HR0877 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0877 LRB100 20987 ALS 36633 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The President currently has the sole authority to launch a nuclear attack without any required consultation or any system of checks and balances; and

WHEREAS, The first use of nuclear weapons against any other nuclear-armed nation would result in retaliation and invite the near total destruction of Illinois and any other state; and

WHEREAS, A single nuclear detonation comparable to those dropped during World War II would cause upwards of 164,750 fatalities and 204,410 injuries if detonated in Chicago, 14, 050 fatalities and 32,860 injuries if detonated in Springfield, 32,270 fatalities and 42,620 injuries if detonated in Champaign, 6,350 fatalities and 5,620 injuries if detonated in Mount Vernon, and 2,130 fatalities and 630 injuries if detonated in Cairo; and

WHEREAS, The citizens of Illinois have the right to live a life free from the threat of the reckless use of nuclear weapons; and

WHEREAS, Use and detonation of even a small number of nuclear weapons would have catastrophic human, environmental, and economic consequences globally and would impact everyone on the planet; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that our congressional representatives should take all necessary steps to establish a system of checks and balances with regard to the first use of nuclear weapons and to ensure that the President shall no longer have the sole and unchecked authority to launch nuclear weapons, except in circumstances of retaliation.