This resolution acknowledges the catastrophic potential of nuclear weapons, which are primarily held by the United States and Russia, with a smaller number possessed by seven other countries. It highlights the dire consequences of even a limited nuclear exchange, which could lead to global climate disruption and widespread famine, and notes that a large-scale nuclear conflict could potentially result in human extinction. The resolution also points out that despite reductions in active nuclear weapons since the Cold War, thousands remain on high alert, and the authority to launch them currently rests solely with the President, which could lead to accidental or unauthorized use.
The resolution calls for the U.S. federal government to lead global efforts to prevent nuclear war by adopting several measures: renouncing first-strike capability, ending the President's sole launch authority, removing weapons from hair-trigger alert, halting modernization plans, and pursuing disarmament agreements. It urges the President and Senate to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which outlaws nuclear arms and mandates their elimination. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies to key U.S. government officials, including the President, Senate leaders, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House, and the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.