Rep. Pete Stark

Last week, Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) and 26 other representatives sent a letter to President Obama urging him to ensure the Nuclear Posture Review puts the US on a path toward nuclear disarmament. Peace Action West worked closely with Rep. Stark’s office, encouraging representatives in the western states to sign on to the letter. With the review due in early 2010, now is an important time for the president to hear from Congress. Rep. Stark’s office issued this press release about the letter:

This weekend, the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between the US and Russia expired, but negotiators for both countries are working hard to finalize a new treaty, or “New START,” on verifiable nuclear weapons reductions by the end of the month. On Friday, the US and Russia issued this simple Joint Statement to help address concerns over the expiration of the treaty and its verification and inspection provisions:

Recognizing our mutual determination to support strategic stability between the United States of America and the Russian Federation, we express our commitment, as a matter of principle, to continue to work together in the spirit of the START Treaty following its expiration, as well as our firm intention to ensure that a new treaty on strategic arms enter into force at the earliest possible date.