Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility

Kelly Campbell with the COFA Alliance National Network, supporters of the SJM 5 nuclear weapons memorial, at their legislative day in Salem.

On Wednesday, April 3rd at 1:00 PM, the Oregon Senate Rules Committee will hold a hearing on Senate Joint Memorial 5. This memorial is Oregon’s chance to get on record supporting the Nuclear Ban Treaty and legislation to reduce the threats of nuclear war.

Oregon PSR and more than 25 partner organizations have been working with chief sponsors Senator Michael Dembrow and Representatives Tawna Sanchez and Alissa Keny-Guyer, who have introduced this joint memorial urging congress to lead a global effort to reduce the threat of nuclear war in the 2019 Oregon legislative session.

The memorial details the negative impacts of nuclear weapons on Oregonians, including the financial trade-offs of spending Oregon taxpayers’ money on nuclear weapons rather than on critical needs such as education, health care, and the environment. It highlights the people most affected by nuclear weapons and honors Oregonians who have worked for nuclear abolition.

The memorial declares Oregon’s support for the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (The Nuclear Ban Treaty), which was passed by a majority of the world’s countries in 2017. It also affirms Oregon’s support for federal legislation to lessen the risk of nuclear war sponsored by members of our congressional delegation.

The memorial is similar to resolutions passed in the California legislature in 2018 and being considered by the Washington legislature in 2019. Resolutions are also being passed in municipalities in the US and around the world.

Here are three things you can do to support the Nuclear Disarmament Memorial:

1. Sign the petition to have your name included as an Oregonian who supports nuclear disarmament
2. Submit written testimony in support of Senate Joint Memorial 5 by emailing it to [email protected] before 11:00 AM on April 3rd
3. Attend the hearing at the Oregon State Capitol building in Salem, Hearing Room C, at 1:00 PM on April 3rd, and possibly testify in person. Email Kelly Campbell if you can make it to the hearing.

Now is the moment for Oregon to show our support for nuclear disarmament. Thank you for taking action!