_____________ resolution NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A resolution of the House of representatives of the state of montana to limit the production and first use of nuclear weapons.

WHEREAS, the use of even a small number of nuclear weapons could have catastrophic human, environmental, health, and economic consequences globally; and

WHEREAS, the United States is currently planning to spend nearly $2 trillion over the next 30 years rebuilding its entire nuclear weapons arsenal, which is a gross misuse of funds that could be devoted instead to improving security, health, and education; and

WHEREAS, Montana is home to Malmstrom Air Force Base, the common center for L50 Minuteman III intercontinental nuclear missiles located throughout north central Montana; and

WHEREAS, Montanans have a special responsibility to advocate for no first use because the intercontinental nuclear missiles buried in their prairie give them a heightened awareness of the reality and threat of nuclear armaments; and

WHEREAS, the United States currently reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to nonnuclear attacks by Russia, China, or North Korea, which could respond by using their own nuclear weapons, resulting in a nuclear war that could have devastating consequences; and

WHEREAS, the sole purpose of United States nuclear weapons should be to deter a nuclear attack on the United States, its forces, and its allies, so that there is no reason for the United States to ever use nuclear weapons first; and

WHEREAS, the President of the United States has sole authority to order a nuclear attack without any consultation or input, which increases the chance of nuclear use; and

WHEREAS, a policy renouncing the first use of nuclear weapons would severely constrain the ability of the President to order a nuclear attack, allowing only attacks in response to a nuclear attack; and

WHEREAS, security is best pursued through continuous, ceaseless efforts to build a worldwide culture of peace, including democratic participation and unbiased justice, fair and sustainable economies, strengthening the bonds of human community, and nurturance of all life on the planet; and

WHEREAS, Montanans are painfully aware that nuclear weapons, in coming decades, will continue to pose an apocalyptic threat to the survival of humans and the planetary biosphere.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of representatives OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

That as an important first step the members of this House of Representatives call on the President of the United States to make it the policy of the United States that it will not start a nuclear war and will therefore not use nuclear weapons first, and call on the United States Congress to pass legislation supporting this policy.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the members of this House of Representatives call on the United States Congress to not fund the development and production of additional nuclear weapons that can produce a relatively small nuclear explosion, making them suitable for rogue nuclear war fighting and potentially lowering the threshold to using nuclear weapons first.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives send a copy of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and to each senator and representative in the United States Congress.