[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 74 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S5733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE ACT

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, on March 17, of this year the Senate 
passed S. 257, the National Missile Defense Act of 1999, by a vote of 
97-3. Subsequently, the House adopted as H.R. 4 a different version of 
the legislation, and today the House has agreed to the substance of the 
Senate bill. No further action is required on the bill, and it now goes 
to the President for his signature.
  After many years of debate, Congress has passed legislation stating 
the national policy to be that the United States will deploy a national 
missile defense as soon as technologically possible.
  Section 2 of the bill notes that, like all discretionary programs, 
national missile defense is subject to the authorization and 
appropriation of funds.
  Section 3 states that we support the continued reductions in Russian 
nuclear force levels. There is no linkage between Russian nuclear force 
levels, or any arms control agreement, and the national missile defense 
deployment policy of the bill.
  I urge the President to sign this bill and put to rest the concerns 
of many that our country would continue its vulnerability to ballistic 
missile attack. With the signing of this bill, a new era of commitment 
to missile defense will begin.

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