HI HR96

House Resolution 96 endorses the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons adopted by 122 nations in July 2017 and urges the United States to endorse the treaty as support for UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions).

Calls on the United States to make nuclear disarmament the centerpiece of national security policy, renounce first-use of nuclear weapons, end the President's sole authority to launch nuclear attacks, and remove nuclear weapons from hair-trigger alert status.

Urges cancellation of the planned expenditure of over one trillion dollars to enhance the U.S. nuclear arsenal and calls for pursuing a verifiable agreement among nuclear-armed states to eliminate their arsenals.

Notes that approximately 14,000 nuclear weapons still exist globally, with over 90 percent held by the United States and Russia, and references Hawaii's experience with a 2018 missile threat and the Marshall Islands' past exposure to 67 atmospheric nuclear weapons tests during the Cold War.

Requires certified copies of the resolution be sent to the President, Congressional leadership, UN Secretary-General, Hawaii's congressional delegation, the Governor, and all county mayors.