NUCLEAR »» NUCLEAR WEAPONS »» NUCLEAR FIRST STRIKE »» Apr 03, 2023

Nuclear deterrence is an American military doctrine that uses the credible threat of retaliation to deter an enemy from using nuclear weapons in a first strike attack. Also known as mutual assured destruction, it assumes no American President will ever use nukes in a preemptive attack. However, Trump’s Presidency has highlighted how concerning it is that any president has the authority to launch a nuke without Congressional approval. Launching a weapon that can instantly kill millions of people is an obvious act of war. Advocates say regardless of who sits in the Oval Office, only Congress has the constitutional duty to decide when a nuclear first strike is warranted. They claim no president should have the power to launch a first-use nuclear strike without explicit Congressional approval, saying it would be immoral, disproportionate and could only be considered an act of war – something our Constitution makes clear no single person should be able to do alone. Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.669 - Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2023 Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Ted Lieu (CA) Status: House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chair: Rep. Michael McCaul (TX) I oppose reforming current nuclear first strike policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA). I support prohibiting the use of federal funds to conduct a first-use nuclear strike unless Congress expressly authorizes such a strike pursuant to a declaration of war. A first-use nuclear strike is an attack using nuclear weapons against an enemy that did not first launch a nuclear strike against the United States, its territories, or its allies. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Michael McCaul (TX) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

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I support prohibiting the use of federal funds to conduct a first-use nuclear strike unless Congress expressly authorizes such a strike pursuant to a declaration of war. A first-use nuclear strike is an attack using nuclear weapons against an enemy that did not first launch a nuclear strike against the United States, its territories, or its allies. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Michael McCaul (TX) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

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Arms Control Association If elected as a trustee, Arms Control Association will be awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting these funds be used to advocate for the New START treaty. About: The Arms Control Association, founded in 1971, is a national nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to promoting public understanding of and support for effective arms control policies. Through its public education and media programs and its magazine, Arms Control Today, we provide policy-makers, the press and the interested public with authoritative information, analysis and commentary on arms control proposals, negotiations and agreements, and related national security issues. In addition to the regular press briefings the Arms Control Association holds on major arms control developments, the staff provides commentary and analysis on a broad spectrum of issues for journalists and scholars both in the United States and abroad. Representative Nuclear - Nuclear First Strike If elected as a trustee, the campaign committee of Rep. Michael McCaul (TX) will be unconditionally awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting him to favorably consider passing H.R.669 - Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2023.

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