Ronald Dellums: “I have tried to suggest to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon] that some of the gentleman's conditions were beyond…”

“I have tried to suggest to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon] that some of the gentleman's conditions were beyond the ability to certify. Let me give our colleagues a couple of examples. It says here Russia is not developing offensive chemical or biological weapons. If there is a pharmacological industry, how in the world can we certify with respect to biological weaponry? That flies in the face of reality. Second, Russia is not modernizing its nuclear weapons. Why are we modernizing ours? For safety and reliability that are constrained by treaty, my colleagues. Third, now, this one is extraordinarily bizarre. Mr. Chairman, it says Russia is not providing any intelligence information to Cuba. Now, how can the President of the United States certify with certainty that Russia is not providing intelligence information to Cuba? It defies logic. This is a killer amendment to a significant piece of legislation. At the appropriate point I hope we defeat the gentleman's amendment.”