Washington, D.C. – Strategic Forces Subcommittee Chairman Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) today congratulated President Obama and the U.S. Senate on supporting the historic ratification of the nuclear arms reduction New START Treaty. The Senate approved New START by a vote of 71-26.

Chairman Langevin noted, “I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to the President and the Senate. This Treaty strengthens US and international security by reducing the dangers posed by nuclear weapons, while continuing to support the President’s commitment to strong missile defense efforts in the United States and Europe.”

Langevin added, “It provides a much needed legally-binding verification that Russia is complying with its treaty obligations to reduce its number of deployed strategic warheads and missiles.”

“Approval of New START improves the U.S.-Russian cooperative relationship needed to address pressing nuclear threats from Iran and North Korea and to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and bomb-grade materials to terrorists including Al Qaeda,” continued Langevin.

“In addition, the approval of New START re-establishes U.S. leadership in the world by fulfilling key promises on nuclear weapons reductions made pursuant to the 1968 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and needed to strengthen nuclear nonproliferation efforts,” Langevin concluded.

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