Reaffirming Extended Nuclear Deterrence Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5623 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 5623

     To express the sense of Congress reaffirming extended nuclear 
                              deterrence.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 30, 2026

 Mr. Kelly (for himself and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
     To express the sense of Congress reaffirming extended nuclear 
                              deterrence.

    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 ``Reaffirming Extended Nuclear 
Deterrence Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS REAFFIRMING NUCLEAR DETERRENCE.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the United States extended nuclear deterrent remains a 
        vital element of the national security strategy of the United 
        States and has contributed to deterring major-power conflict 
        and preserving international peace and stability for more than 
        seven decades;
            (2) the credibility of extended nuclear deterrence depends 
        upon the capability and resolve of the United States to 
        maintain a safe, secure, reliable, and flexible nuclear 
        deterrent, supported by capable conventional forces, integrated 
        air and missile defenses, resilient command and control, and 
        other military capabilities necessary to deter aggression 
        across the spectrum of conflict;
            (3) this credibility is strengthened by sustained 
        consultation, planning, exercises, and other forms of defense 
        cooperation with allies, which improve interoperability, 
        demonstrate collective readiness, and ensure that United States 
        and allied forces are prepared to respond to evolving threats;
            (4) credible United States extended deterrence commitments 
        to the Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, and members of the 
        North Atlantic Treaty Organization directly advance the 
        national security interests of the United States by deterring 
        aggression and reducing the risk of conflicts that could 
        threaten United States forces, territory, and interests;
            (5) the United States extended nuclear deterrent 
        complements, rather than conflicts with, efforts to advance 
        strategic stability and reduce nuclear risks;
                    (A) the assurance provided by the United States 
                extended nuclear deterrent has reduced incentives for 
                allies to develop or acquire independent nuclear 
                weapons capabilities, thereby supporting the objectives 
                of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear 
                Weapons, done at Washington, London, and Moscow July 1, 
                1968, and strengthening the global nuclear 
                nonproliferation regime;
            (6) the strategic environment has become increasingly 
        dangerous due to the modernization and expansion of nuclear 
        arsenals by the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of 
        China, and the continued development of nuclear and missile 
        capabilities by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea;
            (7) the United States should continue to modernize and 
        sustain the capabilities necessary to maintain a credible 
        extended nuclear deterrent while pursuing verifiable, 
        enforceable, and reciprocal arms control and nuclear risk 
        reduction agreements that enhance the security of the United 
        States and its allies;
            (8) it is the policy of the United States to maintain a 
        credible extended nuclear deterrent that assures allies, deters 
        aggression, discourages nuclear proliferation, strengthens 
        regional and global stability, and advances the long-term 
        security interests of the United States; and
            (9) the United States should reaffirm that its extended 
        deterrence commitments to its treaty allies remain ironclad and 
        should ensure that United States force posture, military 
        exercises, strategic consultations, and defense investments 
        provide allies and potential adversaries alike with clear and 
        credible evidence of the capability and resolve of the United 
        States extended nuclear deterrent.
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