Treaty with Russia on Measures for Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms--Resumed

Floor Speech

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Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today and proudly stand among the long, bipartisan list of Senators, statesmen, and military leaders in support of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. The New START treaty is critical to our Nation's security because it places limits on U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals, supports an improving bilateral relationship with Russia, and advances international nuclear nonproliferation efforts.

Over the last three decades, both the United States and Russia have benefited greatly from the bilateral reduction of nuclear weapons. Through the efforts of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, the two superpowers embarked on gradual nuclear disarmament, agreeing to reduce the number of their strategic warheads and deployed delivery vehicles through the negotiation and signing of the first START treaty. Under President Obama's leadership, we are now considering the New START treaty, which, when ratified, will reduce these numbers even more in both countries.

The ratification of the New START treaty is vital to our national security.

First, this treaty helps to decrease the threat of nuclear destruction and strategic miscalculation by requiring the reduction of strategic offensive arms such as warheads and launchers in Russia and the U.S. Supporting this effort is a strong verification regime that includes on-site inspections. Without this treaty, our inspectors do not have the ability to monitor Russian activities. We have not had access to the Russian nuclear stockpile for over a year. Our ability to ``trust, but verify'' must be restored.

Second, this treaty reinforces our important relationship with Russia. It advances our Nation's capacity to build durable, multilateral cooperation to confront international security risks from countries like Iran and North Korea. In addition, a strong relationship with Russia helps to keep available the supply chains that deliver equipment to the brave Americans serving in Afghanistan.

Finally, this treaty strengthens our nonproliferation efforts around the world. By ratifying the New START treaty and taking the focus off of strategic weapons, the United States and Russia can increase their efforts on tactical nuclear weapons and proliferation. The risks associated with nuclear proliferation are particularly serious and include acts of nuclear terrorism against the United States and its allies and the destabilizing effects of new nuclear arms races.

For many years I have been concerned about these risks. During the 111th Congress, I have introduced bills that would decrease the spread of potentially dangerous nuclear technologies around the world and implement key nuclear nonproliferation recommendations offered by the Commission on the Prevention of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Terrorism. I have also called for more oversight of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Technical Cooperation Program and its proliferation vulnerabilities. Ratifying the New START treaty will reinforce these and many other nuclear nonproliferation efforts.

I urge my colleagues to strengthen national security by ratifying the New START treaty.

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