Democrats Gut American Missile Defense by $764 Million

Via email:

In the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1585) Democrats have proposed cutting $764 million from critical missile defense programs, weakening America ’s ability to defend against ballistic missile attacks.

REPUBLICAN RESPONSE

House Republicans support a robust missile defense program capable of defending America from foreign threats, be they terrorist groups or rogue regimes like Iran or North Korea.

Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), and GOP Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (R-FL) will offer an amendment to restore the $764 million for missile defense funding. In addition, Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) will offer an amendment clarifying the legislation will not prevent “missile defense capabilities from being placed on operational alert to respond to an immediate threat posed by ballistic missiles.”

DEMOCRATS’ HISTORY OF FAILURE ON MISSILE DEFENSE

Unfortunately, this is just another chapter in a long line of Democratic failures to provide for America ’s missile defense. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) once said, “The United States does not need a multi-billion-dollar national missile defense against the possibility of a nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile.” And over the last few years alone, Democrats have repeatedly voted to slash funding from missile defense programs:

130 House Democrats voted to cut more than $9 billion from the ballistic missile defense program. (Roll Call 155, 5/17/06)

117 House Democrats voted to slash funding for the missile defense program, putting in jeopardy America 's efforts to build an effective missile defense shield. (Roll Call 142, 5/11/06)

132 House Democrats voted to reduce funding for the ballistic missile defense program. (Roll Call 85, 3/17/05)

118 House Democrats voted to reduce funding for the ballistic missile defense program. (Roll Call 88, 3/25/04)

156 House Democrats voted to block funding for space based missile defense programs. (Roll Call 145, 5/9/02)

The measure this week comes as North Korea – who attempted to detonate a nuclear weapon last fall – is reportedly developing new weapons capable of hitting the United States. The International Herald Tribune reports:

“North Korea is developing a new long-range ballistic missile that may be capable of hitting the U.S. territory of Guam …”

This has the added bonus of pleasing Vladimir Putin who seems very interested in the US not placing missile defense systems in Europe. Maybe we should think about why that is...