Kelly, Western Senate Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Combat President Trump’s Reckless Plan to Resume Explosive Nuclear Testing

Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced legislation to ensure that no president can unilaterally resume explosive nuclear testing. The No Nuclear Testing Without Approval Act would require congressional approval to restart any explosive nuclear tests. The bill would require President Trump, or any future president, to show Congress proof of engagement with any state in which the tests would be conducted.

Earlier this week, Kelly questioned a defense nominee in the Senate Armed Services Committee about the risks of the Trump administration's potential resumption of nuclear testing, warning it could destabilize deterrence and benefit rivals like China and Russia.

"Restarting nuclear testing would be reckless and unnecessary," said Kelly. "We've already conducted more than a thousand tests and know our warheads work. This would just risk triggering a dangerous chain reaction, potentially encouraging countries like China to do the same and advance their own technology."

"Nevadans were blindsided when President Trump said he could revive the outdated, misguided practice of detonating nuclear weapons just 60 miles from my hometown of Las Vegas," said Cortez Masto. "No administration should have the authority to set off nuclear bombs on American soil without any oversight or outreach to the states that would bear the burden of these dangerous tests."

"Nevadans are still dealing with the fallout of explosive nuclear testing conducted during the Cold War era and the radiation unleashed in our state. Donald Trump's directive to resume nuclear testing is reckless, unnecessary, and dangerous," said Rosen. "Senator Cortez Masto and I are introducing this legislation to require congressional approval for any and all future explosive nuclear weapons testing. A decision of this magnitude should not be made lightly or on a whim by an erratic President."

Representatives Steven Horsford (D-NV-04) and Susie Lee (D-NV-03) will be introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

Background:

Last week, President Trump suggested that the United States would begin testing nuclear weapons again, resuming a dangerous practice that the country abandoned in 1992. The only place the United States could conduct an explosive nuclear weapon test is at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), 60 miles outside of Las Vegas. The federal government already conducts robust non-explosive nuclear tests, and experts believe that returning to costly, dangerous explosive testing is wholly unnecessary.

Read the bill text here.