[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 20, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S2035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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    SENATE RESOLUTION 82--COMMEMORATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
             PROPOSAL FOR THE STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE

  Mr. BEGICH (for himself, Mr. Sessions, and Ms. Ayotte) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
Services:

                               S. Res. 82

       Whereas on March 23, 1983, President Ronald Reagan 
     delivered a televised address to the Nation on the nuclear 
     and ballistic missile threat to the United States and 
     appealed to the people of the United States to support the 
     development of new technologies to counter this threat;
       Whereas March 23, 2013, marks the 30th anniversary of this 
     landmark address;
       Whereas President Reagan believed that United States 
     security is based on being prepared and willing to meet all 
     threats;
       Whereas President Reagan envisioned a defensive, non-
     nuclear capability to intercept and destroy strategic nuclear 
     missiles before they reached the United States and our 
     allies;
       Whereas President Reagan envisioned these defenses to 
     significantly reduce any incentive an adversary may have to 
     threaten or attack the United States and our allies;
       Whereas the proposal for these defenses, together with the 
     defenses themselves, have come to be known as the ``Strategic 
     Defense Initiative'';
       Whereas President Reagan's vision has been inspired through 
     the efforts of dedicated Americans and allies who have 
     championed the pursuit of deterrence and protection to 
     overcome immense technical hurdles in developing ballistic 
     missile defense technologies and systems to protect the 
     United States, our allies, and our vital interests overseas;
       Whereas on January 15, 1991, soldiers from the 11th Air 
     Defense Artillery brigade changed modern warfare forever when 
     they successfully intercepted an Al Hussein Missile launched 
     from Iraq towards Dhahran, Saudi Arabia;
       Whereas missile defense was used in combat and was 
     successful during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi 
     Freedom in defending the United States Armed Forces and the 
     forces of our allies;
       Whereas the United States has achieved 58 successful 
     missile defense intercept tests since 2001;
       Whereas the capability of United States missile defenses 
     were first successfully put on alert in response to a July 
     2006 missile launch by North Korea, and later put on alert 
     for all subsequent missile launches by North Korea (including 
     its last launch in December 2013), and was successfully 
     demonstrated on February 21, 2008, when a Standard Missile-3 
     interceptor launched from the U.S.S. Lake Erie intercepted 
     and destroyed a disabled satellite of the National 
     Reconnaissance Office;
       Whereas ballistic missile defense technology continues to 
     be developed, tested, and operationally deployed by the 
     United States, 21 allies and friends of the United States, 
     and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO);
       Whereas the Missile Defense Agency and the United States 
     Armed Forces stand ever vigilant to deter aggression and 
     preserve the peace;
       Whereas the Missile Defense Agency epicenter for test, 
     integration, and fielding United States rocket technology, 
     located in Huntsville, Alabama, is responsible for guiding 
     the programs essential to the overall success of the Missile 
     Defense Agency mission;
       Whereas the United States Ballistic Missile Defense System 
     is intended to lead any potential adversary to conclude that 
     the risks of attacking the United States or our allies, or 
     our troops in theater, far outweigh potential gains;
       Whereas the AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense System 
     functions as a key, proven component of the integrated United 
     States Ballistic Missile Defense System and as the foundation 
     of sea-based ballistic missile defense for the United States, 
     Japan, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Spain, and the North 
     Atlantic Treaty Organization;
       Whereas the United States Army Air Defense Artillery 
     Missile Defense Systems function as a key, proven component 
     of the integrated United States Ballistic Missile Defense 
     System and as the foundation of land-based ballistic missile 
     defense for Bahrain, Germany, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, the 
     Netherlands, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, 
     Taiwan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the North 
     Atlantic Treaty Organization;
       Whereas the AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense System and the 
     United States Army Air Defense Artillery Missile Defense 
     Systems effectively serve to deter aggression and devalue the 
     missiles of those who would threaten the peace and security 
     of the United States and our allies;
       Whereas the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System and its 
     effective interceptor missiles currently deployed at Fort 
     Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, 
     together with the Missile Defense Integration and Operations 
     Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, function as key 
     components of the integrated United States Ballistic Missile 
     Defense System;
       Whereas the Ballistic Missile Defense Review of 2010 
     concluded the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System is the 
     only system currently capable of protecting the United States 
     from an intercontinental ballistic missile;
       Whereas the dedicated members of the Alaska National Guard 
     in the 49th Missile Battalion at Fort Greely, Alaska, stand 
     ready on a daily basis to defend and protect the Nation; and
       Whereas the integrated ballistic missile defense system is 
     a key element of the national defense of the United States 
     and a vital capability to deter aggression and preserve 
     freedom and peace: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the vision and efforts of President Ronald 
     Reagan to promote peace and security;
       (2) recognizes and expresses support for the refusal of the 
     people of the United States to accept United States 
     vulnerability to a ballistic missile attack on the homeland 
     or overseas; and
       (3) commemorates the 30th anniversary of the address of 
     President Reagan to the Nation on national security and the 
     Strategic Defense Initiative.

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