Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

I support the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and voted to ratify it. Unfortunately, the Senate failed to ratify the treaty. The CTBT is a key piece of the broader picture of nuclear nonproliferation and arms control. When non-nuclear countries agreed to forgo nuclear weapons in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), an essential part of that "grand bargain" was that nuclear countries were to control and reduce their nuclear weapons. An integral part of that effort is the CTBT.

It is virtually impossible to develop nuclear weapons for the first time without testing. One of the most compelling threats this country faces today is that of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Threat assessments regularly warn of the possibility that North Korea, Iran or Iraq may acquire or develop nuclear weapons. If we do not lead the fight against nuclear weapons, the global consensus on nonproliferation will break down and we will have no way to stop countries like Iraq or Iran from developing nuclear weapons, or to keep a lid on the arms race between India and Pakistan.

SENATOR DICK DURBIN'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

NATIONAL DEFENSE:
Airport Security
Cuba Relations
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
Homeland Security
Iraq Relations
Middle East Policy
War on Terrorism

ECONOMY:
Energy Policy
Federal Income Taxes
Internet Sales Tax
Minimum Wage
O'Hare Modernization
Trade
Transportation

DOMESTIC ISSUES:
Campaign Finance Reform
Death Penalty
Education
Farm Subsidies
Gay/Lesbian Rights
Gun Control
Health Care
HIV/AIDS
Labor
Patient's Bill of Rights
Right to Choose
Social Security
Stem Cell Research
Veterans
Welfare Reform
Women's Issues