[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 29, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H6514]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           PROTECT UNITED STATES FROM NUCLEAR MISSILE ATTACK

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, the events of last week simply underscore 
the fact that we live in a dangerous and unpredictable world.
  Not only must America respond to local threats, but we must also 
continue our vigilance to protect our Nation from foreign threats, 
threats that strike at the heart of this Nation, our very freedom.
  Time after time, we have been told by the administration that no 
rogue nation is capable of deploying a nuclear tip or chemical missiles 
that could strike the American soil by the year 2010.
  However, the Rumsfeld panel, a distinguished panel which had access 
to our national security, just released a sobering, independent 
assessment of the ballistic missile threat facing the U.S.
  That panel concluded that North Korea and Iran will have the ability 
to build a long-range nuclear missile by the turn of the century, not 
more than 2 years away. Last week's successful intermediate range 
ballistic test by Iran validates the Rumsfeld panel's finding.
  Iran sent a chilling message to their neighbors and the world that 
they can strike anywhere in the Middle East with their current 
technology.
  The time has come for this Congress and this administration to focus 
on building and deploying an antimissile defense system to protect the 
United States from missile attack. Mr. Speaker, the American people 
deserve no less.

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