President Obama submitted the New START treaty, as it became known, to the Senate on May 13. Additionally, as required by law, he submitted a classified report that provides information about modernizing the aging nuclear complex and nuclear arsenal and the funding required. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee began a series of hearings on the treaty. The Senate Armed Services Committee held hearings on the military implications of the treaty, and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence examined the US intelligence community’s ability to monitor the treaty. Obama selected Vice President Joe Biden as the administration’s lead for working with the Senate. It was an election year and this issue played a role; there was debate among senators as to whether the treaty should be approved before the end of the congressional session. Prominent former government officials voiced their approval of the treaty, but several important Republican senators articulated their concerns and it became clearer as to which members were not likely to vote in favor of a resolution of ratification.