On the recordJuly 23, 2013
I thank the gentleman from Colorado for sponsoring this amendment. Mr. Chairman, the New START Treaty does not require the closing of an ICBM facility, but the purpose of this study is to close an ICBM wing or squadron. While President Obama has announced plans to further reduce America's nuclear capabilities, there is no negotiated proposal with Russia or a Senate-confirmed treaty for reductions of this size. The Air Force has a plan for the ratified reductions, placing 30 silos in warm status before February 2018. These baseline numbers will meet the New START deadline if the administration just allows them to move forward. I urge my colleagues to support the Lamborn-Lummis-Daines-Cramer amendment and ensure that Congress provides proper approval of the goal before spending money on the process.
