Senators Praise START Treaty Signing

Press Release

This morning, President Obama signed the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Prague. The treaty reduces the number of deployed nuclear warheads in both countries' arsenals and re-affirms commitments to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

U.S. Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Robert Casey (D-Pa.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ted Kaufman (D-Del.), and Al Franken (D-Minn.) welcomed the signing of the new treaty.

"The signing of this nuclear arms control treaty is in our strategic interest and a critical component in keeping Americans, and the world, safe from nuclear weapons," said Sen. Lautenberg, a member of the Senate National Security Working Group. "I applaud this historic advance and look forward to a thorough discussion of the treaty when it comes before the Senate this year."

"The Administration has taken another important step to protect and defend the American people," said Sen. Casey. "This agreement demonstrates U.S. commitment to upholding our Nonproliferation Treaty obligations and bolsters our efforts to combat nuclear proliferation around the world. I look forward to reviewing the contents of the treaty and having a productive debate on its merits in the Senate. I am confident that it will garner the same bi-partisan support seen in past arms reductions treaties with Moscow."

"The danger of nuclear terrorism is perhaps the most serious national security challenge facing the United States today. This agreement is an important step towards reinvigorating America's leadership in strengthening global nuclear nonproliferation while maintaining a robust deterrent, capable of meeting U.S. security commitments around the globe," said Sen. Shaheen, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs. "An effective, transparent, and verifiable treaty between the world's two largest nuclear powers will go far in enhancing U.S. national security interests, and I look forward to fully examining the specific treaty details during upcoming Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings."

"Today President Obama took a historic step to end proliferation of the world's most dangerous weapons and make America more secure," said Sen. Kaufman. "This new bilateral treaty will improve global security, build cooperation and trust between the U.S. and Russia, and function as the cornerstone of worldwide efforts to curb the spread of nuclear weapons. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate towards ratification as soon as possible."

"The new START treaty that President Obama signed this morning is an important step in strengthening nuclear nonproliferation and arms control efforts in the 21st century," said Sen. Franken. "The reductions in nuclear weapons that the U.S. and Russia will make under the treaty are modest but real, and will continue to stabilize our two nations' strategic relationship. Signing the treaty now adds to the momentum we have in our crucial nonproliferation efforts. I congratulate the Obama Administration for its steadfast work in furthering our national security interests, and I look forward to considering the historic treaty in the Senate this year."

For more information about the new START Treaty, visit http://www.state.gov/.