Nuclear Weapons Abolition and Conversion Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 1888

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-05: 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.

Last Updated

2025-12-11T09:06:50Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Nuclear Weapons Abolition and Conversion Act of 2025 aims to commit the United States to signing and eventually ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), an international agreement banning nuclear weapons. It seeks to eliminate U.S. nuclear weapons in coordination with other nations and redirect resources from nuclear programs to combat climate change and meet domestic social needs, promoting global peace and security.

Key Provisions

• Sense of Congress (Section 2): Expresses that the U.S. should lead by signing the TPNW, ratifying it once it ensures the complete dismantlement of all nuclear weapons worldwide under strict international oversight, and collaborating with other nuclear-armed nations for verifiable elimination of such weapons.
• Abolition and Resource Conversion (Section 3): Requires the President to certify to Congress that all nuclear-armed countries have started verifiable and irreversible elimination of their weapons under the TPNW. Upon certification:
• Funding for U.S. nuclear weapons programs must be transferred to climate-related initiatives, such as developing and deploying clean renewable energy sources.
• Nuclear industry facilities, processes, and programs must be converted for these purposes, with retraining provided for affected employees.
• Additional funds support human and infrastructure needs, including health care, housing, education, agriculture, environmental cleanup (e.g., monitoring radioactive waste), and long-term restoration.
• The U.S. must promote similar commitments from other countries to foster global peace.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill introduces a conditional mandate for the U.S. to join the TPNW, which it has not signed to date, marking a shift from current U.S. policy that maintains nuclear deterrence.
• It requires reallocating federal budgets from defense-related nuclear programs (currently protected under laws like the Atomic Energy Act) to civilian and environmental uses, potentially overriding existing appropriations for the Department of Defense and Department of Energy's nuclear activities.
• No immediate action is triggered; changes depend on presidential certification of global progress, differing from standalone U.S. nuclear modernization efforts authorized in recent National Defense Authorization Acts.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The Departments of Defense, Energy, and State would face major restructuring, including budget cuts to nuclear programs and new mandates for conversion and international diplomacy. This could strain military readiness while boosting agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Labor (for retraining).
• Citizens: Could create jobs in renewable energy and social services through industry conversion and employee retraining, improving access to health care, education, and housing. However, it might disrupt communities reliant on nuclear jobs, with environmental benefits from reduced nuclear risks and waste management.
• International Relations: Strengthens U.S. leadership in global disarmament but risks tensions with allies (e.g., NATO partners) who rely on U.S. nuclear umbrellas. It pressures other nuclear powers (e.g., Russia, China) to join the TPNW, potentially advancing non-proliferation but complicating arms control talks if not reciprocated.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Government Officials: The President (for certification and policy promotion), Congress (for oversight and ratification), and federal agencies handling defense, energy, and foreign affairs.
• Nuclear Industry Workers and Companies: Employees in weapons production, facilities, and research, who would undergo retraining and job shifts; contractors like those in the National Nuclear Security Administration.
• Environmental and Social Advocacy Groups: Beneficiaries through funding for climate action, renewable energy, and public services; includes organizations pushing for disarmament like the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.
• Other Nations: Nuclear-armed states (e.g., U.S., Russia, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel) and TPNW signatories (over 90 countries as of introduction), influencing global arms control dynamics.
• U.S. Citizens and Taxpayers: Indirectly affected via redirected federal spending, potentially lowering defense costs but increasing focus on domestic priorities.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Treaty ratification requires a two-thirds Senate vote (per Article II of the Constitution), which this bill encourages but cannot enforce alone; funding transfers would need annual appropriations alignment, possibly facing challenges under existing defense laws.
• Constitutional: Involves separation of powers, as the executive handles treaty signing and the Senate ratification, while Congress controls funding—any implementation could spark lawsuits over executive overreach or impoundment of funds.
• Political: Highly divisive, aligning with progressive disarmament and climate agendas but opposing bipartisan nuclear deterrence policies; introduction by a group of Democratic representatives signals partisan pushback against U.S. non-participation in the TPNW, potentially influencing future arms control debates amid rising geopolitical tensions.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

Cosponsors (10)

Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-05: 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.
• 2025-03-05: 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.
• 2025-03-05: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-05: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E186)
• 2025-03-05: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Nuclear Weapons Abolition and Conversion Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-05 — PDF (3 pages)