April 26, 1999

TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP AND SELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS

                               THE WHITE HOUSE

                        Office of the Press Secretary
  ________________________________________________________________
  For Immediate Release
  April 26, 1999


                     TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
                         TO CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
                  AND SELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS

                               April 23, 1999


  In my September 22, 1997, message transmitting the Comprehensive Nuclear
  Test Ban Treaty to the Senate for advice and consent to ratification, I
  announced that I would provide to the appropriate committees of Congress
  the annual certification of the nuclear weapons stockpile by the
  Secretaries of Defense and Energy and accompanying report.  Enclosed is a
  copy of that certification and report.

  I am pleased to note the Secretaries' conclusion that the nuclear
  stockpile has no safety or reliability concerns that require underground
  testing at this time.  Problems that have arisen in the stockpile are
  being addressed and resolved without underground nuclear testing to
  ensure the stockpile remains safe and reliable.  In reaching this
  conclusion, the Secretaries obtained the advice of the Directors of the
  National Weapons Laboratories, the Commander in Chief, United States
  Strategic Command, and the Nuclear Weapons Council.

                              Sincerely,




                              WILLIAM J. CLINTON


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