Bill Text: NJ AR216 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to pass "Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-01-17 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee [AR216 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-AR216-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman NANCY J. PINKIN
District 18 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to pass "Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the United State Congress to pass the "Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017."
Whereas, Nuclear weapons are uniquely powerful instruments with the capability to instantly kill millions of people, including noncombatants and children, and to create long-term health and environmental damage throughout the world, including the lands and people of the nation using them; and
Whereas, These weapons have the capability to directly undermine global peace and place the United States at risk of retaliatory nuclear strikes; and
Whereas, Global spiritual leaders have noted that nuclear weapons exist in the service of a mentality of fear that affects not only parties in conflict but the entire human race, so that the real priorities facing our human family, such as the fight against poverty, the promotion of peace, and the undertaking of educational, ecological, and health care projects are relegated to second place; and
Whereas, The United States possesses the world's paramount nuclear weapons capability, as well as its paramount conventional warfare capability; and
Whereas, The United States Constitution gives Congress the sole power to declare war, and by any definition of war, a first-use nuclear strike from the United States would constitute a major act of war; and
Whereas, The Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017 embodies a policy of prohibiting first use of nuclear weapons without a Congressional Declaration of War and a requirement of a specific authorization by Congress for first use of nuclear weapons, without limiting retaliation for another party's first use, all consistent with the United States Constitution; and
Whereas, New Jersey's coastal location, business hub of cities, and critical military infrastructure make it particularly vulnerable to attack; and
Whereas, The framers of the United States Constitution understood that the monumental decision to go to war, which can result in massive death and the destruction of civilized society, must be made by the representatives of the people in Congress and not by a single person; and
Whereas, The United State Congress should call for checks on the sole authority of the United States President to launch a nuclear weapon, and pass the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the United States Congress to take up and pass the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution respectfully urges the United States Congress to take up and pass the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017.
Nuclear weapons are uniquely powerful instruments with the capability to instantly kill millions of people, and to create long-term health and environmental damage throughout the world. These weapons have the capability to directly undermine global peace and place the United States at risk of retaliatory nuclear strikes.
The United States Constitution gives Congress the sole power to declare war, and by any definition of war, a first-use nuclear strike from the United States would constitute a major act of war. The Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017 embodies a policy of prohibiting first use of nuclear weapons without a Congressional Declaration of War and a requirement of a specific authorization by Congress for first use of nuclear weapons without limiting retaliation for another party's first use, all consistent with the United States Constitution.
The framers of the United States Constitution understood that the monumental decision to go to war must be made by the representatives of the people in Congress and not by a single person. The United State Congress should call for checks on the sole authority of the United States President to launch a nuclear weapon, and pass the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017.
