Sample Resolution to Abolish Nuclear Weapons 

By Senators Shumlin, Ankeney, MacDonald, Ready and Rivers, J.R.S. 28.

Joint resolution relating to urgently requesting the United States government to immediately enter into negotiations with all other nuclear nations for the adoption of a verifiable treaty to abolish nuclear weapons.

Whereas, even though the Cold War between the United States and the former Soviet Union has ended, its worst remnant, the stockpiles of nuclear weapons that still dot the face of the earth, remains an immediate and horrendous threat to every person on the planet, and

Whereas, in 1998, the Indian subcontinent emerged as a new and potentially devastating nuclear battle zone when, within a period of weeks, first India and then Pakistan exploded nuclear devices, and

Whereas, in recognition of this terrible reality, on March 2, 1999, at their respective town meetings, the citizens of 33 Vermont municipalities, including Andover, Bakersfield, Bradford, Braintree, Brookfield, Burlington, Calais, Charlotte, Chelsea, Colchester, Craftsbury, East Montpelier, Jericho, Johnson, Marlboro, Marshfield, Montpelier, Newark, Norwich, Plainfield, Peacham, Putney, Randolph, Rochester, St. Johnsbury, Shelburne, Stannard, Thetford, Underhill, Vershire, Walden, Westford and Williston, voted to "call upon the U.S. government and governments of all nuclear weapons states to secure on an urgent basis a nuclear weapons abolition treaty. . ." that "must include an early timetable for the elimination of nuclear weapons in a manner that is mutual and verifiable among all nations", and

Whereas, the voters of these towns also urged their local state legislators to introduce a resolution in the General Assembly to this effect and to have the adopted resolution forwarded to the Vermont Congressional Delegation, now therefore be it

RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

That the General Assembly calls upon the United States government to enter into immediate negotiations with all nuclear weapons states for a verifiable treaty that establishes an early timetable for the abolition of nuclear weapons, and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to the members of the Vermont Congressional Delegation.