Washington, DC – Congressman Howard L. Berman, Ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement applauding Russia’s approval of the New START treaty.

“I welcome the endorsement by the Duma and the Federation Council of the U.S.-Russia “New START” treaty to mutually and verifiably reduce our excessive strategic nuclear weapon arsenals, and look forward to its speedy ratification and entry into force.

“This is a triumph for President Obama and his whole Administration. The New START treaty will safeguard U.S. national security, further reduce the nuclear dangers facing us, and give, indeed, a “new start” to the cause of reducing and eliminating these most terrible of weapons. “