Rep. Ted W. Lieu (D—Torrance) and Sen. Edward J. Markey (D—Massachusetts) introduced a bill Jan. 24 to prohibit the president of the United States “from launching a nuclear first strike without a declaration of war by Congress,” a statement said.

According to the statement, “the crucial issue of nuclear ‘first use’ is more urgent than ever now that President Donald Trump has the power to launch a nuclear war at a moment’s notice.”

Lieu said in the statement that, “It is a frightening reality that the U.S. now has a Commander-in-Chief who has demonstrated ignorance of the nuclear triad, stated his desire to be ‘unpredictable’ with nuclear weapons, and as president-elect was making sweeping statements about U.S. nuclear policy over Twitter. Congress must act to preserve global stability by restricting the circumstances under which the U.S. would be the first nation to use a nuclear weapon. Our Founders created a system of checks and balances, and it is essential for that standard to be applied to the potentially civilization-ending threat of nuclear war.”

Former Secretary of Defense William J. Perry, who served under President Bill Clinton, is among those who expressed their support for  H.R. 669 and S. 200, entitled, “Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017.”