A.J.R. 13
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ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 13–COMMITTEE
ON LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS AND ELECTIONS
MARCH 17, 2025
____________
Referred to Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections
SUMMARY—Urges the Federal Government to maintain the
moratorium on the testing of explosive nuclear
weapons. (BDR R-1102)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State: No.
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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION—Urging the Federal
Government to maintain the moratorium on the testing of
explosive nuclear weapons.
WHEREAS, The United States Congress approved a moratorium 1
on the underground testing of explosive nuclear weapons in 1992; 2
and 3
WHEREAS, The United States signed the Comprehensive 4
Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty in 1996, but has not yet ratified the treaty; 5
and 6
WHEREAS, There have been no test explosions of nuclear 7
weapons in Nevada for over thirty years; and 8
WHEREAS, The Nevada National Security Site, where 9
resumption of the underground testing of explosive nuclear weapons 10
would occur, is located approximately 65 miles northwest of Las 11
Vegas, Nevada; and 12
WHEREAS, The improper underground testing of explosive 13
nuclear weapons could vent and disperse a large amount of 14
radioactive material into the air, as it did in 1970 when an 15
underground test vented 80,000 curies of radioactive contamination 16
across a widespread area of the western United States; and 17
WHEREAS, Radioactive material from previous nuclear tests is 18
still present in the groundwater of some areas of the Nevada 19
National Security Site, and the resumption of underground testing of 20
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- *AJR13*
explosive nuclear weapons could contaminate the groundwater even 1
further with radioactive material; and 2
WHEREAS, Exposure to radiation through the air or groundwater 3
can pose adverse health effects over time, including cancer and 4
other illnesses; and 5
WHEREAS, The underground testing of explosive nuclear 6
weapons could cause tremors in Las Vegas, Nevada, which would 7
resemble a major earthquake; and 8
WHEREAS, The resumption of the testing of explosive nuclear 9
weapons would risk the local Nevada economy by frightening 10
residents and tourists alike; and 11
WHEREAS, When the United States first began testing explosive 12
nuclear weapons at the Nevada Test Site in the 1950s, there was an 13
estimated population in Clark County of 50,000 people. Today there 14
are estimated to be around 2,300,000 people in Clark County, which 15
means there are now far more people who could potentially 16
experience adverse impacts from this testing; and 17
WHEREAS, Over 72 percent of Nevada voters oppose the 18
resumption of underground testing of explosive nuclear weapons; 19
and 20
WHEREAS, Resumption of the underground testing of explosive 21
nuclear weapons in the United States could lead other countries to 22
resume the testing of nuclear weapons, causing a new nuclear arms 23
race; now, therefore, be it 24
RESOLVED BY THE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE OF THE STATE OF 25
NEVADA, JOINTLY, That the United States should maintain and 26
renew its commitment to the moratorium on the testing of explosive 27
nuclear weapons in this country; and be it further 28
RESOLVED, That the United States, in alignment with its signing 29
of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, should not resume 30
the testing of explosive nuclear weapons at the Nevada National 31
Security Site; and be it further 32
RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and 33
transmit a copy of this resolution to the President of the United 34
States, the Vice President of the United States as the presiding 35
officer of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 36
the United States Secretary of Energy and each member of the 37
Nevada Congressional Delegation; and be it further 38
RESOLVED, That this resolution becomes effective upon 39
passage. 40
H