HRES 313 IH
positive relationships with Russia and other nuclear na-
tions;
Whereas the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty remains an impor-
tant 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 nu-
clear 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 impor-
tant 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 de-
fense system could be a reliable defense system;
HRES 313 IH
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 de-
fense), 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 na-
tional missile defense system could weaken ties with tra-
ditional 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 rela-
tions 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 insta-
bility;
Whereas a national missile defense system would also be per-
ceived by other nations as a threat and could hinder at-
tempts to further reduce nuclear arsenals;
Whereas increased tension between nuclear powers threatens
the stability that makes economic and social cooperation
between such powers possible;
HRES 313 IH
Whereas the events of September 11, 2001—and the world-
wide response to them—underscore the fact that inter-
national cooperation is extraordinarily important for pro-
tecting 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 mis-
sile 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 home-
land 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 Rep-
resentatives 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 de-
fense system;
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(3) continue to work cooperatively with Russia
and other nuclear powers to prevent nuclear pro-
liferation, reduce the number of weapons in current
arsenals, and facilitate nuclear disarmament.
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