New START, More Obstruction
Sitting before the Senate is the New START Treaty, a landmark agreement with Russia that decreases both U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals and allows our nuclear inspectors to monitor the biggest stockpiles in the world.
It follows in the footsteps of START I and START II, supported by both Democratic and Republican administrations. Both treaties were ratified by overwhelming bipartisan majorities.
Similarly, New START has wide support among national security experts, current and former government officials of both parties, and military members. Defense Secretary Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Admiral Mullen have requested prompt approval of the treaty, and seven former commanders of the U.S. nuclear forces have expressed their support for immediate ratification of New START.
Most importantly for New Mexico, the new treaty advances the critical work being done by the men and women at our National Labs. Los Alamos and Sandia will play a major role in ensuring that a smaller nuclear arsenal can serve as an effective deterrent, and perfecting the science needed to stop would-be proliferators. I am confident that our labs are ready to continue their mission, and to once again aid in the important work of monitoring Russia's nuclear stockpile.
The president has committed to increasing funding for the national labs, allowing them to continue their mission, create new jobs and once again aid in the important work of monitoring Russia's nuclear stockpile.
Despite all of this, developments this week indicate that New START may face the same fate as so many good ideas that enter the Senate.
It's no wonder that this week the Council on Foreign Relations issued a new report on how Congress is failing to honor its duty to properly provide advice and consent on treaties:
Although partisan politics, deal making, and parliamentary maneuvering are nothing new to Congress, the extent to which they are being deployed today by lawmakers and the degree to which they obstruct the resolution of national problems are unprecedented.
This is unacceptable. We cannot allow partisan politics to get in the way of one of our most crucial national security issues. The threat of loose nukes is real, and the existence of large unneeded stockpiles only increases the plausibility that nuclear weapons could fall in the hands of extremists.
We have gone nearly a year without U.S. inspectors in Russia who can verify and inspect their arsenal in accordance with earlier START treaties. This is extremely detrimental to our overall national security and the critical mission of preventing loose nuclear weapons from falling into the wrong hands.
I call on my Senate colleagues to put aside political posturing and ratify a treaty that takes necessary steps toward monitoring and reducing the most dangerous weapons on earth. I also hope my colleagues will reflect on this situation and recognize the need to reform the way we do business on Capitol Hill.