Title: A resolution supporting a robust and modern ICBM force to maximize the value of the nuclear triad of the United States.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This resolution (1) recognizes that land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) have certain strategic characteristics, and (2) opposes efforts to unilaterally reduce the size of the ICBM force of the United States or delay the implementation of the next-generation ground-based strategic deterrent program.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 24 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 24

Supporting a robust and modern ICBM force to maximize the value of the 
                  nuclear triad of the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 17, 2019

  Mr. Hoeven (for himself, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Daines, Mr. 
  Enzi, and Mr. Tester) submitted the following resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting a robust and modern ICBM force to maximize the value of the 
                  nuclear triad of the United States.

Whereas land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (in this preamble 
        referred to as ``ICBMs'') have been a critical part of the strategic 
        deterrent of the United States for 6 decades in conjunction with air and 
        sea-based strategic delivery systems;
Whereas President John F. Kennedy referred to the deployment of the first 
        Minuteman missile during the Cuban Missile Crisis as his ``ace in the 
        hole'';
Whereas the Minuteman III missile entered service in 1970 and is still deployed 
        in 2019, well beyond its originally intended service life;
Whereas the ICBM force of the United States peaked at more than 1,200 deployed 
        missiles during the Cold War;
Whereas the ICBM force of the United States currently consists of approximately 
        400 Minuteman III missiles deployed across 450 operational missile 
        silos, each carrying a single warhead;
Whereas the Russian Federation currently deploys at least 300 ICBMs with 
        multiple warheads loaded on each missile and has announced plans to 
        replace its Soviet-era systems with modernized ICBMs;
Whereas the People's Republic of China currently deploys at least 75 ICBMs and 
        plans to grow its ICBM force through the deployment of modernized, road-
        mobile ICBMs that carry multiple warheads;
Whereas the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China deploy nuclear 
        weapons across a variety of platforms in addition to their ICBM forces;
Whereas numerous countries possess or are seeking to develop nuclear weapons 
        capabilities that pose challenges to the nuclear deterrence of the 
        United States;
Whereas the nuclear deterrent of the United States is comprised of a triad of 
        delivery systems for nuclear weapons, including submarine-launched 
        ballistic missiles (in this preamble referred to as ``SLBMs''), air-
        delivered gravity bombs and cruise missiles, and land-based ballistic 
        missiles that provide interlocking and mutually reinforcing attributes 
        that enhance strategic deterrence;
Whereas weakening one leg of the triad limits the deterrent value of the other 
        legs of the triad;
Whereas, in the nuclear deterrent of the United States, ICBMs provide commanders 
        with the most prompt response capability, SLBMs provide stealth and 
        survivability, and aircraft armed with nuclear weapons provide 
        flexibility;
Whereas the ICBM force of the United States forces any would-be attacker to 
        confront more than 400 discrete targets, thus creating an effectively 
        insurmountable targeting problem for a potential adversary;
Whereas the size, dispersal, and global reach of the ICBM force of the United 
        States ensures that no adversary can escalate a crisis beyond the 
        ability of the United States to respond;
Whereas a potential attacker would be forced to expend far more warheads to 
        destroy the ICBMs of the United States than the United States would lose 
        in an attack, because of the deployment of a single warhead on each ICBM 
        of the United States;
Whereas the ICBM force provides a persistent deterrent capability that 
        reinforces strategic stability;
Whereas ICBMs are the cheapest delivery system for nuclear weapons for the 
        United States to operate and maintain;
Whereas United States Strategic Command has validated military requirements for 
        the unique capabilities of ICBMs;
Whereas, in a 2014 analysis of alternatives, the Air Force concluded that 
        replacing the Minuteman III missile would provide upgraded capabilities 
        at lower cost when compared with extending the service life of the 
        Minuteman III missile; and
Whereas the Minuteman III replacement program, known as the ground-based 
        strategic deterrent, is expected to provide a land-based strategic 
        deterrent capability for 5 decades after the program enters service: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes that land-based intercontinental ballistic 
        missiles (in this resolution referred to as ``ICBMs'') have 
        certain characteristics, including responsiveness, persistence, 
        and dispersal, that enhance strategic stability and magnify the 
        deterrent value of the air and sea-based legs of the nuclear 
        triad of the United States;
            (2) emphasizes the role that ICBMs have played and continue 
        to play in deterring attacks on the United States and its 
        allies;
            (3) observes that while arms control agreements have 
        reduced the size of the ICBM force of the United States, 
        adversaries of the United States continue to enhance, enlarge, 
        and modernize their ICBM forces;
            (4) supports the modernization of the ICBM force of the 
        United States through the ground-based strategic deterrent 
        program;
            (5) highlights that ICBMs have the lowest operation, 
        maintenance, and modernization costs of any part of the nuclear 
        deterrent of the United States; and
            (6) opposes efforts to unilaterally reduce the size of the 
        ICBM force of the United States or delay the implementation of 
        the ground-based strategic deterrent program, which would 
        degrade the deterrent capabilities of a fully operational and 
        modernized nuclear triad.
                                 <all>