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Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-669| House 
| Updated: 1/23/2025
Ted Lieu

Ted Lieu

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (27)
Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)John Garamendi (Democratic)Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Gabe Amo (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Joe Courtney (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Jake Auchincloss (Democratic)John B. Larson (Democratic)Mark DeSaulnier (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Val T. Hoyle (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Donald S. Beyer (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Mike Thompson (Democratic)Frank Pallone (Democratic)Grace Meng (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Armed Services Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill establishes a policy to restrict the President's authority to conduct a first-use nuclear strike, asserting that such a monumental decision requires congressional approval. It emphasizes that the Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war, and a first-use nuclear strike constitutes a major act of war that should not be undertaken by a single individual. The legislation specifically prohibits the use of federal funds for any first-use nuclear strike unless Congress has formally declared war and explicitly authorized such an action. This aims to provide meaningful checks and balances on the President's sole authority to authorize nuclear weapons use, reinforcing the constitutional framework for engaging in major hostilities. A "first-use nuclear strike" is defined as an attack using nuclear weapons without prior confirmation from the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that the United States, its territories, or its allies have already suffered a nuclear strike. This clarifies that the prohibition does not apply to retaliatory nuclear strikes in response to an initial nuclear attack.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-669
Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-669
Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-669
Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2023
Jan 22, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-192
Introduced in Senate
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 23, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-669
    Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-669
    Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-669
    Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2023


  • January 22, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-192
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 23, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 23, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • S 119-192: Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2025
Congressional-executive branch relationsMilitary command and structureMilitary operations and strategyNuclear weaponsPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsWar and emergency powers

Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-669| House 
| Updated: 1/23/2025
This bill establishes a policy to restrict the President's authority to conduct a first-use nuclear strike, asserting that such a monumental decision requires congressional approval. It emphasizes that the Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war, and a first-use nuclear strike constitutes a major act of war that should not be undertaken by a single individual. The legislation specifically prohibits the use of federal funds for any first-use nuclear strike unless Congress has formally declared war and explicitly authorized such an action. This aims to provide meaningful checks and balances on the President's sole authority to authorize nuclear weapons use, reinforcing the constitutional framework for engaging in major hostilities. A "first-use nuclear strike" is defined as an attack using nuclear weapons without prior confirmation from the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that the United States, its territories, or its allies have already suffered a nuclear strike. This clarifies that the prohibition does not apply to retaliatory nuclear strikes in response to an initial nuclear attack.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-669
Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-669
Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-669
Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2023
Jan 22, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-192
Introduced in Senate
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 23, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-669
    Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-669
    Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-669
    Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2023


  • January 22, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-192
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 23, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 23, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Ted Lieu

Ted Lieu

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (27)
Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)John Garamendi (Democratic)Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Gabe Amo (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Joe Courtney (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Jake Auchincloss (Democratic)John B. Larson (Democratic)Mark DeSaulnier (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Val T. Hoyle (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Donald S. Beyer (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Mike Thompson (Democratic)Frank Pallone (Democratic)Grace Meng (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Armed Services Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • S 119-192: Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional-executive branch relationsMilitary command and structureMilitary operations and strategyNuclear weaponsPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsWar and emergency powers