Sponsors (6)
The bill increases transparency and congressional control to limit U.S. explosive nuclear testing and lower environmental risk, but does so at the cost of slower, potentially politicized and less-secretable decisionmaking that could impair rapid national-security responses and raise costs if testing is triggered by foreign actions.
All Americans: Restricts U.S. explosive nuclear testing, reducing the risk of new environmental contamination and radioactive fallout.
Congress and the public: Requires a 180-day unclassified notification (with optional classified annex) including reasons, timelines, and cost estimates, increasing transparency and enabling public and congressional oversight.
Congress: Requires a joint resolution to approve any explosive nuclear test, preserving congressional authority and legislative oversight over testing decisions.
Military personnel and federal decisionmakers: The 180-day notice period plus the required congressional joint-resolution approval could slow urgently needed nuclear-testing decisions after a foreign test or emerging threat.
Military personnel and federal employees: Requiring congressional passage (including a two-thirds Senate vote when responding to foreign tests) risks politicizing technical military judgments about whether testing is necessary.
Federal employees and military personnel: Mandating an unclassified notification (even with a classified annex) and public congressional procedures could constrain rapid, secret responses needed for some national-security actions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits U.S. explosive nuclear testing unless the President notifies Congress 180 days in advance and Congress enacts a joint resolution approving the test, with special voting/timing rules.
Introduced November 5, 2025 by Catherine Marie Cortez Masto · Last progress November 5, 2025
Changes federal law to bar the United States from carrying out explosive nuclear tests after enactment except in narrowly defined circumstances. A test may proceed only if the President first notifies Congress at least 180 days in advance with specified information and Congress enacts a joint resolution approving the test under defined procedures and voting rules. The measure defines two paths: a special expedited approval path for tests justified by a technical need, and a slower, higher‑threshold path for tests taken in response to a foreign state's test (including a two‑thirds Senate requirement and no expedited procedures). It also prescribes detailed congressional referral, reporting, timeline, and floor procedures for considering the joint resolution of approval.