[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 84 (Monday, June 8, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S6235]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 START

  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, there are three things I would specifically 
like to address today. First, briefly, a matter of concern to the 
Senate, namely the ongoing negotiations between the United States and 
the Russian Federation on the so-called START follow-on. Specifically, 
I am concerned that the administration is heading toward a 
confrontation with the Senate that could easily be avoided.
  I ask unanimous consent to have two letters printed in the Record at 
the conclusion of my remarks.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  (See Exhibit 1.)
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, the first is one I sent as Administrative Co-
Chairman of the successor to the Arms Control Observer Group--to 
Assistant Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller, prior to her 
confirmation by the Senate. The second letter is the response that I 
received from her.
  The response makes clear that Assistant Secretary Gottemoeller would 
regularly consult with Senate committees and the National Security 
Working Group. In fact, the response from Ambassador Michael Polt, the 
then-Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs, 
quotes Ms. Gottemoeller in her confirmation hearing: ``For me, 
consultation is not a catch word. It is a commitment.''
  The National Security Working Group was established to provide a 
forum for the administration, any administration, to meet with and 
consult with a bipartisan group of Senators concerning matters that the 
administration may seek to advance through the Senate, especially on 
matters requiring the Senate's advice and consent.
  The value of this working group was also recognized in the recent 
final report of the Perry-Schlesinger Commission.
  I remind the administration: this is advice and consent.
  If the administration wants to have the Senate on board when it 
concludes the treaty negotiation process--for example, when and if it 
attempts to have a treaty ratified by this body, it would be prudent 
for the administration to live up to its commitments and ensure 
thorough consultation with the Senate so it is on board at the 
beginning of the process.
  I hope that this is possible. I believe it still is, but the 
administration must reverse course quickly.

                               Exhibit 1


                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                    Washington, DC, April 1, 2009.
     Hon. Rose Gottemoeller,
     Assistant Secretary of State for Verification, Compliance and 
         Implementation--Nominated, Department of State, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Ms. Gottemoeller: Congratulations on your nomination 
     to be Assistant Secretary of State for Verification, 
     Compliance and Implementation. This is an extremely important 
     position; if confirmed, you will be the point person on 
     matters with the greatest impact on the national security of 
     the United States.
       I was reassured by your response to Senator Lugar during 
     the Foreign Relations Committee hearing on your nomination 
     regarding your familiarity with the historical role played by 
     the Arms Control Observer Group, now known as the National 
     Security Working Group (NSWG), which, as you know, has the 
     responsibility--by Senate Resolution--to support the Senate's 
     advice and consent role by understanding in real time the 
     Administration's negotiation positions on arms control 
     matters and providing the Administration with feedback as to 
     the perspective of Senators on those positions.
       As Senator Lugar noted, the Arms Control Observer Group was 
     created at the behest of President Reagan, who understood 
     that it was vital for the Senate to be well-versed in ongoing 
     negotiations--in that case, on arms control treaties--from 
     the very beginning, so that it would be more likely the 
     Administration could negotiate a treaty that the Senate would 
     be able to support and ratify.
       As you know, the National Security Working Group has been 
     given the responsibility, on behalf of the Senate, to ``act 
     as official observers on the United States delegation to any 
     formal negotiations to which the United States is a party on 
     the reduction of nuclear, conventional, or chemical arms.'' 
     In the past, it has been helpful for the Administration to 
     provide regular briefings to the Members and designated staff 
     of the Arms Control Observer Group throughout the formal and 
     informal negotiation process.
       In reviewing your response to Senator Lugar, it is clear to 
     me that you understand the statutory and historical role of 
     this Senate body. As an Administrative Co-Chairman of the 
     National Security Working Group, I look forward to ensuring 
     that this productive relationship between the Administration 
     and the Senate continues.
       I agree with Senator Lugar that this will be all the more 
     important this year. In fact, in view of the commitment of 
     Presidents Obama and Medvedev to reach an agreed draft on the 
     next START treaty well in advance of the December 5th 
     expiration of the current START treaty, we should probably 
     begin briefings and consultation between the Administration 
     and NSWG soon.
       I hope you could begin discussing these matters with the 
     NSWG Members and staff immediately upon your confirmation.
           Sincerely,
                                                          Jon Kyl,
     United States Senator.
                                  ____



                                          Department of State,

                                    Washington, DC, April 2, 2009.
     Hon. Jon Kyl,
     U.S. Senate.
       Dear Senator Kyl: Thank you for your letter of April 1 to 
     Rose Gottemoeller, the President's nominee for Assistant 
     Secretary of State for Verification and Compliance, regarding 
     the importance of consultation with the Congress and the 
     National Security Working Group.
       In Ms. Gottemoeller's testimony on March 26 before the 
     Senate Foreign Relations Committee, she quoted a phrase from 
     Secretary of State Clinton's statement before the Committee. 
     She said, ``For me, consultation is not a catch word. It is a 
     commitment.'' Ms. Gottemoeller fully shares the Secretary's 
     commitment.
       If she is confirmed by the Senate, Ms. Gottemoeller would 
     be working with the Congress as a partner in addressing our 
     national security challenges. She would provide regular and 
     complete briefings to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 
     the Armed Services Committee, the Select Committee on 
     Intelligence, the National Security Working Group, and other 
     relevant and interested organizations.
        We expect the future Assistant Secretary to engage in a 
     dynamic consultation process with you and others in the 
     Congress on the key national security issues in the Bureau's 
     portfolio, including the follow-on to the Strategic Arms 
     Reduction Treaty.
           Sincerely,

                                              Michael C. Polt,

                                       Acting Assistant Secretary,
     Legislative Affairs.

                          ____________________