Feb 25, 2019
There is precedent for using patient diplomacy to resolve treaty violations.
Dick Lugar
The Public Record
Richard Lugar was an American politician and diplomat who served as a United States Senator from Indiana from 1977 to 2013. A member of the Republican Party, Lugar was known for his significant contributions to foreign policy and arms control, particularly through the Nunn-Lugar program aimed at securing and dismantling weapons of mass destruction in former Soviet states. His tenure in the Senate was marked by a commitment to bipartisanship and a focus on international security issues.
★ Featured Quote
February 25, 2019
The reasons for Russia's violation are unclear. But I believe the violation was likely due to a number of factors...
— Dick Lugar
Most widely reported
by number of sources- I rise to introduce the Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2004. The unprecedented AIDS orphan crisis in sub-Saharan Africa has profound implications for political stability, development, and human welfare that extend far beyond the region. Sub-Saharan African nations stand to lose generations of educated and trained professionals who can contribute meaningfully to their countries' development. Orphaned children, many of whom are homeless, are more likely to resort to prostitution and other criminal behavior to survive. Most frighteningly, these uneducated, poorly socialized, and stigmatized young adults are extremely vulnerable to being recruited into criminal gangs, rebel groups, or extremist organizations that offer shelter and food and act as 'surrogate' families. It is imperative that the international community respond to this crisis that threatens stability within individual countries, the region, and around the world. An estimated 110 million orphans live in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is rapidly expanding the orphan population. Currently an estimated 14 million children have been orphaned by AIDS, most of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa. This number is projected to soar to more than 25 million by 2010. The pandemic is orphaning generations of African children and is compromising the overall development prospects of their countries.3 sources2004govinfo.gov
- I am pleased to submit a Senate resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the income tax system be abolished and replaced with a broad-based consumption tax on goods and services. I supported IRS reform legislation passed last Congress and will continue to work within the confines of our tax system to improve it. However, the fundamental flaws of the income tax system remain. I strongly believe that Congress should abolish the income tax system in its entirety and begin anew. The problems of the income tax are well documented. By taxing savings and investment at least twice, the income tax has become the biggest impediment to economic growth in the country. Each year it costs Americans more than 5 billion hours of time to comply with it. The system is unfair and riddled with loopholes. It favors foreign imports and discourages American exports. As witnesses testified before Congress last year, the IRS regularly violates the privacy rights of individuals while enforcing the income tax. And finally, the system doesn't work. By its own admission, the Internal Revenue Service fails to collect from nearly 10 million taxpayers, with an estimated $127 billion in uncollected taxes annually. Anything this broken should be ended decisively.2 sources1999govinfo.gov
- I rise today with Senator Evan Bayh to introduce the Southern District of Indiana Temporary Judgeship Act. This legislation will help remedy the strain experienced by the Federal Court for the Southern District of Indiana from its extremely heavy caseload. The Southern District's caseload far exceeds the national average and is more than any other district court in the 7th Circuit. Indeed, the most recent report of the Judicial Business of the United States Courts indicates that the Southern District had 599 filings per judge, compared to a national average of 474. Over the last 10 years, the area of Indiana comprising the Southern District has seen explosive population growth, the designation of the penitentiary at Terre Haute, IN, as the place of confinement for those sentenced to death under federal law, and a large increase in the amount of multi-district litigation. Yet, despite these changes, Indiana has not had a new judgeship added since 1990. I am pleased, therefore, to join with Senator Bayh to help ensure that the delivery of justice is unimpeded. There is wide agreement about the need for this additional judgeship, and the Judicial Conference of the United States has called upon Congress since 1996 to add a temporary judge to the Southern District. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.2 sources2001govinfo.gov
- at the request of the Administration, I rise today to offer legislation to repeal the Jackson-Vanik amendment to Title IV of the 1974 Trade Act and to authorize the extension of normal trade relations to the products of the Russian Federation. Congress passed the Jackson-Vanik amendment as a means to deny Permanent Normal Trade Relations to communist countries that restricted emigration rights and were not market economies. Jackson-Vanik continues to apply to the Russian Federation today despite the findings of successive Administrations that Russia had come into full compliance with requirements of freedom of emigration, including the absence of any tax on emigration. Furthermore, although Russia's transformation has been imperfect, substantial progress has been made toward the creation of a free-market economy. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, there have been dramatic changes in all aspects of life in Russia. It is clear that the Jackson-Vanik amendment played a role in bringing about these changes and in promoting freedom of emigration in many countries in the former Soviet Union. But, the time has come to move beyond the Cold War era.2 sources2001govinfo.gov
- it is my sad duty today to inform the Senate that our distinguished Governor of Indiana, Frank O'Bannon, has been incapacitated by what his doctors describe as a massive stroke. Governor O'Bannon is currently at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago where-- thankfully--he is showing some small but encouraging signs of improvement. This has been a heartbreaking moment for all of us in Indiana. Frank O'Bannon is not only one of the State's most dedicated public servants--he is also one of the most respected and loved. I have joined with all my fellow Hoosiers in praying for his recovery. His wife, Judy, has been at his side at the hospital since Monday, and I hope she knows that she has our unwavering support. Governor O'Bannon has a record of public service that goes back more than 30 years. He was first elected to the Indiana State Senate where he served 18 years--much of it as the Democratic floor leader. He was Lieutenant Governor for 8 years before being elected Governor in 1996 and then re-elected by a wide margin in 2000. I have known Frank O'Bannon many years and consider him my friend. He is a good man with a good heart--and that is why we are all so saddened by this sudden turn of events.2 sources2003govinfo.gov
- during this past recess of the Senate, my wife, Charlene, and I received the joyous news that Preston Charles Lugar, the newborn son and first child of our son, John Hoereth Lugar and his wife, Kelly Smith Lugar, had been born on February 20, 2004, at Sibley Hospital, in Washington, DC. Preston was a healthy 8 pounds, three and eight/tenths ounces at birth. Kelly's parents, Robert Lee Smith and Renee' Camille Smith, Charlene, and I were present to greet our new grandson and his parents as they returned to their Arlington, VA, residence on February 22. Kelly and John were married on November 5, 2001, in the Washington Cathedral with Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie, former Chaplain of the Senate, presiding. They and their families and guests had enjoyed a rehearsal dinner in the Mansfield room of the Capitol on the night before the wedding. Kelly has worked with many of our colleagues during her current service to the administration of President George Bush and our former colleague, Secretary of Energy, Spencer Abraham, as Assistant Under Secretary with responsibilities for Congressional Relations.2 sources2004govinfo.gov
congress.gov
Feb 25, 2019
We need to be indicating our leadership with regard to NATO, with regard to our European alliances.
Feb 25, 2019
even if the INF Treaty finally falls by the wayside, something else is going to follow that is more comprehensive and of greater safety to more countries.
Feb 25, 2019
jettisoning treaties that provide a legal framework for exposing Russian violations achieves nothing.
Feb 25, 2019
Congress could condition funding to develop new missiles on receipt from the administration of a comprehensive military, economic, and diplomatic strategy to bring Russia back into compliance with the treaty.
Feb 25, 2019
Congress has the ability to press the administration on its strategy to prevent a new Euro-missile race and increased instability in the absence of the INF Treaty.
Feb 25, 2019
I believe that the verification provisions of New START are important, to begin with, leaving aside anything else.
Feb 25, 2019
Well, in addition to the comments that have been made about better cohesion with our European allies, it seems to me we need to be thinking more about missile defense than about really the ways in which we negate the value of these…
Feb 25, 2019
Several members of Congress have already proposed legislation along these lines.
Feb 25, 2019
What we really need right now is a revival of NATO, a revival of the spirit of the allies...
Feb 25, 2019
In the likely event the INF Treaty collapses in August, the only remaining bilateral U.S.-Russia arms control agreement would be New START, which expires in 2021 but can be extended by up to five years through agreement by both parties.
Feb 25, 2019
Congress, via the power of the purse, also has the ability to prevent the administration from taking steps, such as testing and fielding new and unnecessary land-based intermediate-range missile systems.
Feb 25, 2019
The President has to want to get back into the discussions. At this point, there is not evidence that that is the case.
Mar 13, 2018
Hungry people are desperate people and desperation can sow the seeds of radicalism.
Mar 18, 2013
The Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program has been a true success story and has made incredible contributions to U.S. national security in the last 20 years.
Dec 19, 2012
Diplomacy is not a luxury. It is essential to American national security, especially in an era of terrorism.
Dec 19, 2012
I am very grateful to have had this opportunity to serve with each one of you.
Dec 19, 2012
I join you in welcoming back Secretary Burns and Tom Nides, both who are good friends of the committee.
Politicians like Dick Lugar
