Wednesday, December 22, 2010

U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Floor Statement on New START Treaty
Remarks as Delivered on the Senate Floor

Madam President, I wish to take an additional minute, if I might--the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee is on the floor--to say, in addition to my statement I made 2 days ago in a speech on the floor with regard to the START treaty, that I wish to thank the chairman and the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee for the accommodating process from day one in April until today, where the treaty will ultimately pass on the floor of the Senate.

Legislation is about improving ideas and making sure the interest of the American people and the United States of America is protected. Through the work of Senators Lugar and Kerry, we have been able to craft amendments to the resolution of ratification on the START treaty that ensure missile defense and modernization--the two contentious points on this legislation which came from the committee--are not only taken care of, but they are buttoned down and they are clear. And I thank the chairman and the ranking member for their willingness to do so.

I want to let everyone who is listening and those who will read the reports of this debate know that this has been a 7-month process, not a 9-day process, and it has been a detailed process. It has been the work of the will of the people of the United States of America, and the U.S. Senate has worked its will. When it is ratified today, it will be a step forward in the future for my children and grandchildren.

During my campaign when I ran for reelection this year, I made the following statement: The rest of my life is about doing everything I can do to see to it that the lives of my children and grandchildren are safer, more secure, and as affluent as my life has been because of my parents and grandparents. Today, in this ratification, we are ensuring that we will be strong in our strength, we will trust but we will verify. We will make sure we can fight, if necessary, but we will also make sure we are accountable. And most important of all, with regard to the biggest threats we face--terrorism and loose nuclear materials falling into the hands of a rogue nation--we will be a safer country because of this, and I thank the chairman and ranking member because of it.