Senator Markey Slams Trump's Nuclear Testing Plans, Urges Passage of No Nuclear Testing Act

Strategic Insights -

Massachusetts Senator Edward J. Markey, co-chair of the Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, has expressed his strong opposition to President Donald Trump's directive to resume nuclear testing. As part of his efforts to prevent this, Senator Markey is introducing the No Nuclear Testing Act, which would use Congress's power of the purse to deny the Trump administration from restarting nuclear testing. Markey emphasizes that the United States has not conducted a nuclear test since 1992, and there is no need to resume. He believes that resuming nuclear testing would provoke Russia and China to resume testing, leading to a new nuclear arms race, and ultimately making the country and the world less safe.

Key Takeaways:

  • Senator Markey is introducing the No Nuclear Testing Act to prevent the Trump administration from restarting nuclear testing, using Congress's power of the purse.
  • The Act aims to deny funding for nuclear testing, and instead, focus on arms reduction and non-proliferation.
  • Markey warns that resuming nuclear testing would provoke Russia and China to resume testing, leading to a new nuclear arms race and a less safe world.
  • The United States has not conducted a nuclear test since 1992, and there is no need to resume.
  • The Senate should ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which has been ratified by 178 nations.
  • Congress should pass the bill to prevent the first use of nuclear weapons without congressional approval.
  • The United States must work to replace the New START nuclear weapons reduction treaty with Russia, which expires in 100 days.
  • Senator Markey has been a long-time advocate for deep and verifiable reductions in nuclear arsenals and has introduced several bills to achieve this goal.

Statistics:

  • The United States has not conducted a nuclear test since 1992 (Senator Markey, statement referenced in the source).
  • 178 nations have ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (Senator Markey, statement referenced in the source).
  • The New START nuclear weapons reduction treaty expires in 100 days (Senator Markey, statement referenced in the source).
  • Senator Markey has been a co-author of an amendment that established a moratorium on all nuclear tests in excess of one kiloton in 1986.
  • Senator Markey has sent a letter to President Donald Trump in May 2020 arguing against restarting nuclear testing.

Sources:

  • A letter to President Donald Trump from Senator Edward J. Markey, dated May 2020
  • A statement from Senator Edward J. Markey on his opposition to President Donald Trump's directive to resume nuclear testing
  • The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
  • The New START nuclear weapons reduction treaty