[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 20, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S761]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. COCHRAN (for himself, Mr. Inouye, and Mr. Hagel):
  S. 257. A bill to state the policy of the United States regarding the 
deployment of a missile defense capable of defending the territory of 
the United States against limited ballistic missile attack; to the 
Committee on Armed Services.


                  national missile defense act of 1999

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to announce today we are 
introducing, again, the National Missile Defense Act of 1999, a bill to 
make it the policy of the United States to deploy, as soon as 
technologically possible, a system to defend the United States against 
limited ballistic missile attack. I am happy to be joined by my friend, 
the distinguished Senator from Hawaii, Mr. Inouye, in introducing this 
bill. And I am pleased that we have just heard that the Secretary of 
Defense has announced that funds will be included in this year's budget 
to pay for deployment of the National Missile Defense System, 
acknowledging that the threat does exist, or soon will. So the 
administration is changing its policy now, faced with this push that 
was begun in the last Congress and is culminating now in the 
reintroduction of this legislation.
  Ballistic missiles are being developed and tested by a growing number 
of nations, some of which are hostile to the United States.
  Iran has declared itself self-sufficient in missile technology and 
expertise. It is building a missile system capable of striking Central 
Europe.
  Last year, North Korea surprised experts with its test of the Taepo 
Dong-1, a three-stage missile which, according to published reports, 
may be capable of reaching Alaska. Last July, the Rumsfeld Commission 
concluded that the United States may have ``little or no warning'' of 
the development of intercontinental ballistic missile capability by a 
rogue state.
  The United States has no defense against long-range ballistic 
missiles, and administration policy had been limited to development of 
a missile defense system and deployment only if a threat developed. Now 
the threat has become obvious to the administration.
  I welcome the announcement this morning by the Secretary of Defense 
that the administration is acknowledging the need to proceed with a 
program to develop a missile defense system to meet this threat and to 
deploy it. The time has come to remove all doubts about the resolve of 
the United States on this issue. The National Missile Defense Act of 
1999 confirms this resolve as national policy.
  Mr. COVERDELL. I thank the Senator from Mississippi and now turn to 
the Senator from Nebraska and yield up to 5 minutes to the 
distinguished Senator.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska is recognized.
  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I wish to associate myself with the remarks 
of my colleagues here this morning. I also wish to commend my friend, 
the senior Senator from Mississippi, for reintroducing his defense 
initiative. Missile defense is as critical a challenge as this country 
faces, not just for the short term, but for the long term, and I have 
been a strong proponent of what Senator Cochran is proposing. I wish, 
again, to be a cosponsor of that measure.
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