Despite Veto Threat, Turner's New START Provisions Remain in House Passed NDAA

Press Release

Today, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which included major parts of Congressman Mike Turner's "New START Treaty Implementation Act." As the NDAA heads to the Senate, Turner's provisions will codify the White House's own promised "To-Do List" from last year's New START Treaty debate. Yesterday, Sen. Jon Kyl introduced his nearly identical legislation (S. 1097) in the Senate. This follows the White House's announcement that the President's senior advisors would recommend he veto the bill if the New START Implementation Act provisions were included.

"It was surprising to learn that the President had issued a veto threat even though the provisions of this bill are consistent with his own Administration's stated policies. Will he not modernize our nuclear forces as he had stated? Will he unilaterally withdraw nuclear forces from Europe? If the answers to these questions are no, then he should have no issue with this legislation," said Turner, who is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.

"During last year's New START debate, a bipartisan consensus formed around the need for modernizing our nuclear weapons, delivery systems, and infrastructure. The President has promised a robust ten-year modernization program, but the project to create a sustainable deterrent will transcend several administrations. We need to act now and codify the promised "To-Do-List' for modernizing our nuclear forces," added Turner.

"I look forward to working with Sen. Jon Kyl and the Senate as this legislation makes its way to the President. I am grateful for the support of House Armed Services Chairman Buck McKeon, and other members of the committee and House who spoke in support of these provisions. These are leaders who understand what our strategic capabilities mean to the defense of this nation and our allies," noted Turner.

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