Southern Nevada’s Congressional delegation is calling on the Trump administration to “reaffirm” the United States’ decadeslong moratorium on explosive nuclear testing, which was concentrated in Nevada amid the Cold War. 

Nevada Reps. Steven Horsford, Dina Titus and Susie Lee — all Democrats — wrote in a letter Friday to President Donald Trump and related officials that they oppose “any effort to resume explosive nuclear weapons testing.”

Trump directed the Pentagon last month to restart the country’s nuclear weapons testing “on an equal basis” to countries like Russia and China. However, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told Fox News days later that the testing would not include nuclear explosions.

Every other part of a nuclear weapon will be tested instead, he said. Wright also addressed Nevadans directly, saying those who live near the Nevada National Security Site, which is 65 miles outside Las Vegas, “have no cause for concern.”

But local Democrats have been suspicious of independent statements from Trump’s top officials, with Horsford earlier this year calling out the U.S. trade representative for the country’s tariff policy changing in the middle of his hearing.

“Every Administration since 1992 has affirmed that explosive testing is not required to ensure America’s nuclear stockpile credibility,” the representatives wrote. “Reversing that position would erode America’s standing as a nation that forged, led, and upheld the global moratorium.”

The legislators, joined by three other members in the House of Representatives, also asked that the Trump administration provide a “full, unclassified bipartisan briefing” on any directives, funding or activity “associated with renewed test readiness.”

While the request for a bipartisan briefing may sound unusual, the Trump administration held a briefing in October regarding U.S. strikes on boats near Venezuela allegedly trafficking drugs only with Senate Republicans, according to Roll Call.

The group of Nevada Democrats is seeking an assessment of health, environmental and economic impacts of testing, as well as a cost estimate for explosive nuclear testing including “an explanation of the strategic rationale.”

“Nevadans know better than anyone how reckless the Trump administration’s reversal on three decades of nuclear non-proliferation is,” Horsford said in a statement. “Some in our state continue to wait for compensation they’re due … we cannot allow history to repeat itself.”

Lee similarly highlighted radiation exposure in a statement, writing that explosive testing is unnecessary and that Congress “must have oversight” on nuclear testing.

Earlier this month, the two representatives introduced a bill requiring Congressional approval for explosive nuclear tests and Nevada’s entire Democratic delegation wrote to the Trump administration about its “outrage” over Trump’s announcement.

Friday’s letter also requested “an updated presumption of exposure” for people who work or live near previous or potential test sites to ensure “expedited access to care” as well as renewed efforts to ratify the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. 

“The U.S. has long led the world not by example of force, but by the force of our example. Our strength has been rooted in science, responsibility, and the moral authority that comes from honoring our commitments,” they wrote. “To abandon decades of restraint would not project power, it would betray it.”

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