Daryl G. Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, responded to today's statement by Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) on New START with the following comments:

"Prompt ratification of New START is essential for U.S. national security. It is irresponsible for Senate Republican leaders to block a vote on this common sense treaty and ignore the advice of the U.S. military and Republican and Democratic national security experts," Kimball said.

The Arms Control Association released a new study, Assessing Progress on Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament: 2009-2010 Report Card, by its research staff that measures the performance of 11 key states in 10 universally-recognized nonproliferation, disarmament and nuclear security categories over the past 18 months. The study gives grades to China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, India, Israel, Pakistan—each of which possess nuclear weapons—and North Korea—which maintains a nuclear weapons capability—as well as Iran and Syria, which are under investigation for possible nuclear weapons-related activity.

Tuesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved by voice vote a resolution for advice and consent for ratification of Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties with Australia and the United Kingdom as well as legislation to implement them. Experts at the nonpartisan Arms Control Association (ACA) recommended today that the full Senate indefinitely defer consideration of these treaties.

According to a recent Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Proliferation Analysis by Daryl Kimball, President Obama should use the International Day against Nuclear Tests to reiterate his pledge to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

As the world’s top conventional arms exporter with one of the most robust export control systems, the United States arguably stands to benefit more than any country from raising global arms trade standards.

Experts from the Arms Control Association joined with leaders of 31 national organizations urging Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to take a bold approach in preparatory committee meetings on a legally binding arms trade treaty (ATT) set to begin next week.

In a letter sent this week to the 46-member states of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a prestigious and broad array of more than 40 experts and nongovernmental organizations from 14 countries urged that these nations "reiterate to the Chinese government that it must not engage in nuclear trade with Pakistan in a way that violates nonproliferation obligations and norms."

Statement by ACA Executive Director Daryl G. Kimball on the 2010 nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference and consensus final document.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee formally begins consideration today of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) following its official submission to the Senate last week for advice and consent. President Obama has called for the treaty to be approved before the November elections; a busy Senate schedule makes the actual timing unclear.