The existence and possible deployment of nuclear weapons remains the greatest threat to life on earth - yet countries like Iran and North Korea are racing to become nuclear states while countries already in possession of nukes continue to add to their stockpiles. Thankfully, President Obama, leader of the country with the second highest number of nuclear weapons (Russia has the most), is committed to reducing our nuclear arsenal and preventing nuclear proliferation around the world. He cannot do it alone, though. Congress must agree to ratify the two most important non-proliferation treaties at this time: the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the in-progress successor to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).

Nuclear weapons are not only destructive when aimed and fired; nuclear testing harms the environment and the dilapidated conditions of many nuclear holding sites poses a safety risk to us all. Additonally, the production, and even more so, the upkeep, of our nuclear arsenal costs the United States billions of dollars per year. Ratifying a successor to START, the bilateral agreement between the United States and Russia which is set to expire at the end of this year, would ensure that nuclear stockpile reduction continues, thus saving us money and lessening the chances of an accidental explosion. President Obama and Russian President Medvedev are negotiating terms of the new START and Congress needs to commit to speedy ratification when the time comes.

Ratifying CTBT, which the U.S. already voluntarily complies with, would also be to our country's advantage. 148 countries are party to the treaty right now, but it will not enter into force until those countries possessing nuclear weapons and reactors ratify, including the U.S. While we have not conducted explosive nuclear tests since 1992, other countries continue to do so, including the illicit and antagonistic testing that North Korea has conducted this year. If the United States would ratify, it would encourage other nuclear countries to do so as well, which would help the treaty officially enter into force.

President Obama has already announced that nuclear non-proliferation will be a central issue during his presidency, but he needs the Senate's help. So, please fill out the form below to write to your Senators TODAY to encourage the speedy ratification of the CTBT and the successor to START.