S.Amdt. 3808

SA 3808, also known as the "Hastening Arms Limitations Talks Act of 2025" or the "HALT Act of 2025," is an amendment proposed by Mr. Markey to be added to bill S. 2296.

The purpose of this amendment is to establish a United States policy focused on leading international negotiations to reduce nuclear weapons and to prevent a new nuclear arms race through a global nuclear freeze.

Key Aims and Changes

The amendment aims to add the following to the bill:

• International Negotiations: It directs the U.S. to seek multilateral agreements that include:

  • A verifiable freeze on testing, producing, and deploying nuclear weapons and delivery vehicles.
  • The resumption of on-site inspections and verification measures with the Russian Federation.
  • Numerical ceilings on certain delivery systems and warheads based on August 2, 2019, levels.
  • Policies regarding "no first use" of nuclear weapons.
  • Agreements to avoid "launch on warning" postures and to protect nuclear command, control, and communications infrastructure from cyber or kinetic attacks.
  • Limits or transparency on hypersonic cruise missiles and glide vehicles.

• Specific Treaties and Actions:

  • Rejuvenating efforts for a Fissile Material Treaty to stop the production of plutonium and highly enriched uranium for weapons.
  • Encouraging the President to seek Senate ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
  • Convening head-of-state summits on nuclear disarmament.
  • Refraining from developing new designs for nuclear warheads or bombs.

• Funding Restrictions:

  • It prohibits the use of funds for any explosive nuclear weapons test that produces any yield.
  • Testing would only be allowed if the President submits a specific report to Congress detailing changes to the nuclear stockpile and Congress passes a joint resolution approving the test.