SJM 8006

This Senate Joint Memorial (SJM 8006) from the Washington State Legislature is a formal request to Congress and the President to establish additional checks and balances on the presidential authority to launch nuclear weapons, particularly addressing the current system where the President has sole authority to order a nuclear strike without consultation. The memorial argues that since the Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war, and a nuclear first strike would constitute a major act of war, there should be congressional oversight or other safeguards implemented to reduce the risk of nuclear conflict. While the memorial provides extensive background on nuclear weapons risks and Washington state's particular vulnerabilities, its core action is petitioning the federal government to reform the nuclear launch authorization process to require consultation or approval beyond just the President's unilateral decision.