SENS. LEVIN AND BINGAMAN CALL FOR
HEARINGS ON THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY

     Urge Armed Services Chairman Thurmond To Show Leadership In the Wake
     of India and Pakistan Testing of Nuclear Weapons 

     Washington--Sens. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) in a
     letter to the Chairman of the Senate Armed Service Committee Strom
     Thurmond (R-SC) urged him, in the wake of India and Pakistan holding
     nuclear tests, hold hearings over the national security implications
     of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CBTB).

        "The events in India and Pakistan remind us that we continue to
     live in a dangerous world," Levin said. "The Comprehensive Test Ban
     Treaty would help make it safer, but only if the Senate approves and
     the United States ratifies the Treaty. Before that can happen, the
     Senate must assume its constitutional responsibilities and begin the
     process of holding hearings on the Treaty as soon as possible."

        "The era of nuclear testing is clearly not over. It is even more
     important today than it was yesterday to send a strong message to
     world leaders about the importance the United States Senate places on
     the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. A Committee hearing is central to
     getting the message across," Bingaman said.

        The long-term ramifications of the success or failure of the CTBT
     are of keen importance to the Armed Services Committee. Controlling
     the spread of nuclear materials and nuclear weapons has long been a
     priority of the committee. The CTBT is a key component in the effort
     to reduce the threat posed by nuclear weapons and to improve U.S.
     national security. As such, it is both important and appropriate that
     the Armed Services Committee should hold hearings on the national
     security implications of the Treaty as soon as possible and prepare a
     report setting forth its views. Levin is the Ranking Minority Member
     of the Senate Committee on Armed Services and Bingaman is the Ranking
     Minority Member of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.


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