| September 16, 2010 |  |
Science Group Applauds Bipartisan Committee Approval of US/Russia Nuclear Treaty
Statement By David Wright
WASHINGTON (September 16, 2010) –Today, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the new Strategic Nuclear Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) between the United States and Russia.
The treaty, signed on April 8, 2010, will reestablish essential verification and transparency mechanisms between the two countries that lapsed last year. Under New START, each side will reduce its deployed strategic nuclear arsenal to no more than 1550 warheads, down from the maximum of 2200 permitted by the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty. Each side will also reduce its strategic bombers and land- and sea-based missiles to no more than 800, down from the 1600 under the 1991 START I agreement that expired last year.
The following statement was issued by Dr. David Wright, Senior Scientist and Co-Director of the Global Security Program, Union of Concerned Scientists.
This is a big win and a key step for reducing the nuclear threat. New START represents a new start in a global effort to reduce, and eventually eliminate, this threat.
The Union of Concerned Scientists applauds Senator John Kerry and Senator Richard Lugar for their leadership in securing approval of New START in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. They worked very hard on this issue, and made sure the concerns and questions of all members were adequately addressed.
The supporters of New START on the Foreign Relations Committee put America’s national security first. They listened to our nation’s military leaders and national security experts, who overwhelmingly support this treaty. In the coming weeks, we look to these senators to provide continued leadership. We hope the full Senate will quickly vote on this treaty.
The United States and Russia still possess 95 percent of the world’s stockpile of more than 20,000 nuclear weapons Reducing the threat posed by such weapons is critical to our security.
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
