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POSITIVE War & Foreign Policy 119th Congress

H.R.669 Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2025

Prohibits first-use nuclear strikes unless Congress expressly authorizes them through a declaration of war (119th Congress)

View on Congress.gov

Legal & Constitutional Grounding

Nuclear first-strike authority bypasses Congress's constitutional war-declaration power; Doomsday Clock at 85 seconds.

U.S. Const. art. I, § 8, cl. 11 — Congress's exclusive power to declare war; nuclear first strike is an act of war requiring congressional authorization
  • Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, 343 U.S. 579 (1952) — limits on executive power absent congressional authorization
  • Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists — Doomsday Clock at 85 seconds to midnight (Jan 2026), closest in 79-year history

Bill activity

Introduced Jan 23, 2025 by Ted Lieu (D-CA) with 16 original cosponsors. 35 cosponsors as of May 29, 2026.

Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY-18) is not listed among the cosponsors of this bill.
  1. IntroducedJan 23, 2025
  2. Passed House 
  3. Passed Senate 
  4. To President 
  5. Became Law 

Latest action Jan 23, 2025: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Cosponsors during the cosponsorship window

119th Congress (Jan 2025 to Jan 2027)

Apr 2025JunJulAugSepOctNovDecFeb 2026AprMayJunJulAugSepOctJan 23, 2025Oct 16, 2026 (still open)16 originalBrad Sherman (D-CA-32). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Donald S. Beyer (D-VA-8). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Gabe Amo (D-RI-1). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Grace Meng (D-NY-6). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Ilhan Omar (D-MN-5). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.James P. McGovern (D-MA-2). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.John Garamendi (D-CA-8). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Judy Chu (D-CA-28). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Mark Pocan (D-WI-2). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Paul Tonko (D-NY-20). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-7). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ-7). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA-24). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Steve Cohen (D-TN-9). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Joe Courtney (D-CT-2). Cosponsored Feb 11, 2025, 19 days after introduction.Mike Thompson (D-CA-4). Cosponsored May 7, 2025, 104 days after introduction.Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1). Cosponsored Jun 24, 2025, 152 days after introduction.Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-4). Cosponsored Jul 21, 2025, 179 days after introduction.Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10). Cosponsored Aug 5, 2025, 194 days after introduction.Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12). Cosponsored Oct 8, 2025, 258 days after introduction.Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12). Cosponsored Oct 24, 2025, 274 days after introduction.John B. Larson (D-CT-1). Cosponsored Nov 4, 2025, 285 days after introduction.Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29). Cosponsored Nov 4, 2025, 285 days after introduction.Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-3). Cosponsored Nov 12, 2025, 293 days after introduction.Val T. Hoyle (D-OR-4). Cosponsored Dec 2, 2025, 313 days after introduction.Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL-9). Cosponsored Apr 13, 2026, 445 days after introduction.Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12). Cosponsored Apr 13, 2026, 445 days after introduction.Maxine Dexter (D-OR-3). Cosponsored Apr 13, 2026, 445 days after introduction.Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY-7). Cosponsored Apr 13, 2026, 445 days after introduction.Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51). Cosponsored Apr 13, 2026, 445 days after introduction.Gilbert Ray Cisneros (D-CA-31). Cosponsored Apr 20, 2026, 452 days after introduction.Mike Levin (D-CA-49). Cosponsored Apr 23, 2026, 455 days after introduction.Sarah McBride (D-DE). Cosponsored May 29, 2026, 491 days after introduction. Aug 2025NovFeb 2026MayJulSepJan 23, 2025Oct 16, 2026 (still open)16 originalBrad Sherman (D-CA-32). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Donald S. Beyer (D-VA-8). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Gabe Amo (D-RI-1). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Grace Meng (D-NY-6). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Ilhan Omar (D-MN-5). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.James P. McGovern (D-MA-2). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.John Garamendi (D-CA-8). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Judy Chu (D-CA-28). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Mark Pocan (D-WI-2). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Paul Tonko (D-NY-20). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-7). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ-7). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA-24). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Steve Cohen (D-TN-9). Cosponsored Jan 23, 2025, on the day of introduction. Original cosponsor.Joe Courtney (D-CT-2). Cosponsored Feb 11, 2025, 19 days after introduction.Mike Thompson (D-CA-4). Cosponsored May 7, 2025, 104 days after introduction.Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1). Cosponsored Jun 24, 2025, 152 days after introduction.Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-4). Cosponsored Jul 21, 2025, 179 days after introduction.Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10). Cosponsored Aug 5, 2025, 194 days after introduction.Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12). Cosponsored Oct 8, 2025, 258 days after introduction.Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12). Cosponsored Oct 24, 2025, 274 days after introduction.John B. Larson (D-CT-1). Cosponsored Nov 4, 2025, 285 days after introduction.Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29). Cosponsored Nov 4, 2025, 285 days after introduction.Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-3). Cosponsored Nov 12, 2025, 293 days after introduction.Val T. Hoyle (D-OR-4). Cosponsored Dec 2, 2025, 313 days after introduction.Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL-9). Cosponsored Apr 13, 2026, 445 days after introduction.Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12). Cosponsored Apr 13, 2026, 445 days after introduction.Maxine Dexter (D-OR-3). Cosponsored Apr 13, 2026, 445 days after introduction.Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY-7). Cosponsored Apr 13, 2026, 445 days after introduction.Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51). Cosponsored Apr 13, 2026, 445 days after introduction.Gilbert Ray Cisneros (D-CA-31). Cosponsored Apr 20, 2026, 452 days after introduction.Mike Levin (D-CA-49). Cosponsored Apr 23, 2026, 455 days after introduction.Sarah McBride (D-DE). Cosponsored May 29, 2026, 491 days after introduction.
Democratic 35

Each dot is one cosponsor. Dots stack by sign-on day, or by week when the window is long. The block at the left holds the original cosponsors.

Still open as of Oct 16, 2026 (119th Congress): not yet reported by the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Armed Services Committee.

Activity log

Source: Congress.gov actions
  1. Introduced in House
  2. Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the...
  3. 16 original cosponsors on the day of introduction
  4. Joe Courtney cosponsored (D-CT)
  5. Mike Thompson cosponsored (D-CA)
  6. Chellie Pingree cosponsored (D-ME)
  7. Jake Auchincloss cosponsored (D-MA)
  8. Mark DeSaulnier cosponsored (D-CA)
  9. Rashida Tlaib cosponsored (D-MI)
  10. Jerrold Nadler cosponsored (D-NY)
  11. 2 members cosponsored
  12. Yassamin Ansari cosponsored (D-AZ)
  13. Val T. Hoyle cosponsored (D-OR)
  14. 5 members cosponsored
  15. Gilbert Ray Cisneros cosponsored (D-CA)
  16. Mike Levin cosponsored (D-CA)
  17. Sarah McBride cosponsored (D-DE)

Votes on this bill

No recorded votes yet on this measure.

Cosponsors

35 cosponsored

Sponsor Introduced by Ted Lieu (D-CA) on Jan 23, 2025

MemberParty/StateDateDays after introductionOriginalGrade
Brad ShermanD-CAJan 23, 20250OriginalC+
Donald S. BeyerD-VAJan 23, 20250OriginalB+
Eleanor Holmes NortonD-DCJan 23, 20250Original—
Frank PalloneD-NJJan 23, 20250OriginalB
Gabe AmoD-RIJan 23, 20250OriginalB+
Grace MengD-NYJan 23, 20250OriginalB
Ilhan OmarD-MNJan 23, 20250OriginalA
James P. McGovernD-MAJan 23, 20250OriginalA+
John GaramendiD-CAJan 23, 20250OriginalB+
Judy ChuD-CAJan 23, 20250OriginalB
Mark PocanD-WIJan 23, 20250OriginalA
Paul TonkoD-NYJan 23, 20250OriginalB
Pramila JayapalD-WAJan 23, 20250OriginalA+
Raúl M. GrijalvaD-AZJan 23, 20250Original—
Salud O. CarbajalD-CAJan 23, 20250OriginalB
Steve CohenD-TNJan 23, 20250OriginalB+
Joe CourtneyD-CTFeb 11, 202519C+
Mike ThompsonD-CAMay 7, 2025104B
Chellie PingreeD-MEJun 24, 2025152B+
Jake AuchinclossD-MAJul 21, 2025179B
Mark DeSaulnierD-CAAug 5, 2025194B+
Rashida TlaibD-MIOct 8, 2025258A+
Jerrold NadlerD-NYOct 24, 2025274B
John B. LarsonD-CTNov 4, 2025285B
Sylvia R. GarciaD-TXNov 4, 2025285B
Yassamin AnsariD-AZNov 12, 2025293B
Val T. HoyleD-ORDec 2, 2025313B+
Janice D. SchakowskyD-ILApr 13, 2026445A-
Lateefah SimonD-CAApr 13, 2026445A-
Maxine DexterD-ORApr 13, 2026445A-
Nydia M. VelázquezD-NYApr 13, 2026445A
Sara JacobsD-CAApr 13, 2026445A-
Gilbert Ray CisnerosD-CAApr 20, 2026452B
Mike LevinD-CAApr 23, 2026455C+
Sarah McBrideD-DEMay 29, 2026491A-

Who Lobbied on This Bill

$3M combined quarterly activity
1 lobbying firm
1 client represented
2025-third_quarter–2026-first_quarter filing period
Policy Areas Covered
Defense
Government Entities Lobbied
  • HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  • SENATE
Who Hired the Lobbyists
  • FRIENDS COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL LEGISLATION

Source: Senate LDA filings · Dollar figures are combined quarterly totals for all lobbying by each firm, not bill-specific spend.

Restricts first-use nuclear authority to require congressional declaration of war. The Constitution vests war-declaration power in Congress (Article I, Section 8), and unilateral nuclear first-strike authority bypasses this requirement.