U.S. Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) introduced a bill that would prevent explosive nuclear weapons testing.
According to a report by The Washington Post, senior Trump administration have recently discussed conducting an explosive nuclear test.
The Preserving Leadership Against Nuclear Explosives Testing (PLANET) Act would prohibit the use of funds appropriated in Fiscal Year 2021 or from any previous year to prepare for or to conduct an explosive nuclear test that produces any yield. Further, it would allow for stockpile stewardship activities that are consistent with U.S. law as long as those activities are consistent with the “zero-yield” scope of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
This is a companion to legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA),
“Decades ago, the Cold War Patriots risked their lives at the Nevada Test Site to protect our freedom and defend democracy around the world,” Titus said. “Today, the Trump Administration is considering asking Nevadans to put themselves in harm’s way for an unjustified experiment that would make our country less secure. We must continue to ensure the safety and reliability of our nuclear stockpile without encouraging other nations to conduct tests of nuclear weapons. I’m introducing this legislation to stop the Trump Administration from needlessly putting Nevadans and all Americans in danger.”
The bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Steven Horsford (D-NV), Denny Heck (D-WA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Don Beyer (D-VA), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Joe Kennedy (D-MA).
“The Trump administration has repeatedly advocated for policies that would compromise the safety of Nevadans, and this recent discussion of resuming nuclear testing in our state is yet another example of such disrespect,” Horsford said. “Every year for the last two decades, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy have reported that the U.S. stockpile is safe, secure, and effective in the absence of nuclear testing. Resuming nuclear testing would open a door to allow other nations to openly conduct nuclear test explosions while imposing immense financial and health costs on the American people.”