New START Update

President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in Prague April 8, with both countries pledging to reduce their deployed, strategic nuclear weapons stockpiles. They are now  pushing their respective parliaments  to ratify the new treaty in hopes of replacing the now-expired START I treaty.

The New START will set new limits on ready-to-use, long range nuclear weapons and establish comprehensive verification standards for both countries to verify which weapons the other possesses.

The treaty represents a step toward reaching the long-term goal President Obama established a year ago in Prague of stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and ultimately eradicating them. "I believed then - as I do now - that the pursuit of that goal will move us further beyond the Cold War, strengthen the global nonproliferation regime and make the United States, and the world, safer and more secure," he said.

In the United States, the treaty is currently in the Senate of Foreign Relations Committee and needs a 2/3 majority vote to ratify the treaty; it is expected to be passed later this summer. You can read President Obama's letter of transmittal  to the Senate here.

Senator Isakson (Sen.-GA.) serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee which is currently reviewing the treaty for ratification and Senator Chambliss (Sen.- GA) serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee which focuses on the nuclear weapons policies, posture, and force structure.   Now is the time to call Senators Isakson and Chambliss and voice our support of the New START Treaty!  The foundation of global nonproliferation can begin with  you!

Possible Action: Contact Senators Isakson and Chambliss by email, phone or snail mail and voice your support for the New START Treaty.

Contact information for Senator Isakson listed in order of importance:

Website- go to his website, post comments and send emails:  http://isakson.senate.gove/contact.cfm

Fax to either:

DC office: (202)-228-0724

Atlanta office: (770)-661-0768

Snail Mail:

One Overton Park, Suite 970
3625 Cumberland Blvd

Atlanta, GA 30339

Phone:

DC office: (202)-224-3643

Atlanta office: (770)-661-0999

Contact information for Senator Chambliss listed in order of importance:

Website- please post comments and send emails : http://chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email

Fax to either:

DC office: (202)-224-0103

Atlanta office: (770)-226-8633

Snail Mail:

100 Galleria Parkway
Suite 1340
Atlanta, GA 30339

Phone:

DC office: (202)-224-3521

Atlanta office: (770)-763-9090

To read a sample of quotes that can be included in letters, please visit here.