[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 154 (Thursday, November 6, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11872-S11873]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KYL (for himself and Mrs. Hutchison):
  S. 1387. A bill to authorize additional appropriations for the 
Department of Defense for ballistic missile defenses and other measures 
to counter the emerging threat posed to the United States and its 
allies in the Middle East and Persian Gulf region by the development 
and deployment of ballistic missiles by Iran; to the Committee on Armed 
Services.


                THE IRAN MISSILE PROTECTION ACT OF 1997

  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, today, I rise to introduce the Iran Missile 
Protection Act of 1997, the so-called, IMPACT 97 legislation, a similar 
version of which Curt Weldon introduced in the House of Representatives 
last week.

  The IMPACT 97 legislation is aptly named because it is intended to 
have a real impact on the growing threat from Iranian ballistic 
missiles. Recent revelations that Iran has nearly completed development 
of two new ballistic missiles--made possible with Russian assistance--
that will allow it to strike targets as far away as Central Europe has 
convinced me that United States theater missile defenses must be 
accelerated in order to counter the emerging Iranian threat.
  According to published reports, a long-range Iranian missile, Shahab 
4, could be fielded in as little as 3 years. A shorter range missile, 
Shahab 3, which will be capable of reaching Israel, could be 
operational in 12 to 18 months. Both missiles could be armed with 
chemical or biological warheads. These reports are the latest in a 
string of increasingly troubling disclosures that have surfaced since 
the Los Angeles Times first reported in February that Russia was 
providing missile technology and assistance to Iran.
  A bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives have been working 
on various legislative approaches to address the Iranian threat. For 
example,

[[Page S11873]]

Representative Jane Harman and I introduced a concurrent resolution 
expressing the sense of Congress that the administration should impose 
sanctions against Russian entities transferring ballistic missile 
technology to Iran. The annual foreign aid bill, currently in 
conference, contains a provision strictly conditioning the release of 
aid to Russia on certification by the President that Moscow has stopped 
the transfer of nuclear and missile technology to Iran. And, Senator 
Lott and Representative Gilman have also introduced legislation that 
would require that sanctions be imposed against any entity caught 
transferring goods to support Iran's ballistic missile program.
  In addition to the legislative approach, the administration has been 
engaged in a series of diplomatic exchanges with the Russians. 
According to press accounts, Vice President Gore has raised the issue 
with Prime Minister Chernomyrdin during their meetings in February and 
July. President Clinton has raised the matter with President Yeltsin at 
the Helsinki summit in March and the P-8 summit in June. The 
administration has also appointed Ambassador Frank Wisner as its 
special envoy to discuss with Russian officials the allegations made 
regarding transfers of technology to Iran. This is a very serious issue 
which the Clinton administration has clearly acknowledged.
  While we hope that the diplomatic efforts will bear fruit, it is 
entirely possible that it will not. In that event, the United States 
and our allies must be prepared to defend and protect ourselves from 
the possibility that Iran will use ballistic missiles armed with 
chemical, biological, or nuclear warheads. It is that possibility--some 
might say eventuality--that IMPACT 97 is intended to address.
  Neither the United States nor Israel will have missile defenses 
capable of countering the threat from the Shahab 3 or Shahab 4 missile 
before those systems are deployed. IMPACT 97 authorizes the accelerated 
development of some key theater defense systems, as well as the 
procurement of additional batteries of interceptors capable of 
providing protection against the Iranian missiles.
  Specifically, IMPACT 97 would authorize an additional: $65 million to 
accelerate development of Navy Upper Tier; $100 million to purchase a 
second THAAD UOES system; $15 million to improve interoperability of 
the THAAD radar with other missile defense systems; 110 million to 
purchase additional Arrow Missiles and for production enhancement to 
accelerate deployment; $15 million to accelerate development of a 
remote launch capability for PAC-3 using a THAAD radar to enlarge the 
area the system can defend; $25 million for PAC-3 production 
enhancements to accelerate deployment of the system; $35 million to 
purchase two Cobra Gemini radars to improve missile tracking; and $20 
million for development of the Joint Composite Tracking Network to 
improve command and control and interoperability of missile defense 
systems.
  I believe that the potential threat from these Iranian ballistic 
missiles is so grave that we cannot afford to wait until they are 
deployed to respond with defenses. I have personally discussed this 
legislation with members of the Department of Defense, and my staff has 
been in regular contact with other officials there to help ensure that 
the best bill possible is presented for consideration. In the end, the 
Department has decided not to support this legislation, however, I have 
reasonable confidence that the programs identified, and the funding 
provided, is an accurate reflection of where BMDO would spend the 
additional funds, if provided. Secretary Cohen has indicated in a 
letter to me that he does not recommend that additional resources be 
applied to the theater missile defense programs. Unfortunately, the 
current deployment schedule for the TMD programs is inadequate, and I 
have to respectfully disagree with Secretary Cohen about his assessment 
that the programs are progressing as fast as they can. This legislation 
will ensure that the United States and its allies can counter the 
growing threat from Iran's ballistic missile program.
  I hope that the Armed Services Committee will be able to act on this 
legislation promptly and that the full Senate can debate IMPACT 97 
early next year.
                                 ______