[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 205 (Wednesday, December 13, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H6864-H6865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              WE NEED TO END THREAT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS NOW

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about the growing threat 
of the use of a nuclear weapon in armed conflict and the threat of a 
new nuclear arms race. Such threats should scare every single Member of 
this House. I know it worries my constituents.
  The world has not been in such an unstable nuclear situation since 
the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Since that time, the risk of nuclear war 
has not been high, but it has never been zero.
  A web of nuclear arms control agreements was created over decades 
that reduced the number of nuclear warheads and set limits on nuclear 
testing. Over 50 years of such agreements, the number of nuclear 
warheads was reduced by 86 percent.
  However, Mr. Speaker, after decades of progress in nuclear arms 
control and disarmament, in a very short period, we have seen much of 
the architecture of these agreements undermined. While not quite 
dismantled, they are significantly weakened as both the Russian 
Federation and the United States have withdrawn from some, and Russia 
has unilaterally withdrawn from others.
  We have seen the nuclear weapons agreement with Iran, the Joint 
Comprehensive Plan of Action, erode following the U.S. withdrawal by 
President Donald Trump in 2018. As a result, every day, the Iranian 
Government increases its capacity to build a nuclear weapon.
  Throughout Russia's unprovoked and unlawful invasion of Ukraine, we 
have frequently heard Russia threaten to use nuclear weapons against 
Ukraine. In late November, President Putin's mouthpiece, Vladimir 
Solovyov, who hosts a show on Russian state TV, warned that nuclear war 
is ``unavoidable.''
  Each of these actions--let alone taken together--exposes the 
unbearable truth about nuclear weapons: Nuclear weapons do not prevent 
wars. To the contrary, they are used to threaten, coerce, and 
facilitate war.
  Mr. Speaker, we need an urgent call to action. There is leadership in 
this House seeking to renew and reinvigorate the urgent need for 
nuclear arms control.
  Congressmen  Don Beyer and   John Garamendi lead a working group on 
nuclear weapons and arms control.
  Congressman Ted Lieu has introduced H.R. 669 to restrict the first 
use of nuclear weapons and H.R. 2894 that would block a nuclear launch 
by artificial intelligence.
  Along with Congressman Blumenauer, I introduced H. Res. 77 that calls 
on the United States Government to work toward the goals and 
aspirations of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the 
TPNW.
  Along with Senator Markey, I have also introduced H.R. 3154, the HALT 
Act, to freeze nuclear weapons production and urgently return to 
negotiations.
  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton has introduced H.R. 2775 to 
direct the U.S. to sign the TPNW and convert the funds that maintain 
and sustain our nuclear arsenal to address urgent domestic needs.
  At the end of November, I was privileged to attend a meeting of 
parliamentarians at the United Nations to discuss these urgent 
questions. The meeting was coordinated by a Nobel Peace Prize 
recipient, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Each 
of us was from a nation that has not yet joined the Treaty on the 
Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. We discussed what needs to happen in 
our countries and our parliaments to accelerate the debate on ending 
the threat of nuclear weapons.
  We were at the U.N. because the 93 nations that have joined the TPNW 
were meeting to discuss concrete steps to implement the treaty's 
provision. Such leadership should be recognized and supported, Mr. 
Speaker, but it is not enough. It is simply not enough.
  I wish the United States would be bold. I wish the United States 
would join the TPNW and abolish nuclear weapons once and for all. At a 
minimum, we need a path back to dialogue in arms control negotiations.
  If we are going to move the major nuclear powers to action, including 
the United States, we need a massive outpouring of grassroots action in 
support of ending the threat of nuclear weapons. Without large-scale 
citizen movements, I fear that the nuclear powers will continue to move 
in the wrong direction, and we will see the unraveling of all nuclear 
agreements, a renewed nuclear arms race, and even the actual use of 
nuclear weapons in current and future conflicts.
  We cannot wait to change direction, Mr. Speaker. We live at a time 
when the world as we know it can be destroyed in one terrible nuclear 
flash. The time to act is now.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the record the ``Parliamentarian Statement 
to the 2MSP.''

                 Parliamentarian Statement to the 2MSP

    (Delivered by Guillaume Defosse, Parliamentarians for the TPNW)

       As a delegation of 23 parliamentarians from 14 countries, 
     we are honoured to address this second Meeting of States 
     Parties to the TPNW. This meeting represents a pivotal moment 
     in our collective journey toward a world free of these 
     devastating weapons. We extend our appreciation to the 
     governments, organisations, and civil society representatives 
     who have tirelessly championed this cause. The TPNW remains a 
     bright and powerful reason for hope when many other 
     international developments point in the wrong direction.
       We congratulate the state parties and signatories of the 
     TPNW for their unwavering leadership on the global abolition 
     of nuclear weapons since the last meeting of states parties. 
     Your dedication showcases the immeasurable value of the TPNW 
     within the international legal regime that prohibits weapons 
     of mass destruction, offering a clear pathway to their global 
     eradication.
       We applaud our colleagues who have worked tirelessly to 
     convey the significance of this Treaty to their respective 
     governments and advance the process of ratification. Our 
     commitment remains resolute, grounded in the belief that the 
     citizens we represent, along with all citizens, should never 
     have to bear the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of 
     nuclear weapons use or testing. We pledge to redouble our 
     efforts in expanding the membership of this Treaty and 
     supporting its effective implementation. We will tirelessly 
     strive to garner support among parliamentarians for this 
     Treaty and call on all governments to sign and ratify it as a 
     matter of international urgency.
       We stand united in denouncing any and all nuclear threats, 
     regardless of their form and irrespective of the 
     circumstances. As recalled by TPNW, and in accordance with 
     the UN Charter, all States must refrain from the threat or 
     use of force. Leaders around the world must confront the 
     reality that nuclear threats now being voiced by certain 
     policymakers reveal the folly of continued legitimization of 
     nuclear weapons including through promoting so-called nuclear 
     deterrence. It is encouraging to see that many leaders, even 
     from nations not yet party to this Treaty, have adopted a 
     similar stance, firmly rejecting the unacceptable rhetoric 
     surrounding so-called tactical nuclear weapons and loose 
     discussions of their use.
       However, despite repeated assurances and commitments to 
     disarm, nuclear-armed states collectively maintain over 
     12,000 nuclear weapons and continue to allocate vast 
     resources for the modernization and expansion of their 
     arsenals. In 2022, $82.9 billion were spent on nuclear 
     weapons. Money that would be better invested in a 
     sustainable, just, and peaceful future. We deplore the 
     reliance on the perilous doctrine of nuclear deterrence and 
     the renewed emphasis on the nuclear dimension of military 
     alliances, which obstructs progress toward nuclear 
     disarmament, elevates nuclear risks, and undermines non-
     proliferation efforts. We also vehemently object to the 
     deployment of nuclear weapons on the territory of other 
     states, a direct contradiction to the objectives of the 
     Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a violation of Article 1 
     of the TPNW.
       In striking contrast to the reckless rhetoric of certain 
     nuclear-armed states and their allies, we commend the state 
     parties to this Treaty for their unwavering dedication to 
     implementing the TPNW. We, too, are committed to taking every 
     conceivable action to advance the prohibitions of the Treaty. 
     The regrettable decision of Russia to de-ratify the 
     Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

[[Page H6865]]

     reminds us of the importance of upholding the unequivocal 
     prohibitions on nuclear testing as stipulated in the TPNW and 
     the CTBT. We call on all states to refrain from actions that 
     undermine the integrity of either treaty.
       We join the states parties in emphasising the 
     complementarity of the TPNW with the Nuclear Non-
     Proliferation Treaty and remain unwavering in our support of 
     all measures contributing to nuclear disarmament and non-
     proliferation. Through constructive engagement with 
     policymakers in nuclear-armed states and their allies, we aim 
     to enhance international security and make substantial 
     strides toward the shared goal of universalizing the TPNW.
       We recognize the importance of not confining discussions on 
     nuclear disarmament solely to designated diplomatic fora. The 
     threats posed by nuclear weapons extend far beyond national 
     security concerns; they encompass the well-being of our 
     planet and humanity as a whole. The environmental 
     consequences of nuclear weapons devastate the health and 
     livelihoods of our communities. It is our duty to recognize 
     the multifaceted nature of this issue and actively work 
     towards integrating nuclear disarmament into all policy 
     areas.
       More than 1000 sitting parliamentarians have signed ICAN's 
     parliamentary pledge. We are from 27 countries that have not 
     yet ratified the TPNW. We span the political spectrum, and 
     might not see eye to eye on other issues, but we are united 
     in our commitment to work for our countries' ratification of 
     the TPNW, as we consider the abolition of nuclear weapons to 
     be a global public good of the highest order and an essential 
     step to promote the security and well-being of all peoples.
       In fulfilling our pledge, we have instigated parliamentary 
     debates on the TPNW; we have tabled resolutions in support of 
     it; we have questioned governments on our national positions; 
     and we have engaged with our constituents in a public 
     conversation about the urgent need for disarmament. To repeat 
     the promise of the TPNW states parties in the Vienna 
     declaration: ``We will not rest until the last state has 
     joined the treaty, the last warhead has been dismantled and 
     destroyed, and nuclear weapons have been totally eliminated 
     from the Earth.''
       In conclusion, we echo the collective sentiment that many 
     pressing challenges underscore the urgency and relevance of 
     the mission embodied by the TPNW. Let us persist in our 
     collaborative efforts for a future where humanity thrives in 
     a world free from the ominous shadow of nuclear weapons.

                          ____________________