New START (New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) will expire on February 5, 2026.
Eighty years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
sixty-three years since the Cuban missile crisis,
thirty-four years since the end of the Cold War,
the threat of nuclear war is rising again.
The last remaining treaty between the United States and Russia limiting their nuclear arsenals—the New START agreement—will expire on February 5, 2026.
Why this matters:
When that happens, for the first time in over fifty years, there will be no limits on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals.
If New START is not extended or renegotiated, the likelihood of a global nuclear arms race dramatically increases.
That means more weapons that pose a threat to us all.
More instability.
Billions and billions more spent that could've instead gone to healthcare, fighting climate change, and funding education.
A greater risk of nuclear war.
We’ve done this before. Diplomacy works. But we need action now.
What CONGRESS can do:
Congress can choose diplomacy over disaster.
Right now, four bipartisan resolutions (two bicameral pairs) H.Res. 100 / S.Res. 61 & H.Res. 317 / S.Res. 323—lay out a path to rebuild arms control, keep existing limits in place, and move the world closer to eliminating nuclear weapons.
Backing these resolutions means standing for safety, stability, and common sense.
What YOU can do:
Make your voice heard!
We ask that you write or call the White House and your members of congress (you can find your reps here) to urge them to support a renegotiation of New START or to at least continue with the current limits on nuclear weapons after the treaty expires.
You can implore your Representatives to support H. Res. 100 and S. Res. 61, which “call on the administration to ... actively pursue a dialogue with the Russian Federation on a new nuclear arms control framework” and “avoid an unrestrained nuclear arms race.” The resolutions urge both nations to uphold the limits and verification measures established under New START while negotiating a successor agreement.
For Oregonians:
Senator Merkley has co-sponsored both S.Res. 61 and 323, and Senator Wyden has co-sponsored S.Res. 323.
On the house side, Rep. Bonamici has co-sponsored H.Res. 317.
