H.R. 4 Enrolled

1

RESOLUTION URGING RATIFICATION OF
2 THE COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST BAN
3 TREATY
4 2010 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Chief Sponsor: Jennifer M. Seelig
7 Cosponsors:
8 Trisha S. BeckRebecca P. EdwardsRyan D. Wilcox 9
10 LONG TITLE
11 General Description:
12 This resolution of the House of Representatives requests that the United States Senate
13 provide its advice and consent for ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
14 Highlighted Provisions:
15 This resolution:
16 . strongly urges the President of the United States to submit the Comprehensive Test
17 Ban Treaty to the United States Senate; and
18 . strongly urges the United States Senate to promptly give its advice and consent for
19 ratification of the Treaty.
20 Special Clauses:
21 None
22
23 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the state of Utah:
24 WHEREAS, a global halt to nuclear weapons testing has been a bipartisan objective of
25 the United States since the late 1950s when President Dwight D. Eisenhower sought a
26 comprehensive nuclear test ban;
27 WHEREAS, the United States has not conducted a nuclear weapons test since the
28 United States suspended testing and joined with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in a
29 nuclear weapons testing moratorium in September 1992;

30 WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was opened for signature on
31 September 24, 1996, and President Bill Clinton was the first head of state to sign the Treaty;
32 WHEREAS, no nuclear tests have been conducted since that time by the United States,
33 Russia, or China;
34 WHEREAS, as of June 2009, 180 states have signed the CTBT and 148 have ratified
35 it;
36 WHEREAS, ratification of the CTBT would signal a strong commitment by the United
37 States to fulfill its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, prompt ratification
38 by other states which is necessary for the Treaty to enter into force, reinforce the global taboo
39 against nuclear weapons testing, and set an example for the rest of the world;
40 WHEREAS, a global verifiable ban on nuclear weapons testing would prevent
41 potential nuclear powers from proof testing smaller nuclear bombs that can be delivered on
42 ballistic missiles;
43 WHEREAS, United States ratification of the CTBT would be a significant step
44 towards preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, reducing nuclear weapons arsenals
45 worldwide, and building confidence among nations that abolition of nuclear weapons can
46 someday be achieved;
47 WHEREAS, after 1,030 nuclear test explosions, further nuclear weapons testing is not
48 necessary to maintain the integrity, effectiveness, and deterrence value of the existing United
49 States nuclear weapons stockpile, nor is there any new military requirement for new types of
50 United States nuclear warheads;
51 WHEREAS, the United States government acknowledges that 433 of 824 United
52 States underground tests have vented radiation to the atmosphere;
53 WHEREAS, as part of its recognition of the 50th anniversary of nuclear weapons
54 testing at the Nevada Test Site, in the 2001 General Session, the 54th Legislature of the state
55 of Utah expressed, "the fervent desire and commitment to assure that such a legacy will never
56 be repeated";
57 WHEREAS, resumption of United States nuclear weapons testing would place persons

58 downwind of the Nevada test location at risk of exposure to radioactive emissions from
59 possible venting;
60 WHEREAS, citizens of Utah living downwind of the Nevada Test Site have already
61 suffered significant health effects as a result of nuclear weapons testing;
62 WHEREAS, in the best interests of their children and grandchildren, Utah's remaining
63 "downwinders" continue to fight the resumption of any nuclear weapons testing;
64 WHEREAS, past nuclear weapons testing at the Nevada Test Site has devastated the
65 health and livelihoods of thousands of Utahns;
66 WHEREAS, in 2005, the 58th Legislature of the state of Utah voted in support of a
67 Concurrent Resolution Opposing Nuclear Testing, articulating that, "The state of Utah has an
68 obligation to its citizens, especially those who have suffered so much, to do all in its power to
69 ensure that the lingering wounds from nuclear testing are not reopened to afflict both current
70 and future generations";
71 WHEREAS, the Legislature of the state of Utah supports a strong military defense, but
72 atomic weapons tests are not a necessary component of that defense;
73 WHEREAS, United States' citizens must not be subjected to the hazards of future
74 nuclear weapons tests;
75 WHEREAS, the CTBT Organization effectively monitors compliance with the CTBT
76 through an International Monitoring System, consisting of 337 stations using state-of-the-art
77 seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and radionuclide technologies and capable of detecting and
78 identifying a nuclear weapons test explosion anywhere in the world within hours;
79 WHEREAS, the CTBT is effectively verifiable and would improve the United States'
80 ability to detect, deter, and respond to potential surreptitious nuclear weapons testing by other
81 nations;
82 WHEREAS, Article 9 of the CTBT permits withdrawal by the United States in case
83 extraordinary future developments, including the need to respond to a violation by another
84 nation, were to jeopardize our supreme national interests;
85 WHEREAS, independent expert assessments commissioned by the National Nuclear

86 Security Administration have concluded that measures under the Stockpile Stewardship
87 Program and Life Extension Program can support certification of today's nuclear warheads as
88 safe, secure, and reliable for decades without the need to resort to underground nuclear
89 weapons testing; and
90 WHEREAS, the CTBT would increase international safety and security and is in the
91 best interests of Utah, the United States, and the world:
92 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
93 state of Utah strongly urges the President of the United States to submit the Comprehensive
94 Test Ban Treaty to the United States Senate.
95 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the state of Utah
96 strongly urges the United States Senate to promptly give its advice and consent for ratification
97 of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
98 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of
99 the United States, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and to Utah Senators Orrin
100 Hatch and Bob Bennett.