Go to ow.ly/1wyBu and enter your name, email, and password: NUCLEARsummit413

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) today endorsed the work of the Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG), a coalition of more than 40 leading experts and NGOs in nuclear security and nonproliferation, for the role its Next Generation Nuclear Security summit will play in highlighting the need to prevent nuclear terrorism and achieve President Obama's objective of securing all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world in four years.    

 The upcoming Nuclear Security Summit offers an historic opportunity to forge new agreements to secure nuclear materials worldwide and prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorists, a group of nuclear experts told reporters at the National Press Club.