PUBLIC OPINION ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS ISSUES -- HON. ELIZABETH FURSE (Extension of Remarks - January 17, 1995)
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Ms. FURSE. Mr. Speaker, 1995 is a very important year for the issue of nuclear testing. The U.N. Conference on Disarmament will resume negotiations January 30 on a comprehensive test ban treaty [CTB].
Failure to make significant progress toward a CTB before the Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT] Extension Conference in April could jeopardize the future of the NPT, which is a vital check on the spread of nuclear weapons throughout the world. The new Congres s must provide the strong bipartisan political support necessary to expand efforts to halt nuclear proliferation and achieve a CTB.
A new poll shows that almost 80 percent of the American people believe that reducing the danger of nuclear weapons now should be an important priority for the U.S. Government. The overwhelming majority favor more aggressive arms control measures. These re sults were true for Republican, Independent and Democratic voters alike.
The national poll of 1,011 Americans revealed that: 90 percent favor further cuts in the world's total of nuclear weapons; 82 percent favor a global ban on all nuclear tests; and 82 percent favor eliminating all or most nuclear weapons.
Some 80 percent of Republican voters favor a test ban, as do 85 percent of Democratic voters and 81 percent of Independents. Similarly, 90 percent of all three voter groups favor further cuts in nuclear weapons, with 81 percent of Republicans opting for e liminating all, almost all or a lot of the weapons, compared to 84 percent of the Democrats and 83 percent of the Independents.
Mr. Speaker, I ask permission to insert the poll's findings in the Record. We need to listen to our constituents and get on with ridding the world of the scourge of nuclear weapons.
Washington, D.C--A new poll shows that almost 80 percent of the American people believe that reducing the danger of nuclear weapons now should be an important priority for the US government (with 56% saying it was a very important priority). The ov erwhelming majority favor aggressive arms control measures over the current policies, with lesser majorities supporting building a missile defense system or increasing defense spending. These results were true for republican, independent and democratic vo ters alike.
The national poll of 1,011 Americans asked about specific policy options:
90 percent favor further cuts in the world's total of nuclear weapons (72% strongly in favor).
82 percent favor a global ban on all nuclear tests (with 56% strongly in favor).
82 percent favor eliminating all or most nuclear weapons.
68 percent favor trying to build a theater anti-missile system for troops (43% strongly favor).
64 percent favor trying to building a global anti-missile system for the US (38% strongly favor).
54 percent favor increasing the US military budget (32% strongly favor).
80% of republican voters favor a test ban, as do 85% of democratic voters and 81 percent of independents. Similarly, 90% of all three voter groups favor further cuts in nuclear weapons, with 81% of republicans opting for eliminating all, almost all or a l ot of the weapons, compared to 84% of the democrats and 83% of the independents.
Given a choice, 58 percent favor eliminating all nuclear arms in the world rather than for a few countries, including the United States, having nuclear weapons so no other nation would dare attack or while trying to keep the rest of the world from getting them. Only 40 percent supported the current policy of a few countries in the world having nuclear weapons.
Sixty-three percent say they had read or heard little or nothing about President Clinton's policies on nuclear weapons. Fewer than half (45%) said they were satisfied with the President's actions to reduce the danger of nuclear weapons, with 42 percent sa ying they were dissatisfied.
The poll was conducted of 1011 Americans over age 18 December 30 through January 3, 1995, by ICR Survey Research Group, which does polling for the Associated Press, The Washington Post, and others. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percent (at the 95% level of confidence, according to standard polling practice.)
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First a little background--
1. (half sample A). [The nuclear arms race has substantially diminished and many nuclear weapons have been eliminated in the last five years.] Should reducing the danger of nuclear weapons now be an important priority for the U.S. government or NOT an imp ortant priority? Is that very or somewhat important/unimportant?
Very important, 46%; Somewhat important, 30%; Somewhat unimportant, 17%; Very unimportant, 4%; and DK/NA, 3%.
Important 76%; Unimportant 21%.
1. (half sample B). Very important, 60%; Somewhat important, 21%; Somewhat unimportant, 10%; Very unimportant, 6%; and DK/NA, 3%.
Important 81%; Unimportant 18%.
2. (half sample A). It is also true that [the U.S. Russia still have many thousands of nuclear weapons. Terrorists could buy or steal nuclear weapons from a nuclear state. And other nations such as Iraq and North Korea may be building nuclear bombs.] Know ing that, I'd like to ask you again: Should reducing the danger of nuclear weapons now be an important priority for the U.S. government or NOT an important priority? Is that very or somewhat important/unimportant?
Very important, 61%; Somewhat important, 18%; Somewhat unimportant; 14%; Very unimportant, 5%; and DK/NA, 2%.
Important 79%; Unimportant 19%.
2. (half sample B). Very important, 58%; Somewhat important, 24%; Somewhat unimportant; 11%; Very unimportant, 5%; and DK/NA, 1%.
Important 82%; Unimportant 16%.
Average of four: Q1 and Q2 responses, A and B samples:
Should reducing the danger of nuclear weapons now be an important priority for the U.S. government or NOT an important priority? Is that very or somewhat important/unimportant?
Very important, 56%; Somewhat important; 23%; Somewhat unimportant, 13%; Very unimportant, 5%; and DK/NA, 2%.
Important 79%; Unimportant 18%.
3. How concerned are you that renegade countries or terrorist groups could get nuclear weapons?
Extremely, 21%; Very, 40%; Somewhat, 28%; Not very, 8%; Not at all, 2%; and DK/NA, 0%.
4. How much have you read or heard about President Clinton's policies on nuclear weapons?
A lot, 7%; Some, 30%; Just a little, 37%; Nothing, 26%; and DK/NA, 0%.
5. Are you satisfied with what President Clinton has done to reduce the danger of nuclear weapons?
Extremely, 3%; Very, 9%; and Somewhat, 33%.
Total satisfied, 45%.
Extremely, 6%; Very, 13%; Somewhat, 23%; and DK/NA, 13%.
Total dissatisfied, 42%.
Now some suggestions for dealing with nuclear weapons--
6. Do you favor or oppose the U.S. negotiating an international agreement to end all nuclear test explosion?
Strongly, 56%; and Somewhat, 26%.
Total favor, 82%.
Strongly, 7%; Somewhat, 8%; and, DK/NA, 3%.
Total oppose, 15%.
7. Do you favor or oppose negotiating an agreement where all nations with nuclear weapons agree to further reduce the world's total stockpile of nuclear weapons?
Strongly, 72%; and Somewhat, 19%.
Total favor, 90%.
Strongly, 4%; Somewhat, 3%; and DK/NA, 3%.
Total oppose, 7%.
8. [Asked of 90.4% who favor in Q7] Reduce the world's nuclear weapons stockpile how much? Of those asked:--
A little, 7%; A lot, 26%; Almost complete, 27%; Completely, 39%; and DK/NA, 2%.
Of total sample:--
Eliminate completely, 35%; Eliminate almost completely, 24%; Reduce a lot, 24%; Reduce a little, 6%; Oppose reduction (from Q7), 7%; and DK/NA (Total of Q7 and Q8), 4%.
Total reduce a lot, complete or almost, 82%.
9. Do you favor or oppose increasing the U.S. military budget?
Strongly, 32%, Somewhat, 21%.
Total favor, 54%.
Strongly, 22%, Somewhat, 21% and, DK/NA, 3%.
Total oppose, 43%.
10. Do you favor or oppose building an anti-missile system to protect the overseas troops of the U.S. and its allies from nuclear missile attack?
Strongly, 43%; and Somewhat, 25%.
Total favor, 68%.
Strongly, 12%, Somewhat, 15%; and, DK/NA, 4%.
Total oppose, 27%.
11. In addition, some say we need a new anti-missile system to protect the U.S. from accidental launches, unauthorized launches and threats of attack from third world nations. Others say that such systems will be expensive, will work poorly--in some circu mstances not at all--and would sooner or later violate our ABM treaty obligations. Do you approve or disapprove of trying to build an anti-missile system that will try to shoot down missiles launched at the U.S.?
Strongly approve, 38%; and Somewhat approve, 26%.
Total approve, 64%.
Strongly disapprove, 19%; Somewhat disapprove, 13%; and DK/NA, 4%.
Total disapprove, 32%.
12. (A half sample) As a general goal, which of these two things do you think is more desirable--
1. The elimination of all nuclear arms in the world, 55%; or
2. For a few countries, including the U.S. to have enough nuclear arms so no country would dare attack them, 44%; and
3. DK/NA, 1%.
12. (B half sample). As a general goal, which of these two things do you think is more desirable--
1. The elimination of all nuclear arms in the world, 60%; or
2. For a few countries, including the U.S. to have nuclear arms, while trying to keep the rest of the world from getting them, 36%; and
3. DK/NA, 0%.
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