September 2000

Views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of the AFSC.

Questions on Nuclear Disarmament for Candidates for the US Congress

Nuclear Arms Reduction

Although the Cold War is over, the United States and Russia maintain a large nuclear arsenal. Thousands of nuclear weapons are kept on hair-trigger alert. That means they are within moments of firing.

• Do you favor action to de-alert the nuclear arsenal?

• Do you favor initiatives to achieve deep cuts in the nuclear arsenal?

• If so, as a senator/representative, what will you do to promote de-alerting and deep cuts?

• If you don't favor such initiatives, why not?
  

Nuclear Non-­Proliferation

At the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), held in May 2000, the United States joined Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China in making a commitment to "an unequivocal undertaking to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals." The non-nuclear nations are now waiting to see progress toward this goal.

• Do you support the objective of total elimination of all nuclear weapons on Earth?

• If so, what will you do to achieve this goal? For instance, will you support multilateral negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention that bans nuclear weapons and provides for their elimination within a timebound framework with effective verification and enforcement?

• If you disagree with the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons, of what use are nuclear weapons in your opinion?

• Are you willing to see the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the entire non-proliferation regime collapse?
  

National Missile Defense

Currently the concept of National Missile Defense (NMD) is being debated. On the surface an anti-missile defense seems a worthy objective, but many see deployment of such a system as step down the slippery slope to another nuclear arms race.

• Where do you stand on the deployment of National Missile Defense?

• Are you willing to commit $60 billion for the system being developed by the Clinton Administration or even more for the much larger system proposed by Governor George W. Bush? If so, what budgetary reductions or tax increases would you propose to pay for it?

The Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty has been a cornerstone of stable relations between Russia and the United States. It has provided a firm foundation for START I and START II agreements to reduce strategic nuclear weapons. Now there are voices in the United States urging that the ABM treaty be weakened or even abrogated to allow for a National Missile Defense system.

• Do you favor keeping the ABM Treaty in its present form? Or would you scrap it or modify it? If the latter, what changes do you favor?
  

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (for senatorial candidates)

In 1999 the US Senate rejected ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), a measure intended to control the spread of nuclear weapons. Votes of senators up for re-election were as follows:

Voted against CTBT: Abraham (MI), Ashcroft (MO), Burns (MT), DeWine (OH), Frist (TN), Gorton (WA), Grams (MN), Hatch (UT), Hutchison (TX), Kyl (AZ), Lott (MS), Lugar (IN), Roth (DE), Santorum (PA), Snowe (ME), Thomas (WY)

Voted for CTBT: Akaka (HI), Bingaman (NM), Conrad (ND), Feinstein (CA), Jeffords (VT), Kennedy (MA), Kohl (WI), Lieberman (CT), Robb (VA), Sarbanes (MD) Succeeded Senator Chafee (RI) who voted for CTBT:

Voted present: Byrd (WV)

Open seats: Florida, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York

• For candidates who voted against CTBT: On October 13, 1999 you voted against ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which would ban nuclear weapon testing throughout the world. What is your reason for this negative vote?

• If you are re-elected, how will you vote when the CTBT comes up again?

• If leaning toward a "no" vote, what would it take to get you to vote "yes"?

• For challengers and candidates for open seats: In October 1999 the US Senate refused to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which would ban nuclear weapon testing throughout the world. If elected, will you vote to ratify the CTBT when it comes before the Senate again?

• For candidates who voted for the CTBT: In 1999 you voted to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). If re-elected, will you vote for the CTBT when it comes up again? There are other important nuclear disarmament issues to consider, such as de-alerting and deep cuts in strategic weapons. If re-elected, what will you do to promote action on these matters?
  

These questions were developed in June by members of the Interfaith Committee for Nuclear Disarmament and edited by Howard W. Hallman, Chair, Methodists United for Peace with Justice (a membership association of laity and clergy), 1500 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036; Phone/fax: 301/896-0013; <mupj@igc.org>

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