Warren, Smith, Colleagues Introduce "No First Use" Bill for Nuclear Weapons
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, reintroduced the No First Use Act to establish in law that the United States policy is to not use nuclear weapons as a means of warfare first. This legislation is also co-sponsored by Senators Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.).
“Threatening to use nuclear weapons first makes America less safe because it increases the chances of a miscalculation or an accident. There are no winners in a nuclear war, and the US should never start one -- I am glad to reintroduce this bill with Chairman Smith to commit the US to not using nuclear weapons first,” said Senator Warren.
“The United States should never initiate a nuclear war,” said Chairman Smith. “This bill would strengthen deterrence while reducing the chance of nuclear use due to miscalculation or misunderstanding. Codifying that deterring nuclear use is the sole purpose of our nuclear arsenal strengthens U.S. national security and would renew U.S. leadership on nuclear nonproliferation and disbarment.
The No First Use Act would strengthen U.S. national security by:
- Reducing the risk of miscalculation or misunderstanding by an adversary during a crisis that could lead to nuclear use
- Strengthening our deterrence and increasing strategic stability by clarifying our declaratory policy
- Preserving the U.S. second-strike capability to retaliate against any nuclear attack on the U.S. or its allies
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