Bill Summary
This bill, called the "Nuclear Weapons Abolition and Economic and Energy Conversion Act of 2019," aims to implement the District of Columbia Initiative Measure Number 37 of 1992, which calls for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the conversion of resources used for nuclear weapons programs to be redirected towards environmental restoration and clean energy. The bill requires the United States government to take the lead in signing and ratifying international agreements that call for the dismantlement and elimination of all nuclear weapons, as well as strict and effective control of this process. It also calls for the redirection of resources towards creating a peaceful and ecologically beneficial economy, and addressing human and infrastructure needs such as sustainable energy, healthcare, housing, education, and environmental restoration. The bill also requires the US government to actively promote policies to encourage other countries to join in this effort for a more secure and peaceful world. The bill also sets a deadline for the elimination of all nuclear weapons by requiring the President to certify to Congress that all countries possessing nuclear weapons have begun the elimination process.
Possible Impacts
1. Economic Impact: The legislation could affect people by redirecting resources from nuclear weapons programs towards converting to a more peaceful and ecologically beneficial economy. This could potentially lead to job loss and changes in industries, which could affect people's livelihoods and financial stability.
2. Environmental Impact: The legislation also aims to address environmental restoration and promote the use of sustainable, carbon-free and nuclear-free energy sources. This could affect people by potentially changing energy sources they rely on and also by addressing long-term radioactive waste monitoring. This could have both positive and negative impacts on people's daily lives and the environment.
3. International Relations: The legislation calls for the United States to actively promote policies to encourage other countries to join in the commitments for nuclear weapons abolition and economic conversion. This could affect people by potentially changing the country's relationships and alliances with other nations, which could have political and economic implications.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2419 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2419
To provide for nuclear weapons abolition and economic conversion in
accordance with District of Columbia Initiative Measure Number 37 of
1992, while ensuring environmental restoration and clean-energy
conversion.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 30, 2019
Ms. Norton introduced the following bill; which was 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for nuclear weapons abolition and economic conversion in
accordance with District of Columbia Initiative Measure Number 37 of
1992, while ensuring environmental restoration and clean-energy
conversion.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Nuclear Weapons Abolition and
Economic and Energy Conversion Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS ABOLITION AND ECONOMIC AND
ENERGY CONVERSION.
(a) In General.--The United States Government shall--
(1) provide leadership by signing and ratifying the United
Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons or any
other international agreement that provides for--
(A) the dismantlement and elimination of all
nuclear weapons in every country; and
(B) strict and effective international control of
such dismantlement and elimination;
(2) redirect resources that are being used for nuclear
weapons programs to use--
(A) in converting all nuclear weapons industry
processes, plants, and programs, and in retraining
employees, to shift to a constructive, ecologically
beneficial peace economy, which includes strict control
of all fissile material and radioactive waste; and
(B) in addressing human and infrastructure needs,
including development and deployment of sustainable
carbon-free and nuclear-free energy sources, health
care, housing, education, agriculture, and
environmental restoration, including long-term
radioactive waste monitoring; and
(3) actively promote policies to induce all other countries
to join in the commitments described in this subsection to
create a more peaceful and secure world.
(b) Effective Date.--Paragraph (2) of subsection (a) shall take
effect on the date on which the President certifies to Congress that
all countries possessing nuclear weapons have begun the elimination of
such weapons under established legal requirements comparable to those
described in paragraph (1) of such subsection.
<all>