MICHAEL TURNER

Washington, Mar 26 - U.S. House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.) and Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike Turner (R-Ohio) today released the following statement regarding the President’s announcement that the United States and Russia have reached an agreement on a new nuclear weapons treaty to build upon the 1990’s Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) and 2002 Moscow Treaty.

“While we support the Administration’s efforts to secure a follow on treaty to START, we are anxious to see the details included in the final package.  In September, we joined with our colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee to outline our views on the negotiations.  Specifically, we encouraged the President to maintain the right of the United States to deploy a robust missile defense system in Europe in order to protect our homeland and allies from a missile attack.  Additionally, we requested that the final agreement include strong and effective inspection and verification measures to ensure both sides fully implement the agreement.”

“As we begin the process of crafting this year’s defense authorization bill, we look forward to working with the Administration to learn more about the final proposal and see how it fits into America’s strategic roadmap as outlined in the delayed Nuclear Posture Review.  Ultimately, any treaty that is approved by the Senate and is implemented by Congress must protect America’s national security first and foremost.”

On September 8, 2009, McKeon, Turner, House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe Ranking Member Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) sent a letter to the President outlining concerns they had with the Administration’s ongoing negotiations with the Russians.  A copy of the letter can be found here.