[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 23, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S7523]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      SENATE INACTION ON THE COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, it is the responsibility of the Senate 
Foreign Relations Committee to consider treaties submitted by the 
President as soon as possible after their submission. Normally, most 
treaties are considered within a year of being submitted. The President 
of the United States transmitted the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban 
Treaty to the Senate on September 23, 1997.
  The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has not held a single hearing 
on this important Treaty in the 639 days since the President sent the 
CTBT to the Senate for its consideration. In comparison, the START I 
Treaty was ratified in 11 months, the SALT I Treaty in 3 months, the 
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty in 4 months, and the Limited 
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 3 weeks.
  As of today, 152 countries have signed the CTBT, including Russia and 
China, and 37 countries have ratified the Treaty. The world is waiting 
for the United States to lead on this issue. I hope my colleagues will 
urge for this Treaty's rapid consideration.

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