In the immediate aftermath of a very disturbing election, US Representative Jim McGovern hosted a “special order hour” on November 13, 2024, at which he and nine colleagues gave impassioned speeches on the floor of the House about the need to stem the rising danger of nuclear war.
While many of the remarks were focused on more immediate measures to reduce the threat of nuclear war and a renewed nuclear arms race, several Members did refer to the Nuclear Ban Treaty and to the need to eliminate, and not just reduce, existing stockpiles of nuclear weapons in the US and the eight other nuclear-armed countries.
In his opening remarks, McGovern (MA-2) noted that “in 2017, most of the nations of the world came together to adopt the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.” He later added: “Let’s strive for a world free from nuclear weapons. We can’t give up hope.”
"We have to have the courage to stand up to the defense contractors." Thank you @RepMcGovern for being such a strong voice on nuclear disarmament and for organizing yesterday's special order hour. #nuclearban@CSPAN https://t.co/A1kzqBf5rU
— nuclearban.us (@nuclearban_us) November 14, 2024
Rep. John Garamendi (CA-8), in his speech, talked about the choices we have as a nation: “We can choose to modernize our thinking rather than just our weapons. We can choose to move towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons.”
And outgoing Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-12) said, “This world should not have one nuclear bomb. Our country should lead the effort for nuclear disarmament…We need to eliminate nuclear weapons.”
"Our country should lead the effort for nuclear disarmament." Thank you @RepBarbaraLee for speaking in the special order hour on nuclear disarmament. #nuclearban "This world should not have one nuclear bomb"! @CSPAN https://t.co/JUOLe4oWi2
— nuclearban.us (@nuclearban_us) November 14, 2024
Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-5), who was not able to attend in person but entered her speech directly into the Congressional Record, was unabashedly specific in her demand: “The only sane position is the complete abolition of these weapons of mass destruction from the face of the planet. But this will only happen with bold leadership from the United States…It’s time for the United States to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and take a real stand for disarmament.” Read Rep. Omar’s full speech here.
The other Representatives who spoke on the costs and dangers of nuclear weapons and the need for disarmament were Reps. Chellie Pingree (ME-1), Bill Foster (IL-11), Don Beyer (VA-8), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Dina Titus (NV-1), and Delia Ramirez (IL-3).
Watch the whole thing here:
https://www.c-span.org/video/?c5141850
