[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 319 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 319

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President 
   should take all necessary steps to expeditiously deploy a missile 
   defense system in Europe that will help provide such a defense to 
 United States allies in Europe while enhancing United States defenses 
                        against missile attacks.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 2, 2009

   Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. 
McHugh, Mr. Gallegly, Mr. Turner, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. Franks of 
    Arizona, Mr. Royce, Mr. Pence, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. McCotter, Mr. 
Manzullo, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Poe of Texas, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Shuster, Mr. 
 Broun of Georgia, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. King of New York, and Mr. Smith of 
 New Jersey) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
 the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 
   Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President 
   should take all necessary steps to expeditiously deploy a missile 
   defense system in Europe that will help provide such a defense to 
 United States allies in Europe while enhancing United States defenses 
                        against missile attacks.

Whereas a potential attack employing a nuclear, biological, or chemical weapon 
        delivered by a ballistic missile constitutes one of the most serious 
        threats to United States national security and to the security of our 
        friends and allies;
Whereas the Iranian regime currently possesses short-range ballistic missiles 
        (SRBM), as well as medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM), capable of 
        reaching much of the Middle East region, including Israel, and reaching 
        Turkey;
Whereas reports indicate that Iran is developing a more sophisticated and longer 
        range version of the MRBM known as the Shahab-3, with such a new version 
        potentially capable of reaching Europe;
Whereas intelligence estimates reportedly indicate that the Iranian regime may 
        soon be able to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 
        capable of reaching the United States, as well as all of Europe;
Whereas deploying United States missile defense components in Europe should 
        improve our ability to defend the United States from missile attacks, as 
        well as extend such defensive coverage to our allies in Europe;
Whereas deploying United States missile defense assets in Europe would serve as 
        a deterrent to missile attacks by rogue regimes against both the United 
        States and Europe and hopefully serve as a disincentive for them to 
        invest in the very development of such missile capabilities, thereby 
        enhancing United States nonproliferation objectives;
Whereas the United States has made numerous efforts to enhance cooperation with 
        Russia on the issue of missile defense in Europe and has held numerous 
        briefings and discussions with Russian officials on the issue in order 
        to ensure the transparency of Unites States objectives;
Whereas the United States has reached out to and worked with key allies in Asia, 
        the Middle East, and Europe to promote a cooperative missile defense 
        against potential attacks by rogue regimes;
Whereas the United States continues to cooperate with its allies in the North 
        Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) toward the establishment of a common 
        missile defense system, with the United States focusing on the 
        deployment of missile defense capabilities to counter long-range 
        missiles and NATO focusing on countering threats from short-range and 
        medium-range missiles;
Whereas, in April 2008, at the NATO Summit in Bucharest, Romania, the heads of 
        state of the NATO allies formally recognized the missile threat posed by 
        rogue regimes and officially endorsed United States missile defense 
        plans, stating the following in a communique: ``Ballistic missile 
        proliferation poses an increasing threat to [the] Allies' forces, 
        territory and populations. Missile defense forms part of a broader 
        response to counter this threat. We therefore recognize the substantial 
        contribution to the protection of Allies from long range ballistic 
        missiles to be provided by the planned deployment of European based 
        United States missile defense assets.'';
Whereas, on July 8, 2008, the Governments of the United States and the Czech 
        Republic signed an agreement between the two countries to establish a 
        United States missile defense radar site in the Czech Republic;
Whereas, on August 22, 2008, the Governments of the United States and Poland 
        signed an agreement that would allow United States missile defense 
        interceptors to be deployed on Polish territory;
Whereas, in December 2008, NATO foreign ministers reaffirmed their support for 
        United States plans to install an anti-missile defense shield in Europe;
Whereas United States missile defense systems have proven increasingly 
        effective, as they have been developed and tested, as indicated by the 
        fact that since 2001 the United States Missile Defense Agency has had 38 
        successful missile intercepts, out of 48 attempts against missiles of 
        all ranges; and
Whereas since the deployment and operational start-up of defense assets require 
        continuing commitments and preparatory steps and Iran's nuclear and 
        missile capabilities are likely to present a serious threat within a 
        relatively short time, it is vital that work continue to expeditiously 
        establish missile defense assets in Europe: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses growing concern about the threat posed by 
        nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and missile delivery 
        systems for those weapons in the hands of states that sponsor 
        terrorism, such as Iran;
            (2) expresses support for the deployment of United States 
        missile defense assets in Europe to address the growing missile 
        threat posed by rogue regimes;
            (3) urges the President to immediately take all necessary 
        steps to expedite the deployment of components of an 
        operational United States missile defense system in Europe, 
        including basing a radar station in the Czech Republic and 
        interceptors in Poland;
            (4) calls upon the President to report to Congress on an 
        annual basis on the steps taken by the United States Government 
        to move forward with the deployment of a United States missile 
        defense system in Europe; and
            (5) states that the United States shall continue its 
        support for the missile defense of key allies against attacks 
        by rogue regimes.
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