This bill declares it the policy of the United States to deploy a national missile defense. What we lack is the political will to do so. President Clinton has stated a commitment to support a national missile defense system. The time table set by the President is simply too long. It raises serious questions about his real commitment to a missile defense system.
Rogue nations continue to enhance their abilities to launch intercontinental missiles.
The longer we delay in researching and deploying a missile defense system, the longer we leave ourselves vulnerable to attack. We need to act before our delay is measured in terms of human lives.