H. CON. RES. 420

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing support for withdrawal of the United States from the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty.

Whereas the Treaty between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems, signed at Moscow on May 26, 1972 (23 UST 3435), which restricts the number and location of anti-ballistic missile systems in each country, is based on the theory of `mutual assured destruction'--that neither party would launch a nuclear missile attack because to do so would result in both mutual and total destruction;

Whereas circumstances affecting United States national security have changed fundamentally since 1972: today, not only do the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China have ballistic missile arsenals that are capable of reaching the United States, but so do a growing number of other countries that are hostile to United States interests;

Whereas today the United States is confronted with new threats to its national security, threats such as the use of weapons of mass destruction wielded by terrorists and rogue nations;

Whereas numerous countries are acquiring increasingly longer-range ballistic missiles as instruments of blackmail and coercion against the United States and its allies;

Whereas the United States must defend its homeland, its armed forces, and friendly and allied countries against these threats, including through the development and deployment of a national missile defense system--a system which would violate the terms of the ABM Treaty--and through cooperation with friendly and allied countries in the development and deployment of such a layered missile defense system against long-range threats; and

Whereas on December 13, 2001, President G.W. Bush provided notice to the Russian Federation that the United States would withdraw from the ABM Treaty effective June 13, 2002, in accordance with Article XV of the Treaty: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress supports the decision of the President to withdraw the United States from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty effective June 13, 2002, in accordance with Article XV of the Treaty, and to provide for the establishment of a robust layered missile defense system to protect the United States and its allies.