Tom Harkin: “I rise to share some of my reasons for voting in favor of the Specter-Biden amendment that restored the Comprehensive…”

“I rise to share some of my reasons for voting in favor of the Specter-Biden amendment that restored the Comprehensive Test Ban ``prepcom'' funding. I strongly supported the Specter-Biden amendment to restore the $28 million for the U.S. share of an international network to monitor nuclear weapons testing. The international monitoring network will support the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty that bans all nuclear weapons explosive tests. This treaty will help our nation's nuclear non-proliferation goals by helping to stem the development of new nuclear weapons. The treaty, which awaits ratification in the U.S. Senate, has the support of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, former JCS Chairman General Colin Powell, and the vast majority of the American public. Not only would the nuclear testing monitoring network help the U.S. as we move toward a nuclear weapons ban, it would also prove useful to our national security even without a global testing ban. As I have stated repeatedly on the floor, I am a strong supporter of a nuclear weapons test ban or C-T-B-T. However, even my colleagues that have not decided to support the treaty should support the international monitoring system on its own merits. Why shouldn't we enhance our nation's and our allies ability to detect nuclear weapons tests? The network would establish monitoring stations in places like the former Soviet Union, China, South Asia and Africa, greatly enhancing our capability to detect nuclear tests.”