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[DOCID: f:hr313ih.txt]






107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 313

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
       continued importance of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 12, 2001

    Ms. Woolsey (for herself, Ms. Lee, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Evans, Mr. 
    McDermott, Mr. Fattah, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Farr of California, Mr. 
  Doggett, Mr. McGovern, Ms. McKinney, Mr. Sabo, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. 
 Nadler, Mr. Markey, Mr. Barrett of Wisconsin, Mr. Holt, Ms. Watson of 
 California, Mr. Olver, Mr. Frank, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Ms. Baldwin, 
  Ms. Rivers, Mr. Payne, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Filner, Mr. Tierney, Ms. 
 Hooley of Oregon, and Mr. Rangel) submitted the following resolution; 
     which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
       continued importance of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

Whereas nuclear weapons remain a threat to humankind;
Whereas the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty has been the cornerstone of 
        international arms control efforts since its inception in 1972;
Whereas the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty has helped maintain trusting, lasting 
        relationships with traditional allies of the United States and has been 
        the foundation for positive relationships with Russia and other nuclear 
        nations;
Whereas the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty remains an important means of limiting 
        the threat of nuclear war and the proliferation of nuclear weapons;
Whereas the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty is an important symbol of the United 
        States' commitment to global peace and cooperation in order to limit the 
        proliferation of nuclear weapons and remains an important and viable 
        method for safeguarding international peace;
Whereas the American people have made it overwhelmingly clear that they support 
        a reasoned approach toward arms control policy--which the Anti-Ballistic 
        Missile Treaty represents--and not a buildup of weapons system and 
        programs;
Whereas the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty helps ensure that no nation questions 
        the validity of the established and proven principles of deterrence, 
        which remains an important and viable method for safeguarding 
        international peace;
Whereas President Bush's November 2001 agreement with Russian President Vladimir 
        Putin to reduce the number of nuclear weapons held by both countries is 
        a welcome and useful step toward global peace and security;
Whereas the Bush Administration's has repeatedly expressed its intention to 
        withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in order to develop and 
        build a national missile defense system;
Whereas no trial tests have shown that a national missile defense system could 
        be a reliable defense system;
Whereas Philip E. Coyle, the former director of Operational Test and Evaluation 
        within the Pentagon, stated in the June 2001 Defense Monitor: ``The 1972 
        treaty is not holding back design and development of the technology 
        needed for National Missile Defense (national missile defense), nor is 
        the treaty slowing the testing of an national missile defense system. 
        Development of national missile defense will take a decade or more for 
        technical and budgetary reasons, but not due to impediments caused by 
        the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty.'';
Whereas withdrawing from, or abrogating, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 
        order to continue development of a national missile defense system could 
        weaken ties with traditional allies of the United States and alienate 
        friendly, non-nuclear countries;
Whereas withdrawing from, or abrogating, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty would 
        destabilize the international relations and could spur nuclear nations 
        to pursue a new arms race with the United States;
Whereas deployment of a national missile defense system presently outlawed by 
        the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty would undermine deterrence, thereby 
        increasing tension between nuclear powers and increasing worldwide 
        instability;
Whereas a national missile defense system would also be perceived by other 
        nations as a threat and could hinder attempts to further reduce nuclear 
        arsenals;
Whereas increased tension between nuclear powers threatens the stability that 
        makes economic and social cooperation between such powers possible;
Whereas the events of September 11, 2001--and the worldwide response to them--
        underscore the fact that international cooperation is extraordinarily 
        important for protecting the security of United States citizens;
Whereas a national missile defense system would not have prevented the terrorist 
        attacks of September 11, 2001;
Whereas terrorist groups or rogue nations are far more likely to use simple 
        means to threaten or harm the United States as opposed to the types of 
        weapons a national missile defense system would defend against;
Whereas withdrawing from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and developing a 
        national missile defense system would divert scarce taxpayer dollars and 
        attention away from more pressing threats to our national security; and
Whereas these scarce resources could be earmarked for homeland security 
        priorities, such as increased airline security, public health measures, 
        and rebuilding those communities affected by the terrorist attacks of 
        September 11, 2001: Now therefore, be it
    Resolved, that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
in the interests of United States citizens, and all of humankind, that 
the United States should--
            (1) remain a signatory to the Anti-Ballistic Missile 
        Treaty;
            (2) not encourage Russia to withdraw from the Anti-
        Ballistic Missile Treaty in order to validate United States 
        efforts to build a national missile defense system;
            (3) continue to work cooperatively with Russia and other 
        nuclear powers to prevent nuclear proliferation, reduce the 
        number of weapons in current arsenals, and facilitate nuclear 
        disarmament.
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