Stop Efforts to Block Reductions in Nuclear Weapons: Letter to the House

Update (5/18/2012): This amendment was passed by a vote of 238-162.

As the House debates and votes on the defense authorization bill Reps. Rehberg (MT) and Lummis (WY) will offer and amendment that would add an unnecessary provision to the NDAA to undermine the U.S. ability to implement the 2010 New START Treaty. The amendment would impose a one-for-one reduction implementation process that is impractical and militarily unnecessary. FCNl joined with 28 other organizations and experts to send a letter to members of the House in opposition of the Rehberg Amendment. Read the letter below.

PDF Version

Oppose Rehberg #59 Amendment to Undermine New START Treaty

May 17, 2012

Dear Representative,

We are writing to urge you to oppose an amendment that would add yet another unnecessary provision to the NDAA to undermine the U.S. ability to implement the 2010 New START agreement. Other similar provisions in the bill (Secs. 1053-1059) have led the White House to issue a veto threat because they would “impinge on the President's ability to implement the New START Treaty and to set U.S. nuclear weapons policy.”

The amendment offered by Reps. Rehberg (MT) and Lummis (WY) would block U.S. implementation of New START unless the Russian Federation makes “a commensurate reduction, conversion, or decommissioning pursuant to the levels set forth under such treaty.” New START, which was approved by a bipartisan majority in the Senate, establishes common, verifiable limits on strategic deployed warheads (1,550 each) and deployed delivery vehicles (700 each) that must be met by 2018. At the United States insistence, New START allows each side to implement the treaty at its own pace and to structure its forces as it sees fit.

The amendment attempts to impose a one-for-one arms reduction implementation process that is impractical and militarily unnecessary. Further, the amendment attempts to protect the nuclear delivery systems in the districts of the authors from reductions into the indefinite future regardless of decisions about security needs and requirements that might be made by this or future administrations.

We strongly urge you to oppose the Rehberg #59 amendment. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Carol Blythe, President Alliance of Baptists

Susan Gordon, Director Alliance for Nuclear Accountability

Terri S. Lodge, Director for Nuclear Security American Security Project

Eric Sapp, Executive Director American Values Network

Daryl G. Kimball, Executive Director Arms Control Association

Ambassador Robert Grey, Director Bipartisan Security Group

Katie Heald, Coordinator Campaign for a Nuclear Weapons Free World

Melissa A. Kaplan, Msc, Deputy Director of Government Relations Citizens for Global Solutions

Joni Arends, Executive Director Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, Santa Fe, NM

T. Michael McNulty, SJ, Justice and Peace Director Conference of Major Superiors of Men

John Isaacs, Executive Director Council for a Livable World

David Culp, Legislative Representative Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quakers)

Bobbie Paul, Executive Director Georgia Women’s Action for New Direction

Dr. Paul F. Walker, Director of Security and Sustainability Global Green USA

Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach, Director Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Washington Office

David Krieger, President Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

Jay Coghlan, Executive Director Nuclear Watch New Mexico

Marie Dennis, Co- president Pax Christi International

Kevin Martin, Executive Director Peace Action

Alicia Godsberg, Executive Director Peace Action New York State

Jon Rainwater, Executive Director Peace Action West

Jerry Stein, Coordinator of the Board Peace Farm, Amarillo, TX

Catherine Thomasson, MD, Executive Director Physicians for Social Responsibility

Joel Rubin, Director of Policy and Government Affairs Ploughshares Fund

Marylia Kelley, Executive Director Tri-Valley CAREs, Livermore, CA

Lisbeth Gronlund, Co-Director and Senior Scientist, Global Security Program Union of Concerned Scientists

Rev. Michael Neuroth, Justice and Witness Ministries United Church of Christ

James E. Winkler, General Secretary United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society

Susan Shaer, Executive Director Women’s Action for New Directions