[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 9, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    CUTS IN NUCLEAR ARSENALS NEEDED

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                          HON. ELIZABETH FURSE

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 9, 1995
  Ms. FURSE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit for the Record the 
letter I and 24 of my colleagues sent to President Clinton last Friday. 
In it, we urged him to propose beginning negotiations with Russia on a 
START III agreement, to further limit our two nations' massive nuclear 
weapons arsenals.
  Depending on the outcome of this week's summit in Moscow, I will 
consider introducing a resolution similar to this letter. I believe 
these reductions are vital in order to achieve a safer world for all of 
us.
                                                  Elizabeth Furse,


                                U.S. House of Representatives,

                                                      May 5, 1995.
     Hon. William J. Clinton,
     President of the United States of America,
     The White House, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: We wish you success in your upcoming 
     summit with President Boris Yeltsin in Moscow.
       The substantial improvement in relations between Russia and 
     ourselves in this post-Cold War era offers a historic 
     opportunity to secure further reductions in nuclear arms, 
     thereby reducing the nuclear risk and cost for the United 
     States, Russia and the world. As you know, at your September 
     1994 summit with President Yeltsin, you agreed that our two 
     nations would discuss possibilities for further limits on our 
     remaining nuclear forces, including further reductions. As 
     you prepare for the summit, we urge you to prompt the United 
     States Senate to complete START II approval of ratification. 
     In Moscow, we urge you to encourage Russia also to ratify 
     START II.
       We believe that the United States should begin negotiations 
     with Russia as quickly as possible on a START III agreement 
     to achieve deeper cuts in our strategic nuclear arsenals. 
     Such an agreement should require dismantling excess warheads 
     and placing the resulting nuclear materials in storage under 
     international or bilateral monitoring. We also encourage you 
     to initiate negotiations with Russia to retire and dismantle 
     all tactical nuclear weapons in our respective arsenals.
       Additional measures toward nuclear disarmament enjoy broad 
     support among the American public and are vital to reducing 
     the threat of nuclear conflict. We hope you will include 
     these practical steps in the summit agenda.
           Sincerely,
         Tom Barrett, Howard Berman, Sherrod Brown, Bob Clement, 
           Peter DeFazio, Ron Dellums, Michael Doyle, Lane Evans, 
           Elizabeth Furse, Sam Gejdenson, Maurice Hinchey, Zoe 
           Lofgren, Ed Markey, David Minge, Connie Morella, Jim 
           Oberstar, Major Owens, Frank Pallone, Nancy Pelosi, 
           Martin Sabo, Pat Schroeder, Jose Serrano, Louise 
           Slaughter, Pete Stark, Ron Wyden,
           

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