AJR107: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-5058/1

PJD:kmg:kjf

2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE

2001 Assembly JOINT RESOLUTION 107

March 14, 2002 - Introduced by Representative Boyle, cosponsored by Senator Risser. Referred to Committee on Government Operations.

AJR107,1,2 Relating to: urging Congress and the President to reduce the risks of a nuclear holocaust.

AJR107,1,4 Whereas, our democratic government has primary responsibility for the safety and welfare of its people; and

AJR107,1,7 Whereas, the current danger of an accidental nuclear war with its inevitable deaths and injuries presents an unacceptable risk to the existence of this country, its inhabitants, and all humankind; and

AJR107,1,10 Whereas, since 1968 the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has prevented the spread of nuclear weapons so dangerous that national security is enhanced by their control; and

AJR107,1,12 Whereas, the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty has played a crucial role in building trust during and after the cold war; and

AJR107,1,14 Whereas, the proposed United States withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty has stressed our relationship with Russia, China, and Europe; and

AJR107,2,3 Whereas, developing a national missile defense system encourages countries such as China, Russia, North Korea, Pakistan, and India to test, maintain, and enhance their nuclear weapons programs; and

AJR107,2,6 Whereas, the United States national intelligence community reports that terrorist groups are more likely to attack the United States using a suitcase bomb, airplane, or truck bomb rather than a ballistic missile; and

AJR107,2,8 Whereas, in July 1996, the International Court of Justice ruled that the use of nuclear weapons would violate humanitarian law; and

AJR107,2,11 Whereas, on September 10, 1996, at the United Nations, President Clinton and over 70 other heads of state signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), signaling the end of the nuclear arms race; and

AJR107,2,13 Whereas, the CTBT now bears 161 signatures, but on October 13, 1999, the U.S. senate declined to ratify it; and

AJR107,2,16 Whereas, this action by the U.S. senate was deplored around the world as a significant setback to nuclear arms control, ensuring that the 2000 NPT Review Conference would be highly contentious; and

AJR107,2,20 Whereas, the failure of the NPT review was averted through the negotiation and agreement by all 187 member states to 13 steps, including entry into force of CTBT and the 5 nuclear-weapon states' unequivocal commitment to the ultimate goal of complete elimination of nuclear weapons; and

AJR107,2,24 Whereas, on March 10, 2002, the news media made public the administration's recent "Nuclear Posture Review," which widens the circumstances thought to justify a possible nuclear response and expands the list of countries considered potential nuclear targets; and

AJR107,3,2 Whereas, the Nuclear Posture Review lowers the threshold for using nuclear weapons; and

AJR107,3,5 Whereas, any nuclear attack could prompt a response initiating an all-out nuclear war resulting in billions of direct and indirect casualties; now, therefore, be it

AJR107,3,12 Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the Wisconsin legislature, reflecting its responsibility for the safety and welfare of its people, calls upon the U.S. Congress to take the following actions: to insist that the United States abide by the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty; to respect the 1996 ruling of the International Court of Justice on nuclear weapons; to ratify the CTBT; to fulfill all of the United States' pledges made at the May 2000 Nuclear NPT review; and to reject the national administration's "Nuclear Posture Review"; and, be it further

AJR107,3,15 Resolved, That the President and Congress of the United States are requested to immediately initiate action to reduce the risk of a nuclear holocaust by negotiating the elimination of all nuclear weapons; and, be it further

AJR107,3,20 Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide a copy of this joint resolution to the President of the United States, to the president and secretary of the U.S. senate, to the speaker and clerk of the U.S. house of representatives, and to each member of the congressional delegation from this state attesting the adoption of this joint resolution by the 2001 legislature of the state of Wisconsin.

AJR107,3,21 (End)