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<blockquote type="cite" class=""> One out of three is better than nothing:</blockquote>
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<p class="">February 23, 2018</p>
<p class="">Ms. Karen Aram<br class="">
803 East Green Street<br class="">
Urbana, IL 61802-3411</p>
<p class="">Dear Ms. Aram:</p>
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<p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:14pt;" class=""><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class="">Thank
you for contacting me about President Trump's Nuclear Posture Review.</span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> I appreciate hearing from you and share your concerns.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:14pt;" class=""><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class="">In
early February 2018, the Pentagon released the Nuclear Posture Review, which called for the development of a lower yield option for ballistic and cruise missiles launched from submarines.</span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> These lower yield options
would have a less powerful explosive capacity than our current nuclear arsenal.</span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> The Nuclear Posture Review also said nuclear weapons could be used to respond to extreme circumstances, including non-nuclear attacks.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:14pt;" class=""><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class="">One
of the most dangerous threats facing our nation today is the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.</span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> I believe the sole purpose of our nuclear arsenal should be to deter any nuclear attack against the United
States.</span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> Broadening the set of circumstances in which we might use nuclear weapons to include non-nuclear attacks, as President Trump's Nuclear Posture Review does, runs the risk of increasing the likelihood of a
devastating nuclear conflict.</span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> Other countries may decide to develop similar low yield options that could lead to another arms race, the likes of which we haven't seen since the Cold War.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:14pt;" class=""><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class="">On
January 29, 2018, I joined several of my colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump expressing concerns about developing new and low-yield nuclear weapons.</span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> These weapons are unnecessary to maintaining deterrence
and destabilize the international order.</span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> Developing such weapons is also fiscally irresponsible.</span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> It will cost up to $1.7 trillion with inflation over the next 30 years
to modernize, sustain, and operate our existing nuclear triad.</span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> Developing even more weapons will increase this cost exponentially with potentially minimal gain.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:14pt;" class=""><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class="">America's
interests are often best served when we use diplomacy and other alternatives to war or force to solve conflict.</span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> Rather than spending more money creating unnecessary weapons, we should invest in our diplomatic corps
who are our first line of defense in international conflict.</span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> We must continue to work with the international community to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and secure all vulnerable nuclear
material.</span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> I will keep your concerns about President Trump's Nuclear Posture Review in mind as the Senate addresses issues regarding our nation's nuclear arsenal.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:14pt;" class=""><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> </span><span class="">Thank
you again for contacting me.</span><span class=""> </span><span class=""> Please feel free to keep in touch.</span></p>
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<td style="width: 75%;" class=""> Sincerely,<br class="">
<img src="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/Customers/SenDurbin/Sen_Signature.PNG" class="">
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Richard J. Durbin<br class="">
United States Senator</td>
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RJD/jw</td>
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