Passed Resolutions Commending Jayapal, Smith and Cantwell on Work Against Nuclear Proliferation

The following resolution was passed by the members of the 37th Legislative District during the November 2017 Monthly Membership Meeting. It will be forwarded to the Federal representatives, Congresswoman Pramila Jayal, Congressman Adam Smith and Senator Maria Cantwell.

There are three separate resolution.  Each are similar, but specifically tailored to each representative’s work.

A resolution thanking Rep. Pramila Jayapal for work to stop nuclear weapons expansion and modernization

WHEREAS reducing the dangers from nuclear weapons remains one of the highest national security priorities;

WHEREAS retaining the current US arsenal of nearly 7,000 nuclear weapons defies common sense and fiscal reality,

WHEREAS the Department of Defense and Department of Energy plan to replace the nuclear submarine fleet, modernize and replace the Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, build a new strategic bomber fleet, and build a new nuclear cruise missile, while extending and modernizing associated nuclear warheads, all while building new facilities across the Department of Energy’s nuclear weapons complex;

WHEREAS these efforts are estimated to cost up to 1.5 trillion dollars over the next 30 years;

WHEREAS many nuclear policy experts believe that US national security objectives can be met at far lower numbers;

WHEREAS a nuclear war involving even 0.01% of the world nuclear weapons stockpile would threaten life on the entire planet, including precipitation of a Nuclear Winter causing starvation of over two billion people;

WHEREAS one Trident submarine (eight of which are housed at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor) has the possible destructive equivalent of over 5,800 Hiroshima bombs;

WHEREAS current US policies such as maintaining nuclear weapons on hair-trigger alert, continuing to not adopt an explicit “no-first use” policy, and providing no checks on the President’s authority to launch a nuclear weapons first-strike, are destabilizing and threaten national security;

WHEREAS Former Secretary of Defense William Perry recently warned that “We’re now at the precipice, maybe I should say the brink, of a new nuclear arms race” and “we now face the kind of dangers of a nuclear event like we had during the Cold War, an accidental war;”

WHEREAS Former Strategic Commander (1991-94) General George Lee Butler wrote (2016), “rationality has never been the hallmark of any nation pursuing a nuclear arsenal or thinking about its employment. Such arsenals take on a life and logic of their own, commanding huge budgets and compelling decisions that march at an ever increasing tempo to the beat of fear, technology, status and vested interests…”

WHEREAS 122 countries voted to adopt the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which prohibits nations from developing, testing, producing, manufacturing, transferring, possessing, stockpiling, using or threatening to use nuclear weapons, and has now been signed by 50 countries;

WHEREAS House Representative Pramila Jayapal has been an outspoken advocate for the need to reduce spending on our nuclear weapons and the number of nuclear weapons in the US stockpile; as shown by actions including co-sponsoring the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act (HR 669) and speaking in support of this bill, signing on to the Blumenauer-Lee-Quigley Dear Colleague Letter addressing the new Nuclear Posture Review; and voting to limit spending on the Long Range Stand-Off Cruise Missile and limit development of an INF range ground-launched missile system.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the 37th District Democrats expresses its support and appreciation for Rep. Pramila Jayapal to help stop the expansion of nuclear weapons and reduce the threat of nuclear war.

Submitted by Amy Hagopian—10-6-17

A resolution thanking Rep. Adam Smith for work to stop nuclear weapons expansion and modernization

WHEREAS reducing the dangers from nuclear weapons remains one of the highest national security priorities;

WHEREAS retaining the current US arsenal of nearly 7,000 nuclear weapons defies common sense and fiscal reality,

WHEREAS the Department of Defense and Department of Energy plan to replace the nuclear submarine fleet, modernize and replace the Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, build a new strategic bomber fleet, and build a new nuclear cruise missile, while extending and modernizing associated nuclear warheads, all while building new facilities across the Department of Energy’s nuclear weapons complex;

WHEREAS these efforts are estimated to cost up to 1.5 trillion dollars over the next 30 years;

WHEREAS many nuclear policy experts believe that US national security objectives can be met at far lower numbers;

WHEREAS a nuclear war involving even 0.01% of the world nuclear weapons stockpile would threaten life on the entire planet, including precipitation of a Nuclear Winter causing starvation of over two billion people;

WHEREAS one Trident submarine (eight of which are housed at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor) has the possible destructive equivalent of over 5,800 Hiroshima bombs;

WHEREAS current US policies such as maintaining nuclear weapons on hair-trigger alert, continuing to not adopt an explicit “no-first use” policy, and providing no checks on the President’s authority to launch a nuclear weapons first-strike, are destabilizing and threaten national security;

WHEREAS Former Secretary of Defense William Perry recently warned that “We’re now at the precipice, maybe I should say the brink, of a new nuclear arms race” and “we now face the kind of dangers of a nuclear event like we had during the Cold War, an accidental war;”

WHEREAS Former Strategic Commander (1991-94) General George Lee Butler wrote (2016), “rationality has never been the hallmark of any nation pursuing a nuclear arsenal or thinking about its employment. Such arsenals take on a life and logic of their own, commanding huge budgets and compelling decisions that march at an ever increasing tempo to the beat of fear, technology, status and vested interests…”

WHEREAS 122 countries voted to adopt the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which prohibits nations from developing, testing, producing, manufacturing, transferring, possessing, stockpiling, using or threatening to use nuclear weapons, and has now been signed by 50 countries;

WHEREAS 37th District House Representative Adam Smith has been an outspoken advocate for the need to reduce spending on our nuclear weapons and the number of nuclear weapons in the US stockpile; as shown by actions including signing on to the Blumenauer-Lee-Quigley Dear Colleague Letter addressing the new Nuclear Posture Review; co-sponsoring Rep. Blumenauer’s amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (HR 2810) to limit funding for the Long Range Standoff (LRSO) Cruise Missile; and opposing the increase in spending for nuclear weapons in President Trumps FY2018 budget request;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the 37th District Democrats expresses its support and appreciation for Representative Adam Smith’s work to stop the expansion of nuclear weapons and reduce the threat of nuclear war.

Submitted by Amy Hagopian—10-6-17

A resolution thanking Senator Maria Cantwell for work to stop nuclear weapons expansion and modernization

WHEREAS reducing the dangers from nuclear weapons remains one of the highest national security priorities;

WHEREAS retaining the current US arsenal of nearly 7,000 nuclear weapons defies common sense and fiscal reality,

WHEREAS the Department of Defense and Department of Energy plan to replace the nuclear submarine fleet, modernize and replace the Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, build a new strategic bomber fleet, and build a new nuclear cruise missile, while extending and modernizing associated nuclear warheads, all while building new facilities across the Department of Energy’s nuclear weapons complex;

WHEREAS these efforts are estimated to cost up to 1.5 trillion dollars over the next 30 years;

WHEREAS many nuclear policy experts believe that US national security objectives can be met at far lower numbers;

WHEREAS a nuclear war involving even 0.01% of the world nuclear weapons stockpile would threaten life on the entire planet, including precipitation of a Nuclear Winter causing starvation of over two billion people;

WHEREAS one Trident submarine (eight of which are housed at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor) has the possible destructive equivalent of over 5,800 Hiroshima bombs;

WHEREAS current US policies such as maintaining nuclear weapons on hair-trigger alert, continuing to not adopt an explicit “no-first use” policy, and providing no checks on the President’s authority to launch a nuclear weapons first-strike, are destabilizing and threaten national security;

WHEREAS Former Secretary of Defense William Perry recently warned that “We’re now at the precipice, maybe I should say the brink, of a new nuclear arms race” and “we now face the kind of dangers of a nuclear event like we had during the Cold War, an accidental war;”

WHEREAS Former Strategic Commander (1991-94) General George Lee Butler wrote (2016), “rationality has never been the hallmark of any nation pursuing a nuclear arsenal or thinking about its employment. Such arsenals take on a life and logic of their own, commanding huge budgets and compelling decisions that march at an ever increasing tempo to the beat of fear, technology, status and vested interests…”

WHEREAS 122 countries voted to adopt the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which prohibits nations from developing, testing, producing, manufacturing, transferring, possessing, stockpiling, using or threatening to use nuclear weapons, and has now been signed by 50 countries;

WHEREAS Senator Maria Cantwell has been an advocate for sane nuclear weapons policy; as shown by actions including signing on to the Markey-Feinstein Dear Colleague Letter addressing the new Nuclear Posture Review and submitting amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (S.1519) to bar research or testing of low-yield nuclear weapons, to bar activities in violation of any international agreement, to take Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles off of high alert, and to require a Pentagon 30-year cost estimate of nuclear weapons modernization.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the 37th District Democrats expresses its support and appreciation for Sen. Maria Cantwell to help stop the expansion of nuclear weapons and reduce the threat of nuclear war.

Submitted by Amy Hagopian—10-6-17