98th Congress > House > Vote 83
Description: TO PASS H. J. RES. 13. (MOTION PASSED)
Bill summary: (Measure passed House, amended, roll call #89 (278-149))
States that, consistent with maintaining equal overall nuclear capabilities, the strategic arms reduction talks (START) between the United States and the Soviet Union should: (1) pursue an immediate, mutual, and verifiable freeze; (2) decide when and how to achieve a mutual and verifiable freeze on the testing, production, and deployment of nuclear warheads, missiles, and other delivery systems (excluding submarines); (3) give special
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attention to destabilizing weapons; (4) provide for cooperative measures of verification; (5) pursue reductions through numerical ceilings and other means; (6) preserve present limitations on nuclear weapons; and (7) incorporate present negotiations in Geneva on intermediate range nuclear systems into the START negotiations (discussing the impact of developing comprehensive defense systems consistent with a specific treaty).
Requires that every effort be made to reach common positions with the NATO allies. States that this resolution, in the absence of a bilateral agreement, is not intended to prevent the exercise of U.S. responsibility under a specific 1979 NATO decision.
States that this resolution shall not be construed to: (1) prevent taking advantage of concurrent and complimentary arms control proposals; (2) supercede the President's treatymaking powers; and (3) prevent measures necessary for the maintenance of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. Declares that this resolution does not endorse any type of unilateral disarmanent by the United States.
Provides that until the United States and the Soviet Union have ratified the nuclear arms control objectives, nothing in this resolution shall be construed to prevent modernization and deployment of U.S. weapons to maintain the U.S. nuclear deterrent.
Proposes that specified House and Senate committees study measures relating to arms reductions and concurrent and complementary arms control proposals, especially those aimed at a mutual "build-down" or other verifiable processes.
States that any freeze agreement: (1) should not prohibit the United States from taking measures with respect to strategic systems to protect U.S. lives; and (2) will not prohibit the one-for-one replacement of nuclear weapons and nuclear delivery vehicles, provided such weapon or vehicle is of the same type.
States that this resolution shall not be construed to prevent, during negotiations, the modernization and deployment of new or improved U.S. dual capable delivery systems required to maintain the capability of the U.S. defense posture.
Prohibits any action that will disarm, reduce, or limit U.S. armed forces or armaments, except pursuant to presidential treatymaking power or by legislation.
Provides for the maintenance of a research, development, and safety-related improvements program to assure U.S. nuclear deterrent superiority.
Declares that any agreement reached shall provide for full compliance by all parties with preexisting international treaties, obligations, and commitments. Directs the President to take steps to ensure verification of any agreement, including measures to complement National Technical Means of Verification and to ensure compliance.
States that nothing in this resolution shall be construed to prevent safety- related improvements in strategic bombers.
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Bill titles: A joint resolution calling for a mutual and verifiable freeze on and reductions in nuclear weapons.
Original source documents: Digest of the Congressional Record vol. 59, p. 2661;
Links for more info on the vote: congress.gov
