Sessions Joins in Launch of Missile Defense Caucus

Press Release

Sessions Joins in Launch of Missile Defense Caucus

U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) today joined Representatives Trent Franks (R-AZ), Jim Marshall (D-GA), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Phil Gingrey (R-GA), Eric Cantor (R-VA), Todd Akin (R-MO), Robert Cramer (D-AL), John Culberson (R-TX), Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), Lee Terry (R-NE), and Peter King (R-NY) to launch the Congressional Missile Defense Caucus.

"Missile Defense Caucus Members share a commitment to emphasizing the urgency of funding and building a robust missile defense to address the threats posed by rogue nations' development of ballistic missile capabilities," said Sessions.

Sessions will Co-chair the Missile Defense Caucus alongside Representatives Franks, Marshall, and Lamborn.

In May, Sessions introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008. The amendment, which passed by voice vote, stated that the legislation would in no way prevent the United States' missile defense capabilities from being placed on operational alert in response to any immediate threat to our security posed by ballistic missiles.

Sessions introduced his amendment to clarify language contained in Section 222 of the bill, which would have prevented missile defense funds from being used for "operations and support activities." The National Defense Authorization bill passed the House by a vote of 397-27.

Between November 2006 and January 2007, Iran tested its long-range ballistic missile capabilities twice. In July 2006, North Korea also test-launched a number of its ballistic missiles, including one of its long-range Taepodong missiles that has a range of 9,000 miles and could hit the United States. The U.S. Northern Command made nearly a dozen U.S. missiles "operational" - or ready for use to defend the United States against an imminent danger posed by ballistic missiles.

North Korea's long-range missile launch was detected by U.S. satellites within seconds, and it failed after 42 seconds and only a few hundred miles of flight. However, North Korea, Iran, and other strategic rivals and enemies of the U.S. continue to improve their missile capabilities.

"Now is not the time for America to advertise an unwillingness to put its missile defenses on operational alert in the face of an imminent threat.

"I look forward to working with Congressman Franks, Congressman Lamborn, Congressman Marshall, and the other Members of the Congressional Missile Defense Caucus to ensure that our nation has a robust defense in place to combat the threat of ballistic missile attack.

"We cannot allow countries like North Korea to believe they can take a free shot at the United States because we are unwilling to stand up our current missile defense capabilities.

"That's exactly the wrong message to send, and I will work diligently alongside the other Caucus Members to see that we address this important issue," Sessions concluded.

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