Russia’s nuclear threats and China's increased nuclear arsenal underscore the need for strong U.S. leadership for nuclear arms control diplomacy. Call on your Representatives to show their support for strong U.S. leadership by becoming a cosponsor of a resolution introduced this month. (March 2024)
Some in Congress are pushing for higher funding for existing and new nuclear weapons programs, including for the development of nuclear-armed submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCM-N). This would bring back a nuclear weapon type that the U.S. withdrew from service 30 years ago and retired a decade ago. (June 2023)
Even as the world rallies against Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, now is the moment to renew disarmament diplomacy by expeditiously negotiating a New START follow-on agreement before its expiration in 2026. (September 2022)
The bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group has drafted a letter reminding President Joe Biden of his pledge to limit the number and role of nuclear weapons as he finalizes his Nuclear Posture Review (NPR). It is critical that as many Senators as possible sign onto this letter. (January 2022)
On the 2020 campaign trail, candidate Joe Biden promised to reduce the role of nuclear weapons, advance nuclear arms control, and declare that "the sole purpose of nuclear weapons is to deter nuclear attack,” similar to a no-first-use pledge. Please urge your Members of Congress to remind Presdident Biden to stick to his pledge. (November 2021)
Your voice is needed now to call upon Congress to say “no” to renewed U.S. nuclear testing.
This week, the House will consider an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) introduced by Reps. McAdams (D-UT), Gabbard (D-HI), Titus (D-NV), McGovern (D-MA), Horsford (D-NV), and Susie Lee (D-NV) that is designed to prohibit funding for a demonstration nuclear test explosion in fiscal year 2021.
A vote is expected Monday, July 20, and we need all Representatives urged to vote YES.
The United States has not conducted a nuclear test explosion since 1992 when a bipartisan congressional majority mandated a test moratorium and talks on a global ban. The 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty has established a global taboo against all nuclear testing.
The Trump administration is now considering conducting a nuclear test for political signaling purposes, as a ploy in future arms control talks with Russia and China.
Worse, the Republican-led Senate Armed Services Committee authorized $10 million specifically for a nuclear test blast if ordered by President Trump. Such a test could be conducted in a matter of a few months underground at the former Nevada Test Site outside Las Vegas.
In reality, the first U.S. nuclear test blast in 28 years would raise tensions with Russia and China and almost certainly trigger an outbreak of nuclear testing by other counties and spur an all-out global arms race.
Now is the time to contact your Representative in the House. Complete this form to urge your Representative to close the door on nuclear testing by prohibiting funding for nuclear testing for any purpose.
Description:
An amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would prohibit funding for a demonstration nuclear test explosion being considered by senior Trump officials for political signaling purposes in future arms control talks with Russia and China. (July 2020)
The United States has not conducted a nuclear test explosion since 1992 when a bipartisan congressional majority mandated a test moratorium and talks on a global ban. The 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty has established a global taboo against all nuclear testing. North Korea is the only country to have conducted nuclear tests in this century.
Your voice is needed now to call upon Congress to say “no” to renewed U.S. nuclear testing.
Why? The Trump administration is now considering conducting a nuclear test for political signaling purposes, as a ploy in future arms talks with Russia and China.
Worse, the Republican-led Senate Armed Services Committee authorized $10 million specifically for a nuclear test blast if ordered by President Trump. Such a test could be conducted in a matter of a few months underground at the former Nevada Test Site outside Las Vegas.
In reality, the first U.S. nuclear test blast in 28 years would raise tensions with Russia and China and almost certainly trigger an outbreak of nuclear testing by other counties and spur an all-out global arms race.
Key Senators and members of the House are pushing back. They have introduced bills to prohibit funding for nuclear testing. Votes will likely be held very soon in the House and the Senate on this vital issue.
Now is the time to call on your elected officials. Complete your information below to urge your Senators and U.S. Representative to close the door on nuclear testing by prohibiting funding for nuclear testing for any purpose.
Description:
The Trump administration is now considering conducting a nuclear test for political signaling purposes, as a ploy in future arms talks with Russia and China. Worse, the Republican-led Senate Armed Services Committee authorized $10 million specifically for a nuclear test blast if ordered by President Trump. Key Senators and members of the House are pushing back but they need to hear your support for prohibiting funding for nuclear testing. (June 2020)
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) is the only treaty limiting the world’s two largest nuclear weapons arsenals—and its future hangs in the balance.
New START, which requires rigorous monitoring and verification, is set to expire in February 2021 unless the U.S. and Russian presidents agree to extend it. President Vladimir Putin has proposed an extension of five years without conditions, but President Trump remains undecided.
Time is running out on New START and it is now crucial that Congress takes action to protect and extend it.
A growing number of Republican and Democratic members of Congress are voicing their support for the treaty and its extension. For instance:
In the House, Reps. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas) introduced the “Richard G. Lugar and Ellen O. Tauscher Act to Maintain Limits on Russian Nuclear Forces” (H.R. 2529) bill, which expresses the Sense of Congress that the United States should seek to extend the New START Treaty so long as Russia remains in compliance.
In the Senate, Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced a companion bill, also named the “Richard G. Lugar and Ellen O. Tauscher Act to Maintain Limits on Russian Nuclear Forces” (S. 2394). This bill expresses the same as the House bill.
Unfortunately, instead of working toward an extension of New START, the Trump administration is busy arguing for a new trilateral arms control agreement, one that includes Russia’s tactical nuclear weapons and China's smaller stockpile, which totals approximately 300.
Pursuing talks with other nuclear-armed states, like China, and limits on all types of nuclear weapons is an admirable objective, but such a negotiation would be complex and time-consuming. Not only is China opposed to a trilateral deal at this time, but there is not enough time to negotiate and ratify a new arms control deal before New START expires.
The first step should, therefore, be a five-year extension of New START which would provide a foundation for a more ambitious successor agreement.
Use the form below to urge your senators and representative to support the bipartisan legislation currently before them in the House and Senate.
The active support of your members of Congress for this legislation can help ensure common sense limits on Russia’s nuclear weapons arsenal remain in force and can help prevent an unconstrained arms race.
Description:
The New START agreement is now the only treaty capping the world’s two largest nuclear weapons arsenals—and it is in jeopardy. The U.S. and Russian presidents can extend it—and its irreplaceable verification and monitoring system—for up to five years if they choose. The actions of Congress can help protect and extend it. (February 2020)
Last week, the Trump administration announced it would reverse U.S. policy not to deploy landmines outside of the Korean Peninsula and would give combatant commanders the authority to use “self-destructing” mines when they deem necessary.
The world has rejected landmines because they are indiscriminate and disproportionately harm civilians. Technical solutions to make landmines self-destruct or be otherwise labeled “smart” have failed to work as advertised and have been rejected by the 164 countries that have joined the Mine Ban Treaty.
Congress must respond by imposing a ban on the deployment of any type of anti-personnel landmine in new theaters of operation and encouraging the United States to join the Mine Ban Treaty.
The world has moved on from the use of landmines. Tell Congress that the United States should too.
Description:
The world has rejected landmines because they are indiscriminate and disproportionately harm civilians. In response to new Trump administration policies, Congress should impose a ban on the deployment of any type of anti-personnel landmine in new theaters of operation and encouraging the United States to join the Mine Ban Treaty. (February 2020)
But now, the United States and Russia are on course to withdraw from the INF Treaty in six months over a long-running dispute over Russian compliance with the treaty.
Termination of the INF Treaty opens the door for Russia and the United States to develop and deploy more and new types of ground-launched intermediate-range missiles–a move that would increase the risks of a destabilizing new missile race.
You can help stop this!
A group of leading U.S. Senators has re-introduced the "Prevention of Arms Race Act of 2019," which would prohibit funding for the procurement, flight-testing, or deployment of a U.S. ground-launched or ballistic missile until the Trump Administration meets seven specific conditions, including identifying a U.S. ally formally willing to host such a system, and in the case of a European country, have it be the outcome of a NATO-wide decision.
This bill is a step in the right direction. New U.S. ground-launched cruise deployments in Europe or elsewhere would cost billions of dollars, take years to complete, and are militarily unnecessary to defend NATO allies because existing weapons systems can already hold key Russian targets at risk.
Your Senators need to hear from you.
Description:
Termination of the INF Treaty allows Russia and the United States to deploy new ground-launched intermediate-range missiles, increasing the risk of a new destabilizing arms race. Congress must adopt legislation to prohibit funding for the procurement, flight-testing, or deployment of U.S. ground-launched or ballistic missiles until the Trump administration meets seven specific conditions. (February 2019)
