By State Representative Dee Dawkins-Haigler (D-Lithonia)
(194 words)
As a legislator, mother, and wife of a Major recently deployed to Afghanistan, national security is always on my mind. I am pleased to see that the United States Senate has finally ratified the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. New START is a fundamental continuation of the nuclear disarmament negotiations that President Ronald Reagan began more than 25 years ago.
Countless military officials, defense experts, and all living former Secretaries of State strongly agree that the United States will benefit from the inspection and verification measures outlined in New START. Since START I expired in December 2009, the United States has gone more than a year without inspecting Russia’s nuclear arsenal. While I would like to applaud Senator Johnny Isakson for voting in favor of New START, I am disappointed that Senator Saxby Chambliss chose not to do the same.
As an elected official, I am committed to voting for the best interests of my constituents. Of the many important pieces of legislation passed in the post-election session, New START was among the most important. We can all rest easier knowing that the Senate has voted in favor of national security and global stability.
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State Representative Dee Dawkins-Haigler represents the citizens of District 93, which includes portions of DeKalb and Rockdale counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2008, and currently serves on the Banks & Banking, Human Relations & Aging, and Industrial Relations committees.