Secretary Clinton Implores GOP TO Back New START Treaty

By A.J. Swartwood

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared on Capitol Hill Wednesday to implore Senate Republicans to support the New START Treaty’s ratification before the end of lame duck session.

The comments came a day after Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), citing concern that the lame duck session would not provide adequate time to resolve all the concerns related to the treaty, announced his opposition to a vote.

“Some have suggested that we hit the pause button, that it is too difficult to do this in a lame duck session. I strongly disagree,” said Secretary Clinton. “This is exactly what the American people expect us to do, to come together and do what is necessary to protect our country.”

Clinton, who spoke alongside the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Dick Lugar (R-Ind.), remains confident that despite the initial setback, the New START Treaty can be passed before the start of the new year.

“We intend to do everything we can during this lame duck session, to get a vote to ratify this treaty,” said Clinton. “This is not an issue that can afford to be postponed…We think once we take that message with the urgency that you heard from the three of us, we will get the votes, and we will pass this treaty.”