Sen. Warren, Rep. Smith seek to bind US from using nuclear weapons first

Calling the United States nuclear strategy outdated, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) introduced Wednesday bicameral legislation that would keep the nation from ever being the first to use nuclear weapons.

The No First Use Act would undo existing policy, which currently allows the United States to use nuclear weapons in a conflict — even if the attacks mobilized against them are not nuclear. It would, however, preserve second-strike retaliation, allowing the United States to meet nuclear force with nuclear force of its own.

“By making clear that deterrence is the sole purpose of our arsenal, this bill would reduce the chances of a nuclear miscalculation and help us maintain our moral and diplomatic leadership in the world,” the lawmakers said in a statement.

The legislators want to guarantee the United States will never be the source of a nuclear war. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, respectively, they are well-placed to push the discussion forward. Smith introduced the same bill in November 2017.