Bill · S. 3356· Senate(119-S-3356)
HALT Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 12/4/2025
- Last activity
- 12/4/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Sponsored by
- Edward Markey
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The HALT Act of 2025 aims to reduce and eliminate the threats posed by nuclear weapons to the United States. The bill establishes a policy of leading international negotiations to create a 21st-century global nuclear freeze. This includes seeking multilateral agreements on the testing, production, and deployment of nuclear weapons and delivery vehicles. The policy also emphasizes the need for a verifiable Fissile Material Treaty and the ratification of the CTBT by the United States. Additionally, the act seeks to prevent the development of new nuclear warhead designs. Finally, it prohibits the use of funds for nuclear weapons testing without specific congressional approval and presidential reporting.
Yes· 3 of 7
Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad?+6
The act emphasizes diplomacy, multilateral agreements, and head-of-state summits as the primary tools for international security.
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?+5
The policy seeks international agreements to refrain from targeting or interfering in the nuclear command, control, and communications infrastructure via cyberattacks.
Does this strengthen ties with allied countries?+4
The bill promotes leading international negotiations and summits to build global consensus on nuclear disarmament.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Global Nuclear Freeze Movement: The bill seeks to establish a comprehensive and verifiable freeze on the testing, production, and deployment of nuclear weapons and their delivery vehicles to halt the nuclear arms race (Section 2, Finding 14; Section 3, Policy 2, B).
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Reduced Strategic Risks: The policy aims to negotiate agreements that prevent countries from using "launch on warning" postures, which could prompt a country to launch a ballistic missile attack based on early-warning detections (Section 3, Policy 2, F).
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Prevention of Cyber and Kinetic Attacks: The bill promotes agreements not to target or interfere in the nuclear command, control, and communications infrastructure of other countries (Section 3, Policy 2, G).
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Fissile Material Control: By rejuvenating efforts for a Fissile Material Treaty, the bill seeks to verifiably prevent countries from producing highly enriched uranium and plutonium for nuclear weapons (Section 3, Policy 3).
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Enhanced Verification: The policy encourages the ratification of the CTBT, which would allow for onsite inspections to investigate allegations of nuclear testing (Section s 3, Policy 5).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No Negative Impacts Identified: The provided text does not list any specific sections or provisions that describe negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Diplomatic Engagement+6Improves Cybersecurity Defense+5Improves International Alliances+4Reduces Military Spending+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+4
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Government Spending+2
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Urban Residents+1
- 12/4/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon