Congressman Lieu & Senator Markey Introduce The Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act

As posted on the website of U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA):

Washington (September 27, 2016) – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-CA-33) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) introduced the “Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2016”.  This legislation would prohibit the President from launching a nuclear first strike without a declaration of war by Congress.  The crucial issue of nuclear first use – discussed in last evening’s Presidential Debate – is all the more urgent given the fact that a majority of Americans do not trust Republican Nominee Donald Trump with our nation’s nuclear arsenal.

“Nuclear war poses the gravest risk to human survival. Unfortunately, by maintaining the option of using nuclear weapons first in a conflict, U.S. policy increases the risk of unintended nuclear escalation,” said Senator Markey, co-founder of the Congressional Bipartisan Task Force on Nonproliferation. “The President should not use nuclear weapons except in response to a nuclear attack. This legislation enshrines this simple principle into law. I thank Rep. Lieu for his partnership on this common-sense bill during this critical time in our nation’s history.”

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