(Atlanta)  – Recently Representative Barbara Massey Reece, accompanied by Elizabeth McNamara, Atlanta, President of the National League of Women Voters, and four other women from the Georgia General Assembly, met with Senator Johnny Isakson and representatives from Senator Saxby Chambliss’ office. The delegation met with Georgia’s U.S. Senators to express their support for swift ratification of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). 

New START verifiably reduces enormous U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals and re-establishes crucial U.S. monitoring of Russia’s stockpile, thus increasing transparency and stability.  With the original START treaty’s expiration on December 5, 2009, the U.S. has been unable to conduct on-site inspections of Russian weapons for 353 days. When New START enters into force inspections will resume.  

Rep. Reece says, “President Reagan, who began negotiations for the first START treaty, said ‘Trust, but verify.’ New START is essential if we want to regain the ‘verify’.  It is time for our Senators to join our nation’s military leaders and national security experts and make ratification of New START a top priority.” 

Rep. Reece points out that arms control treaties have traditionally enjoyed wide bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate. She says, “Our national security is too important to be used to score partisan points. Senator Johnny Isakson set a tremendous example when he rose above the partisan fray and voted for New START in the committee vote. Now Senator Isakson must work with his colleagues to ensure that New START is ratified this year by this Senate. I trust Senator Chambliss will join him and vote for ratification on the Senate floor.”

She further notes, “Georgia Senators have a long, proud history of working across the aisle to keep our nation safe. Former Senator Sam Nunn is a strong supporter of New START.” Secretary of Defense Robert Gates testified that our nation’s military unanimously supports ratification of the treaty. High-ranking members of the past seven presidential Administrations support the treaty.  

The Georgia Legislators also met with Congressman Phil Gingrey and attended the First Annual Healthcare Summit. The policy training summit was sponsored by Women in Government, a national bi partisan organization.