February 7, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 24 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H1397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      WITHDRAWING FROM INF TREATY

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, President Donald Trump 
made the courageous decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range 
Nuclear Forces Treaty last week. This was long overdue. Sadly, there 
have been obvious Russian violations since 2011.
  The 1987 INF Treaty was achieved by President Ronald Reagan to 
prohibit development of ground-launched cruise missiles. The INF Treaty 
was seen as the gold standard of arms control agreements for years, but 
Russia has been in violation of the agreement, while we have continued 
to limit our research and development.
  Allowing Russia to violate the INF Treaty endangers American 
families. Now, Russia will find more incentive to return to the 
negotiating table, encouraged by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
  We must continue to seek peace through strength. It was this strategy 
implemented by President Reagan that prompted Moscow to sign the INF 
Treaty in the first place.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

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