[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7075 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7075
To prohibit the President from deploying any strategic weapon, such as
a nuclear bomb, for purposes of altering weather patterns or addressing
climate change, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 1, 2020
Ms. Garcia of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees
on Energy and Commerce, and Science, Space, and Technology, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit the President from deploying any strategic weapon, such as
a nuclear bomb, for purposes of altering weather patterns or addressing
climate change, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Climate Change and Hurricane
Correlation and Strategy Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) According to reports dated August 24, 2019, President
Trump suggested the use of nuclear weapons to disrupt hurricane
paths. Specifically, the President stated, ``I got it. I got
it. Why don't we nuke them? They start forming off the coast of
Africa, as they're moving across the Atlantic, we drop a bomb
inside the eye of the hurricane and it disrupts it. Why can't
we do that?''.
(2) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), the United States Government agency that monitors and
researches weather patterns and changes, stated ``During each
hurricane season, there always appear suggestions that one
should simply use nuclear weapons to try and destroy the
storms. Apart from the fact that this might not even alter the
storm, this approach neglects the problem that the released
radioactive fallout would fairly quickly move with the
tradewinds to affect land areas and cause devastating
environmental problems. Needless to say, this is not a good
idea.''.
(3) Nuclear weapons are the most powerful weapons known to
mankind. A nuclear blast radius carries exponentially damaging
radioactive fallout, as demonstrated by atmospheric tests
conducted by the United States in the 1950s and 1960s in the
Pacific and Nevada Test Range.
(4) According to the Director of National Intelligence and
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, climate change remains a
critical national security threat.
(5) Researchers found that if little is done to constrain
greenhouse gas emissions, and the world warms by 3\o\C to 4\o\C
this century, then hurricane rainfall could increase by a
third, while wind speeds would be boosted by as much as 25
knots.
(6) Stronger hurricanes are intensifying more rapidly than
they were 30 years ago due to climate change, according to
recent research.
(7) Increasing numbers of hurricanes are a function of
climate change and must be addressed through serious and long-
term solutions that include scientific research and
technological innovation.
(8) There is cause for concern to public health, safety,
and national security by the dangerous misuse of nuclear bombs
to alter serious weather patterns.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION.
The Federal Government (including the President and any Federal
official, department, and agency) shall not deploy a strategic weapon,
such as a nuclear bomb, for purposes of altering weather patterns or
addressing climate change.
SEC. 4. SCIENTIFIC REPORT AND STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE
AND HURRICANES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 years, the
President, in coordination with the Administrators of the Environmental
Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, shall issue a report to Congress on ways to combat
increasing hurricane activity due to warming oceans from climate
change.
(b) Contents.--Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall--
(1) specify the number, names, and dates of the hurricanes
over the past 30 years;
(2) with respect to such hurricanes, include scientific
evidence and research regarding--
(A) fatalities and injuries;
(B) local, State, and Federal costs per hurricane;
and
(C) frequency of occurrence and changes in
magnitude and intensity patterns;
(3) additional analysis of observations and changes to
human activity that cause climate change and weather intensity;
and
(4) the strategic plan addendum required by subsection (d).
(c) Effect of Nuclear Weapons.--The first report submitted under
subsection (a) shall include a one-time scientific explanation and
analysis on the use of nuclear bombs to alter severe weather, such as
hurricanes, including--
(1) the radioactive fallout;
(2) the potential public health and environmental risks;
and
(3) observations as to how such use would or would not
address the systemic issues and challenges of hurricanes.
(d) Strategic Plan.--Each report submitted under subsection (a)
shall include a strategic plan addendum including--
(1) 10-, 20-, and 30-year goals for--
(A) reducing greenhouse gas emissions, pollution,
and harmful human activity; and
(B) addressing causes of climate change and weather
intensity; and
(2) recommendations to the Congress on policy changes
needed to combat hurricane and climate change activity.
(e) Consultation.--In preparing the report required by subsection
(a), the Administrators of the Environmental Protection Agency and
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall consult with
relevant public and private sector scientific experts.
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