Senate Proceeding on Dec 16th, 2010 :: 7:32:50 to 7:40:55
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7:32:47 to 7:33:07( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: comes to washington and takes office in january. thank you, madam president. a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from maryland. mr. cardin: thank you, madam president. madam president, i ask unanimous consent that floor privileges be granted to commander andre coleman, the department of defense fellow who has been extremely helpful in my office from the department of navy during the senate's

7:32:50 to 7:40:55( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Benjamin L. Cardin

7:33:08 to 7:33:29( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: consideration in executive session of treaty document 111-5, the new start treaty. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. cardin: thank you, madam president. madam president, we take up the consideration of the new start. we not only have the opportunity -- mr. wicker: would the senator yield for a unanimous consent request. mr. cardin: glad to yield. mr. wicker: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that the

7:33:30 to 7:33:50( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: opinion pieces that i referred to in my remarks be admitted to the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. wicker: thank you. mr. cardin: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from maryland. mr. cardin: as we take up consideration of the new start, we not only have the opportunity, but also an obligation to provide consent on the ratification of this treaty. it's long overdue.

7:33:51 to 7:34:12( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: we need to regain our ability to provide boots on the ground verification of the russian nuclear complex. over the past eight months we've all had ample opportunity to resraout documents report related to the new start. we have considered, conducted 20 hearings, taken over 900 questions. there were questions asked by members of the senate mainly to the administration in which

7:34:13 to 7:34:33( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: those answers have been provided. 900 questions over 900 for the record. in short, we have given significant consideration to the ratification of new start. i know that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle were committed to guaranteeing the security of our country, also recognize the obligation to ratifying this arms control agreement immediately.

7:34:34 to 7:34:55( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: madam president, i want to take you back a little bit because i hear my colleagues talk about not having enough time. i want to take you back to a hot day this summer in the foreign relations committee where, madam president, you were at that meeting in which the, those that are now saying we don't have enough time asked for just a little bit more time during

7:34:56 to 7:35:16( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: the impending recess so that we could orderly consider the ratification process. that was a hot summer day. it's now a snowy day in december, and they're still saying the same thing. just give us more time. we've had plenty of time. i want to compliment senator kerry and senator lugar for the manner in which they have considered this treaty.

7:35:17 to 7:35:37( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: this is a very important treaty for america, and they have made sure that the senate has had -- and each senator has had ample opportunity to get all the information we need, all the information we need from administration individuals or from experts or from anyone. they have been very open in this

7:35:38 to 7:35:58( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: process. they have also given every member of the senate ample time to get every question answered, to get all the material they need. and it's now time for us to take on our responsibility. that is, to take up this treaty for ratification and vote it up or down. and i certainly hope my colleagues will vote to ratify

7:35:59 to 7:36:20( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: this treaty. i think it's critically important to our national security. in addition to its contributions to american security, one of the most compelling reasons we should ratify this treaty and do so before we recess is to regain our insight into russia's strategic offensive arms. since start i expired over a

7:36:21 to 7:36:42( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: year ago, we've had no comprehensive verification regime in place in order to help us understand russia's strategic nuclear force. we need the transparency to know what russia is doing to provide confidence and stability, and we need that confidence and stability to contribute to a safer world. we will only regain that

7:36:43 to 7:37:03( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: transparency by ratifying this treaty, and we are in dangerous territory without it. let me just repeat: we need this treaty for verification. we need this treaty to know what russia is doing so we can verify what russia tells us to make sure in fact that it's true. not only will this treaty enhance the national security in the united states, it will serve

7:37:04 to 7:37:24( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: as a significant step forward in our relationship with russia, a key partner in the overall u.s. strategy to reduce the spread of nuclear weapons worldwide. let's be perfectly clear about this. there are still two nations that have the majority of nuclear weapon capacity in this world. it's russia and the united states.

7:37:25 to 7:37:46( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: working together, we can make this world safer. working together, we can move forward with reductions in strategic arms around the world. working together, we provide the leadership so that we can move forward against proliferation against nuclear weapons.

7:37:47 to 7:38:07( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: in fact we have done that, but the failure to ratify this he treaty could have a major negative impact on the leadership of the united states in this area. the u.s. relationship with the russian federation is key in our efforts to curtail iran's nuclear ambition. in june russia voted for the latest u.n. stkaourt council -- security council sanctions on

7:38:08 to 7:38:29( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: iran and later canceled the sale of advanced arms defense missile system. the ratification of new start is essential in reinitiating investigations and for the united states and russia to lead the way in reduction of the nuclear arms stockpile. this is for leadership. we all talk about making sure iran does not become a nuclear weapons state.

7:38:30 to 7:38:50( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: ratifying the new start treaty will help us in making sure iran does not become a nuclear weapons state. it keeps the united states and russia focused on strategic arms

7:38:51 to 7:39:11( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: reduction and focused on non proliferation. the failure is a setback in keeping iran from becoming a weapons state. new start, the first treaty with russia in almost a decade, calls for both sides to reduce deployed warheads modestly from 2,200 to 1,550.

7:39:12 to 7:39:35( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: it would restore skhapbgz of information -- exchanges of information about arsenals. it would pave the way to greater cooperation between the two powers in dealing with such hot spots as iran and afghanistan. let me just point out one other part if i might. that is previous arms treaties have been ratified with overwhelming bipartisan support.

7:39:36 to 7:39:56( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: start i was passed 93-6 in 1994. and the moscow treaty passed 95-0 in 2003. legislators recognized then that arms control agreements between russia and the united states is not just good for security of our two nations but can lead the way for the world to reduce proliferation of nuclear weapons. during last month's nato summit

7:39:57 to 7:40:17( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: in lisbon, the nato security secretary general stated -- and i quote -- "the new start treaty would pave the way for arms control and disarmament initiatives in other areas vital to euro atlantic security." so, madam president, i think this is a key moment in the history of the united states senate.

7:40:18 to 7:40:39( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: i know that there are many important votes that we take in the senate. there are many votes that we take that have very significant consequences. i think the ratification of this treaty is just one of those moments. i think it keeps us on path and enhances our credibility to make the world safer and do it in a

7:40:40 to 7:40:56( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: twhaeu enhances the security -- in a way that enhances the security of the people of the united states of america. this is a treaty that needs to be ratified and needs to be ratified now. i urge my colleagues to vote in the interest of national security to move swiftly and