One Person Can Start a Nuclear War. Congress Hasn't Voted on That in Decades.

I am writing as your constituent to urge you to reassert Congress's constitutional authority over matters of war and peace by cosponsoring and advancing the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act (H.R. 669 / S. 192). Under Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution, the power to declare war rests solely with the legislative branch. Despite this foundational check, current operational policy leaves sole launch authority in the hands of the executive branch, allowing a single individual to order a preemptive, world-altering nuclear strike without congressional debate, statutory authorization, or a formal declaration of war. This poses severe constitutional and operational risks: - Unchecked Executive Power: A nuclear first strike would result in catastrophic global consequences and instantly plunge our nation into full-scale war, yet no single leader should hold unchecked power to initiate such a conflict. - Bipartisan Necessity: Right now, this legislation lacks Republican cosponsors in both chambers—a gap that should concern anyone who believes constitutional checks on executive power shouldn't depend on which party holds the White House. - Preserving Defensive Capabilities: The Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act maintains necessary retaliatory capabilities and defensive posture while prohibiting federal funds for an unprovoked, unilateral first strike absent a congressional declaration of war. Congress must fulfill its duty to ensure that decisions regarding war and existential weapons remain accountable to the public rather than ceded to the executive branch by default. I urge you to take three immediate legislative actions: 1. COSPONSOR H.R. 669 / S. 192: Cosponsor and vote for the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act to establish statutory guardrails on unilateral first-strike decisions. 2. ENFORCE WAR POWERS OVERSIGHT: Reassert Article I authority by ensuring no administration can bypass Congress to initiate offensive hostilities or pre-emptive strikes abroad. 3. CONVENE COMMAND STRUCTURE HEARINGS: Direct Armed Services committees to hold public hearings on modernizing launch command structures and evaluating dual-authorization safeguards. I look forward to hearing your position on this critical constitutional issue.