Mike Levin: “I am a co-sponsor of the Kerrey amendment and urge the Senate to adopt this important amendment. Current law prohibits…”

“I am a co-sponsor of the Kerrey amendment and urge the Senate to adopt this important amendment. Current law prohibits the U.S. from reducing its strategic nuclear delivery systems below START I levels. This law requires the U.S. to stay at START I levels--to maintain 6000 nuclear warheads, until START II enters into force. This law was enacted, in 1996, just 16 months after the START II treaty was signed. The amendment offered by Senator Kerrey will repeal this law which is neither needed or helpful. The START II treaty allows the U.S. to reduce the number of nuclear warheads to 3000-3500, but the law requires that we maintain 6000 warheads. We do not need 6000 thousand warheads and we do not need this law. The Department of Defense has consistently argued that the law is not necessary. When asked his view about this provision, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Shelton, was clear: 'I would definitely oppose inclusion of any language that mandates specific force structure levels.' General Shelton made it clear that the Chiefs also oppose this provision: 'The Service Chiefs and I feel it is time to consider options that will reduce the strategic forces to the levels recommended by the Nuclear Posture Review. The START I legislative restraint will need to be removed before we can pursue these options. Major costs will be incurred if we remain at START I levels.' We have already spent millions staying at the START I, 6000 warhead level.”