[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 27 (Monday, February 22, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S1703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE ACT OF 1999

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the 
Senate in sponsoring the National Missile Defense Act of 1999. This 
bill clearly states that the policy of the United States is to provide 
for the defense of its territory against a potential missile attack by 
a rogue nation.
  A defense capability against missile attack is a necessity due to the 
increased threat of terrorism. An arms control commission formed to 
assess the missile threat to the U.S. concluded that ``concerted 
efforts by a number of overtly or potentially hostile nations to 
acquire ballistic missiles with biological or nuclear payloads pose a 
growing threat to the United States, its deployed forces, and its 
friends and allies.'' Experts suspect that these countries are 
acquiring unaccounted-for Russian nuclear bombs as part of this 
development effort. Regional stability is being threatened by weapons 
programs in India, Pakistan, Iran, and others. North Korea is expected 
to be capable of a missile threat to U.S. citizens by 2010. The threat 
is very real. The Rumsfeld Commission concluded that the United States 
may have ``little or no warning'' before facing a threat from these so-
called ``rogue states.'' We must find a way to defend ourselves against 
potential attack from any terrorist country.
  I have long supported the three tiered development of a National 
Missile Defense. Under these criteria, a missile defense could be 
deployed after showing that (1) a specific missile threat has been 
identified, (2) the technology has proven to be effective, and (3) the 
system is deemed affordable. As stated earlier, we've clearly confirmed 
that the threat exists. The technology is proving to be increasingly 
available. Most importantly, in a period where we are investing in 
modernizing our defense capabilities, we would be negligent if we 
failed to fund such a fundamental element of defense for our citizens. 
Now is the time to commit ourselves to completing the three steps and 
deploying a missile defense for all Americans.
  Senate Bill 257 is an important effort to document the will of the 
American people. With the increasing missile threat posed by outlaw 
countries, it is critical that the United States do everything in its 
power to prevent, reduce, deter, and defend against all weapons of mass 
destruction and missiles. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support 
the passage of this bill.
  (Pursuant to a previous unanimous consent agreement, the following 
statements pertaining to the impeachment proceedings were ordered 
printed in the Record:)

                          ____________________