During President Obama's major nuclear weapons speech this past Sunday he pledged, “To achieve a global ban on nuclear testing, my Administration will immediately and aggressively pursue U.S. ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. After more than five decades of talks, it is time for the testing of nuclear weapons to finally be banned.” Now it looks like he is backing up that statement with action. Administration officials have said they expect President Obama to appoint Vice President Joe Biden to spearhead ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Nuclear testing fuels the arms race and undermines the non-proliferation regime by allowing nations to develop deadlier weapons and enabling new nuclear weapons states to emerge. Additionally, nuclear testing poses serious threats to the environment and our health. US ratification of the CTBT would help strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and enhance global security.