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California Leads the Country with Two Groundbreaking Resolutions!

Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Posted by Marylia Kelley

Our thanks go to the hundreds of you who made phone calls and wrote letters to support two exceptional resolutions putting California in the national forefront on nuclear weapons policy and disarmament.

Now, we have exciting news from both houses of our State Legislature. On August 28, 2018, you succeeded. Assembly Joint Resolutions 30 and 33 both passed the Senate, having previously passed the Assembly. This is a major victory!

Assembly Joint Resolution 30 (AJR 30), introduced by Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), urges the U.S. Congress to pass legislation to restrict the President’s ability to launch a nuclear first strike on his sole authority. No checks or balances are presently in place. AJR 30 specifically supports legislation introduced by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA).

California is the first State in the Union to pass such a resolution. We can expect California’s action to embolden other states to pass similar measures to restrict the first use of nuclear weapons. Further, California’s action will move the Markey-Lieu federal effort forward.

Assembly Joint Resolution 33 (AJR 33), introduced by Monique Limon (D-Santa Barbara), puts the State of California on record in support of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, adopted by 122 countries at the UN last year. AJR 33 describes the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. It calls on the U.S. to undertake a series of key disarmament measures - and to sign the Treaty.

Its historic passage by the California legislature will speed other states (and even more cities!) to pass similar resolutions. This is a revolution in values, and California’s action assures that nuclear disarmament remains part of the national discussion. Further, AJR33 is part of changing U.S. norms, a necessary step in achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.

Our particular thanks go to Assembly members Aguiar-Curry and Limon for their vision in introducing these measures and their fortitude in shepherding them through the process. Kudos go out as well to the entire California legislature for stepping up to vote in favor of these important resolutions. Finally, we offer appreciation to the peace and disarmament groups across the state that worked with us toward this day.

With these votes, and with 12% of the country’s population, California has risen to lead toward a safer, saner and nuclear weapons-free future for all life. Well played, Cali!