Rogers, Cruz push Obama administration to release report of Russia’s missile violations

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August 25, 2015

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-AL03 (Photo: Facebook)

WASHINGTON — Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL3) joined Texas Senator and GOP presidential contender Ted Cruz, in urging the Obama administration to stop interfering with the release of the Pentagon report on Russia’s violations of the 1987 Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Cruz sent President Obama a letter Friday outlining his concerns about withholding the risks assessment report from Congress and calling on the White House to release the Pentagon report.

“The Senate’s advice and consent power is a pivotal element of a constitutional and prudent foreign policy, but it cannot be exercised if your administration does not act in good faith,” said Cruz in his letter. “This risk assessment report is necessary to determine a strategic response to Russia’s treaty violations, and I request that you lift your embargo on this report immediately.”

The Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty between the United States and Russia banned ground-launched ballistic missiles and cruise missiles within a certain range. While the The U.S. Department of State confirmed Russia’s violation in 2014, the only information released was that the violation involves Russia’s testing of an R-500 cruise missile.

Rep. Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee, has advocated for the release of the report since last month. Even though Rogers says the risks assessment “seems to stay tied up in the White House,” the report is viewed as vital to understand the severity of the Russian missile violations.

“As we look to the near-term future, we need to consider how we’re going to respond to Russia’s INF violations,” Rogers said. “Congress will not continue to tolerate the administration dithering on this issue.”

Cruz also stressed in his letter that there are additional reports that reflect the U.S. has “harbored doubts of Russian compliance since 2008” without having these concerns shared with the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Both Cruz and Rogers believe that the release of the report is necessary for Congress to confront the problem in legislation and that Congress needs the risks assessment report to fully assess what the U.S. response should be to Russia’s violations.

Sen. Cruz requested a response from the Obama administration to the letter by September 1st.