SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON SIGNING OF NEW START TREATY IN PRAGUE

(Washington, D.C.)-U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs, released the following statement today following the signing of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) by President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Prague. The treaty reduces the number of deployed nuclear warheads in both countries' arsenals and re-affirms commitments to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

"The danger of nuclear terrorism is perhaps the most serious national security challenge facing the United States today.  An agreement between the two largest nuclear powers in the world to reduce its nuclear arsenal is an important first step in ensuring that nuclear weapons do not fall into the wrong hands. A well-designed treaty with Russia will allow the United States to maintain a nuclear deterrent capable of protecting Americans while also pushing to enhance efforts to secure nuclear materials and know-how around the globe.  I look forward to fully examining the specific treaty details during upcoming Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings."