**VITTER MISSILE DEFENSE LEGISLATION**

As you know, Tuesday, in a speech at the National Defense University,
President Bush stated again that one of the foremost priorities of his
administration would be the development and deployment of a robust
missile defense system. Congressman Vitter has introduced three separate
missile defense bills that would move us developing and deploying an
effective missile defense system and architecture. The first bill
outlined below follows many of President Bush\'s principals of deploying
a system that not only protects our troops stationed overseas, but also
our allies in NATO. The other bills received substantial support last
Congress and Congressman Vitter would appreciate you and your bosses
consideration of cosponsorship.

**Defense Against Regional Threats Act of 2001 *(HR 1283)***

This legislation [bipartisan]{.underline} legislation sponsored by
Congressman Vitter and Congressman Shows states that it is the policy of
the United States to deploy as soon as is technologically possible an
effective Missile Defense system capable of defending our NATO allies,
Israel, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan against limited ballistic missile
attack.

**Realistic Tests for Realistic Threats National Security Act *(HR
1282)***

The Realistic Tests for Realistic Threats National Security Act received
overwhelming support last Congress amassing over [95
cosponsors]{.underline}. RT2 mandates tests of the Navy Theater Wide
(NTW) and the Army's Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems
against target missiles that replicate the velocities of missiles now in
the North Korean arsenal.

Tests of the NTW and THAAD systems are planned, but none against targets
with the velocity of the North Korean Taepo- dong I. At present, tests
are limited to anti-ballistic missiles with a velocity of 5
kilometers-per-second or less. North Korea has missiles with velocities
of between 5 and 8 kilometers-per-second depending on the size of the
payload. RT2 mandates that the NTW and THAAD systems are tested against
target missiles with velocities no less than the maximum velocity of the
Taepo-dong I.

This North Korea missile has the potential range to strike parts of
Alaska and Hawaii, in addition to our allies in Israel and the United
Kingdom. Other rogue nations such as Iran pose a long-term threat to
U.S. security as well. For nations such as these, the Mutually Assured
Destruction doctrine of the Cold War simply will not work. Saddam
Hussein and Slobodan Milosevic have proven that some leaders are all too
willing to sacrifice their people to advance a personal agenda. North
Korea is in the forefront of nations willing to sacrifice the well being
of their people to build their offensive military capability.

**Vitter \-- Armey Security Against Nuclear Enemies Act of 2000 (*HR
1281)***

This legislation directs the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization to
design and deploy a land-based and sea-based National Missile Defense
system capable of defending the national territory of the United States
against ballistic missile attack as soon as technologically possible.

Thank you for your consideration. Please let me know if you have any
questions or concerns.

Kyle Ruckert

Legislative Director

Congressman Vitter

202-225-3015