S 1186 United States Senate · 118th Congress

Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2023

This bill requires Congress to declare war before the U.S. can conduct a first-use nuclear strike. It prohibits using federal funds for any nuclear attack on an enemy unless Congress has declared war and expressly authorized the strike. The bill defines "first-use nuclear strike" as an attack not preceded by a confirmed nuclear strike against the U.S., its territories, or its allies. This directly affects the President's authority to order nuclear weapons, mandating Congressional approval for such an action under constitutional war powers.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Apr 18, 2023 Last action Apr 18, 2023
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Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Apr 18, 2023
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
upper
Apr 18, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

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