Thanks to Rep. Jennifer Seelig and her colleagues in the Utah House of Representatives for truly representing their constituents by unanimously supporting the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty ("Time to ratify ban on nuclear testing," Opinion, Sept. 23).
Rep. Seelig has become an outstanding spokesperson regarding the ongoing dangers of nuclear weapons. We hope our U.S. senators will heed her call.
While Sen. Orrin Hatch voted against the treaty in 1999, his office has acknowledged that many things have changed since his "no" vote 14 years ago. Former Sen. Bob Bennett indicated in discussions with members of the Utah Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons that if he were in a position to vote on the CTBT today, he would now support ratification.
Unfortunately, Sen. Mike Lee opposes the treaty. While running for office in 2010, Lee supported the CTBT. However, after his first visit to Washington, he took an about-face ("Lee reverses his support for treaty to ban nuclear weapons tests," Tribune, Aug. 5, 2010). Lee's ongoing opposition to the treaty is in stark contrast to the desires of Utah citizens who know firsthand the tragic costs of nuclear testing.
In an effort to curtail global nuclear proliferation, now would be an excellent time for Sen. Hatch and Lee to assert their leadership and vote "yes" on the CTBT.
Chriss Meecham
Boyer Jarvis
Salt Lake City