[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 562 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>
                                                       Calendar No. 700
115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 562

     Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Treaty on the Non-
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) continues to make an invaluable 
  contribution to United States and international security, 50 years 
             after it opened for signature on July 1, 1968.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 28, 2018

Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Warren, 
Mr. Durbin, Ms. Smith, Mr. Markey, Mr. Brown, Mr. Paul, Mr. Coons, and 
 Mr. Cardin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                   the Committee on Foreign Relations

                           November 29, 2018

   Reported by Mr. Corker, with an amendment and an amendment to the 
                                preamble
[Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]
      [Strike the preamble and insert the part printed in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Treaty on the Non-
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) continues to make an invaluable 
  contribution to United States and international security, 50 years 
             after it opened for signature on July 1, 1968.

Whereas the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) opened for 
        signature 50 years ago on July 1, 1968;
Whereas the United States and former Soviet Union averted a catastrophic nuclear 
        exchange during the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, which led to a 
        series of bilateral and multilateral agreements to lessen the chance of 
        nuclear war, including the NPT;
Whereas President John F. Kennedy predicted in 1963 that as many as 25 countries 
        would acquire nuclear weapons by 1970 absent a treaty to control nuclear 
        weapons;
Whereas the United States Senate provided its advice and consent to the NPT on 
        March 13, 1969, with a vote on ratification of 83 to 15;
Whereas the NPT has grown to include 191 State Parties, making an irreplaceable 
        contribution to United States national and international security by 
        preventing the spread of nuclear weapons;
Whereas Article III of the NPT obligates each non-nuclear weapon state to the 
        NPT to conclude a Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic 
        Energy Agency (IAEA) to verify treaty compliance, 174 of which are 
        Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements crafted to detect the diversion of 
        nuclear materials from peaceful to non-peaceful uses;
Whereas the 2018 Department of Defense Nuclear Posture Review affirms, ``The 
        Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is a cornerstone of the nuclear 
        nonproliferation regime. It plays a positive role in building consensus 
        for non-proliferation and enhances international efforts to impose costs 
        on those that would pursue nuclear weapons outside the Treaty.'';
Whereas the success of the NPT has and will continue to depend upon the full 
        implementation by all State Parties of the Treaty's three mutually 
        reinforcing pillars: nonproliferation, access to peaceful uses of 
        nuclear energy, and disarmament;
Whereas over the past half century, the United States has exhibited leadership 
        in strengthening each of the NPT's three pillars for the global good, 
        including--

    (1) reducing its nuclear weapons stockpile of more than 85 percent from 
its Cold War heights of 31,225 in parallel with equally massive reductions 
of Russia's stockpile through bilateral coordination;

    (2) cooperating with Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Belarus--to facilitate 
the surrender of nuclear weapons on their soil after the fall of the Soviet 
Union--leading to each country's accession to the NPT as non-nuclear 
weapons states;

    (3) providing voluntary contributions to the IAEA Peaceful Uses 
Initiative exceeded more than $320,000,000 since 2010 to help in the 
treatment of cancer and in other life-saving applications; and

    (4) extending deterrence to United States allies in the North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization (NATO), Japan, and the Republic of Korea--which is an 
unmistakable demonstration of the United States commitment to collective 
security;

Whereas heightened geopolitical tensions in recent years have made cooperation 
        on nonproliferation and arms control issues with the Russian Federation 
        more challenging;
Whereas a range of actions by the Government of the Russian Federation has led 
        to a deterioration in bilateral relations with the United States, 
        including Russia's brazen interference in the 2016 United States 
        presidential elections, its violation of the Treaty between the United 
        States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the 
        Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles 
        (commonly known as the ``INF Treaty''), signed at Washington, DC, 
        December 8, 1987, and entered into force June 1, 1988, its illegal 
        annexation of Crimea, its invasion of Eastern Ukraine, and its 
        destabilizing actions in Syria; and
Whereas within a difficult environment, preserving agreements that continue to 
        contribute to United States and global security, particularly the Treaty 
        between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on 
        Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive 
        Arms, signed April 8, 2010, and entered into force February 5, 2011 
        (commonly known as the ``New START Treaty''), is all the more essential, 
        and that to that end, the Department of State confirmed in February 2018 
        that Russia had met New START's Central Treaty Limits and stated that 
        ``implementation of the New START Treaty enhances the safety and 
        security of the United States'': Now, therefore, be it
Whereas the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) opened for 
        signature 50 years ago on July 1, 1968;
Whereas the United States and the former Soviet Union averted a catastrophic 
        nuclear exchange during the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, which led 
        to a series of bilateral and multilateral agreements to lessen the 
        chance of nuclear war, including the NPT;
Whereas President John F. Kennedy predicted in 1963 that as many as 25 countries 
        would acquire nuclear weapons by 1970 absent a treaty to control nuclear 
        weapons;
Whereas the United States Senate provided its advice and consent to the NPT on 
        March 13, 1969, with a vote on ratification of 83 to 15;
Whereas the NPT entered into force on March 5, 1970;
Whereas the NPT has grown to include 191 States Party to the Treaty, making an 
        irreplaceable contribution to international security by helping to 
        prevent the spread of nuclear weapons;
Whereas Article III of the NPT obligates all non-nuclear weapon States Party to 
        the NPT to conclude a Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic 
        Energy Agency (IAEA) to verify treaty compliance, 174 of which are 
        Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements crafted to detect the diversion of 
        nuclear materials from peaceful to non-peaceful uses;
Whereas nuclear weapon States Party to the NPT have also concluded voluntary 
        offer Safeguards Agreements and Additional Protocols with the IAEA;
Whereas the 2018 Department of Defense Nuclear Posture Review affirms, ``The 
        Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is a cornerstone of the nuclear 
        nonproliferation regime. It plays a positive role in building consensus 
        for non-proliferation and enhances international efforts to impose costs 
        on those that would pursue nuclear weapons outside the Treaty.'';
Whereas the success of the NPT has and will continue to depend upon the full 
        implementation by all States Party to the Treaty of the NPT's 
        obligations and responsibilities, which are derived from three mutually 
        reinforcing pillars: nonproliferation, access to peaceful uses of 
        nuclear energy, and disarmament;
Whereas over the past half century, the United States has exhibited leadership 
        in strengthening each of the NPT's three pillars for the global good, 
        including--

    (1) reducing its nuclear weapons stockpile by more than 85 percent from 
its Cold War heights of 31,225 in parallel with equally massive reductions 
of Russia's stockpile through bilateral coordination;

    (2) cooperating with Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Belarus--to facilitate 
the surrender of nuclear weapons on their soil after the fall of the Soviet 
Union--leading to each country's accession to the NPT as a non-nuclear 
weapons state;

    (3) providing voluntary contributions to the IAEA to promote peaceful 
nuclear activities exceeding $374,000,000 since 2010, including activities 
that help in the treatment of cancer and other life-saving applications; 
and

    (4) extending deterrence to United States allies in the North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization (NATO), Japan, and the Republic of Korea--which is an 
unmistakable demonstration of the United States commitment to collective 
security;

Whereas heightened geopolitical tensions in recent years have made cooperation 
        on nonproliferation and arms control issues with the Russian Federation 
        more challenging;
Whereas a range of actions by the Government of the Russian Federation has led 
        to a deterioration in bilateral relations with the United States, 
        including Russia's brazen interference in the 2016 United States 
        presidential elections, its violation of the Treaty between the United 
        States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the 
        Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles 
        (commonly known as the ``INF Treaty''), signed at Washington, D.C., 
        December 8, 1987, and entered into force June 1, 1988, its use of a 
        chemical nerve agent in an assassination attempt against Sergei Skripal 
        and his daughter Yulia in the United Kingdom in March 2018, its illegal 
        annexation of Crimea, its invasion of Eastern Ukraine, its destabilizing 
        actions in Syria, and its use of polonium to assassinate Alexander 
        Litvinenko in the United Kingdom in November 2006;
Whereas the actions undertaken by the Russian Federation in violation of the INF 
        Treaty, including the flight-test, production, and possession of 
        prohibited systems diminishes the contributions that the Treaty has made 
        to security on the European continent;
Whereas Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a March 2018 speech, unveiled 
        details of new kinds of strategic nuclear weapons under development, 
        including hypersonic nuclear cruise missiles, nuclear-powered ballistic 
        missiles, and multi-megaton nuclear torpedoes shot from drone submarines 
        that may be accountable under the Treaty between the United States of 
        America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction 
        and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed April 8, 2010, and 
        entered into force February 5, 2011 (commonly known as the ``New START 
        Treaty'');
Whereas the Russian Federation erroneously claimed that the United States may 
        have not reached New START Treaty Central Limits by February 5, 2018, as 
        is mandated by the Treaty;
Whereas the Bilateral Consultative Commission (BCC) is the appropriate forum for 
        the Parties to engage constructively on any New START Treaty 
        implementation issues that arise; and
Whereas, within a difficult environment, preserving full compliance with 
        agreements that may continue to contribute to the national security of 
        the United States and to global security, particularly the New START 
        Treaty, is all the more essential, and to that end, the Department of 
        State confirmed in February 2018 that Russia had met New START's Central 
        Treaty Limits and stated that ``implementation of the New START Treaty 
        enhances the safety and security of the United States'': Now, therefore 
        be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
        <DELETED>    (1) any United States negotiated agreement with 
        the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 
        denuclearization must require it to return to the NPT as a 
        Party in good standing;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the United States must maintain support for 
        the IAEA through its assessed and voluntary contributions and 
        promote the universal adoption of the IAEA Additional 
        Protocol;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) the United States and its allies should pursue 
        diplomatic efforts to ensure that the Islamic Republic of Iran 
        remains in compliance with the NPT, as the 2016 and 2017 
        Reports on Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control, 
        Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments 
        both affirmed;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) the United States should enter into 
        negotiations on the extension of the New START Treaty until 
        2026, which would make any current or future Russian strategic 
        systems of a range greater than 5,500 kilometers accountable 
        under the Treaty;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) the United States should work to resolve 
        Russia's violation of the INF Treaty;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) all countries who have yet to ratify the 
        Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, done at New York 
        September 10, 1996, including the United States, should venture 
        to create the conditions that allow for entry-into-force of the 
        Treaty, and should observe a moratorium on nuclear testing 
        until that time; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) the United States Government should continue 
        to encourage opportunities for cooperation with other nuclear 
        possessing states to reduce the salience, number, and role of 
        nuclear weapons in global military strategies.</DELETED>
That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the United States should continue to encourage all 
        States Party to the NPT to comply fully with the Treaty;
            (2) any United States negotiated agreement with the 
        Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 
        denuclearization should require the DPRK to return to as a 
        State Party to the NPT in good standing and full compliance 
        with the Treaty;
            (3) the United States should maintain support for the IAEA 
        through its assessed and voluntary contributions and promote 
        the universal adoption of the IAEA Additional Protocol;
            (4) the United States and its allies should pursue 
        diplomatic efforts to ensure that the Islamic Republic of Iran 
        complies with the NPT and fully implements the IAEA Additional 
        Protocol;
            (5) the United States should--
                    (A) consider whether to extend the New START 
                Treaty, within the context of meaningful arms control 
                that decreases the chances of misperception and 
                miscalculation, avoids destabilizing arms competition, 
                and is verifiable and consistent with the security 
                objectives of the United States and its allies and 
                partners;
                    (B) assess whether Russia's recently announced 
                nuclear weapons should be accountable under the New 
                START Treaty and raise the issue directly with the 
                Russian Federation;
                    (C) press the Russian Federation to engage 
                constructively on compliance matters related to the New 
                START Treaty, and also to take steps that provide 
                greater transparency into Russia's non-strategic 
                nuclear weapons, which are not captured under any 
                treaty and which are numerically superior to those held 
                by the United States and its allies;
                    (D) begin negotiations with the Russian Federation 
                on an agreement to address the massive disparity 
                between the non-strategic nuclear weapons stockpiles of 
                the Russian Federation and of the United States and to 
                secure and reduce non-strategic nuclear weapons in a 
                verifiable manner;
                    (E) begin an interagency process to discuss whether 
                to extend the New START Treaty and the possibility of 
                further engagement with the Russian Federation on 
                strategic stability and other arms control and 
                nonproliferation issues; and
                    (F) consider the consequences of the New START 
                Treaty's expiration in 2021 also in relation to the 
                insights the Treaty provides into the location, 
                movement, and disposition of current and future Russian 
                strategic systems;
            (6) the United States strongly condemns the Russian 
        Federation's violations of the INF Treaty and its non-
        compliance with its other arms control commitments and treaty 
        obligations, and urges Russia to come back into full 
        compliance; and
            (7) the United States Government should continue to 
        encourage opportunities for cooperation with other states 
        possessing nuclear arms to reduce the salience, number, and 
        role of nuclear weapons in their national military strategies.




                                                       Calendar No. 700

115th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                              S. RES. 562

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

     Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Treaty on the Non-
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) continues to make an invaluable 
  contribution to United States and international security, 50 years 
             after it opened for signature on July 1, 1968.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           November 29, 2018

      Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the preamble