New START Treaty

Floor Speech

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I was proud to vote for the passage of the resolution of advice and consent to the New START Treaty between Russia and the United States in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last September. It was the right thing to do for our national security.

The most dangerous threat to America and to the world is for a terrorist organization or network to obtain a nuclear weapon. Nuclear disarmament is among the most critical steps we must take to keep our Nation and future generations safe. Ratification of the New START Treaty would reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the American and Russian arsenals, bolstering our national security by reducing the risk of loose nuclear weapons and materials falling into the hands of hostile nations or terrorist groups seeking to attack America or her allies.

Only recently, documents have revealed to the world the continuing significant risk that Pakistan's nuclear weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists. There are a number of ways for us to address and minimize this risk in Pakistan and other countries. An agreement between two nuclear leaders to reduce their stockpiles of nuclear weapons and to improve transparency and oversight is a critical factor to keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists. By reducing the numbers of unneeded nuclear weapons in Russia, improving verification of Russian nuclear reductions, controlling and securing Russian nuclear warheads, and eliminating retired Russian delivery systems and vulnerable weapons-grade material new START would reduce the possibility that a nuclear weapon could be launched due to a terrorist attack, a misunderstanding, or a miscalculation, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans.

This continuation of a landmark agreement between our nations would be an important step in the President's efforts to convince other countries to get rid of their nuclear weapons. Countries like Ukraine have made this commitment in part due to the confidence that new START provides.

The treaty signed by President Obama and President Medvedev is sensible and it is right for our Nation's security; this is evidenced by the endorsements of several former Secretaries of Defense and State from both sides of the political aisle. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to ratify this treaty, ensuring a safer world for our children.

Source