WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement on the President-elect's recent suggestion to increase the U.S. nuclear arsenal:

"Every American president for nearly four decades has worked to make nuclear weapons less of a threat to humanity.  The President-elect’s talk about more nuclear weapons has already raised the threat level for everyone.  History has shown us that a country rushing to increase its nuclear arsenal doesn't build peace, but threatens it by spurring arms races and creating more dangerous material that could fall into the wrong hands.  I hope Mr. Trump will take a sober look at the ramifications of building more nuclear weapons and exercise greater caution."

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